The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-10-01
MORTON TELLS OF TRIP
WHILE ON A FURLOUCH
Has Been Transferred To The
Place Where Shamrocks
Grow

In a letter to his parents. Mr.. and
Mrs. j. B. Morton Of East High street,
Ensign Ralph Morton, who is now
serving in France as a paymaster In
the navy, tells Of trip which he took
there while on furlougn: Extracts
of the letter follow;
I got my ten days leave O. X. and
went down to Biarrltz. 1t Is quite a
fashionable place. Before the war.
one could see all that glittered on five
continents gathered there. They have
two wonderful hotels. very beauti-
iul coast and excellent surf bathing.
IL is always quite rough. The place
is pretty well filed up with American
army officers as the Red Cross has a
conyalescent home there We stayed
al the best hotel, the Palais Royale,
| frequentcd and built by Napoleon ILL.,
in his day. The atmosphere was a
bit frigid, but | enjoyed it immensely.
Am an exceedingly good spectator. ="
We, stayed there three days and then
went .down to Pan, very beautiful
place on the outskirts OF the Pyren.
nes. Stayed there one day and wen,
to Bagneres dc Luelion, in the heart
of the Pyrennes on the Spanish Dor.
der about one.half of the way over to
the Mediterranean. 1t Is a dandy fine
place. 1t Is right in the midst of the
highest peaks in the range has many
mineral springs and is really delight.
ful There have been practically no
Americans there and we were taken
for English for the most part and for
Italians on account Of our winter
tieldgre aviation uniforms. Had
excellent hotel accommodations
which We're very reasonable com
pared to BiarritZ. The people were
Parisians for the most part and there
is a special train which runs between
there and Paris We spent five days
there riding, driving and climbing
over mountains. The place is about
as much. like Hot Springs, Ark, as
any place have ever been. :
We came back feeling very much
rested. Swung around by Toullose
coming back and spent one day there
looking the place over.
1 III have been expecting to be trans,
TERED for several weeks now Have
been waiting patiently and wire fin.
ally came week ago today saying
that | should proceed to Queenstown,
Ireland, and report to the commander
of'the naval aviation forces in Ireland
| for relief'to the present paymaster at
the L. S. N. A. +. Wexford, Ireland.
Was not altogether pleased with the
! idea of Ireland, but am fairly we'll
satisfied. In the first place, it is a
small station, full complement not TO
exceed coo, | believe, and | will be
the supply officer with no one TO Of
| fer advice. 1t is said to be the most
desirable station over there and
know the present paymaster, who is
an exceedingly competent man, SO
expect to find everything in good Or
der. Am also rather keen to see all
of Europe. Think they rather hate to
see us busting up here. They have
made il extremely pleasant for us.
Wound things up during the last
week and expect to drive into Bor.
deauX in the morning and catch a
Paris train viii probably stay there
day or two and then go on. to Lon
don for couple of days. Am going
with three officers and expect tc have
Il very enjoyable trip.
VIII probably be writing about
shamrocks, Sim Feiners and bricks
the next time.
RALPH MORTON,
Asst. Paymaster.
u. S. N. r. F., U.S.N.A..
Foreign Service