The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-08-05
DAYS SPENT ON POST.
Roland Craig, Former Barre Boy, Writes
of Duties at the Front.

of Duties at the Front.
Miss Bertha r. Mason of this city has
received letter from Pvt. Roland Craig,
with the French army in France, written
June 2S, describing his work, which is
very interesting, and which follows:
II believe / have never described any
thing of our posts or different days spent
on post, so I viii do so now. have
had two days, yesterday and to-day, of
the extremes of work.
First, | will describe as far as posi-
BILE the post | am at. Try to imagine
a big, beautiful chateau, with a large
main building and two large wings, run
ming perpendicular to the main build
ing, at each end. That is the building
now used as a poste de secours. It now
lies in ruin about half a mile behind
the first line. Where once was wine
cellar, supported by large steel pillars
and whitewashed, is the medical room
and sleeping room for the personnel and
myself. Another cave dug under the
left wing is used as a kitchen. My car
stands under a camoufage in front of
the post There is a small red cross and
the poste de secours sign above the en-
trance There is one hill in front and
one in back of us, both, Of course, lined
with artillery, which furnishes US mu-
sic day in and day out.
Looking down the valley, the lines
are plainly seen about three miles off,
but screen camouhage separates us
from them, so we are not so plainly seen.
There you have the post am now at.
Yesterday | had very much work
here. / was called about l:30 a. m. to
go up to hill 10 for wounded. The hill
is about a mile from here. / started
out and thanks for good clear sky and
moon, arrived at the advanced post with
very little difficulty aside from taking
q broken wagon out Of the road. Three
severely wounded Poilus were. placed in
Lizzie and / started back. | had hardly
started the engine when a barrage start
ed between me and the rear. ! drove up
to the edge of the barrage and stopped.
II was heavy one and / didn't wish to
run into it unless II became real neces-
sary, but it began moving back toward
me There was nothing left to do but
rush the barrage, so let loose. must
confess it was the heaviest | ever went
through | laid on the wheel to occupy
as little space and, lodging she'll holes,
| finally got through and over the next
hill. ! reached the post de secours and
stopped for a second dressings for my
men. / had Just about time to smoke a
cigarette and get back my nerve when |
had to go on to the hospital. got back
to the post about $3.50 a. m. and was
kept busy until about $3.50 p. m. Last
night | went to bed expecting to be
called very soon, but was dead tired, so
/ slept well.
was called at a. m. to-day and
asked If | wished coffee. answered Yes
and it was brought to me, and after
drinking it / turned over and went to
sleep again. woke up at about II
o'clock and went to the kitchen for din
ner. 1t was regular war dinner of
soup, fried potatoes, meat and coffee.
CAS- it was very quiet this afternoon,
took walk up to one of the batteries
to visit French friend (male) of mine.
After visiting for about an hour, they
were to start behind the lines bonn
bardment. left for the post in case the
BOches return the bombardment and /
should have work They did not return
it, however, so passed the remainder
Of the day reading till the mail came at
6p. m.
There were two letters from you in
the mail and was more than glad to
hear from you and grandma
"oh sayl Our dog died, or rather was
killed, and now what do you suppose we
have for mascoti Well, we have a
little monkey. His name is XXI. He
drinks wine and smokes cigarettes and is
regular guy.
II believe we will soon leave this front
and have repose for few days, and
then start out for another front. I hope
we do, as we have worked steady and
hard here and surely we all need the
rest.
II bought two fine souvenirs the other