The Republican journal., 1918-07-04
Letters From Camp Devens.

horace BAKER AlhluSOu OIL OedlSuuoHl
writes Interestingly of a recent trip OF
Battery Commanders, details from Bet
teries c. and D. and Headquarters Com
pany to the drilling range. They were
equipped with shelter tents, rifles, cloth
ing and supplies of all kinds and were &C
companied by cook with field kitchen.
They pitched tents in pine grove near a
small pond and were supposed to be in
the enemy's territory. All civilians pass
ing were held up and some of them show
ed so much resentment that the officers
were obliged to explain the situation.
There were five patrols of seven each
with a leader sent out with maps, rifles
and message books to gather information
and report at certain hill to be located
by map direction. They were obliged to
avoid everybody, even the other patrols,
His crowd got OH the wrong road, did
not reach the hill until a. M and arrived
at camp at 2 a. m. One fellow could not
find the hill and hunted around until a.
m. 1t was cold in the tent but no one
had any i'll effects from it. They stopped
at one of the targets on the way to Dew
ems and picked up some shrapnel One
near by field is completely plowed up with
shells and there are trees and telephone
poles. shot down, giving the appearance OIL
a real battlefield In closing he says, al
though the war situation is serious 1T will
not affect the ultimate outcome. The
Allies are accomplishing great deal now
and the only way the war can be won is
to kill the Germans. Mr. Atkinson is
anxious to 90 to France and is always
very loyal to his own company and am
bilious for it's good standing.
Byron NJ. Salter, now with Co. M, of
3O4 Infantry at Camp Devens, says Lester
Hale and Herbert Collins of Belfast are
the only home boys with him of the Go
who left here June 5th. AIT the others
are from New York and mostly Jews and
Italians at is some life and trifle diff
ferent from home. We are up at 5. Is for
rol-call, breakfast at 80 and then the
day is begun with drills or overalls for
us. Speaking of overalls, | have been
out digging bitches and sewer drains, some
five or six times. Al present we are
drilled on the range, squad movements,
gas drills and bayonet drills from the
trenches at dummies to us and we say
cover the Top" Our bunch from home
has been transferred, so now it is hunt
for the chums of three weeks ago. The
remainder of the boys were transferred
today, to different branches. Homesick,
never. We say, but it is Generally noticed
the boys lose no steps when pass is
given. Of course we all know our time
is limited here at camp but "any time"
be ready is the byword. Belfast is losing
in population and if the 3rd Maine goes
what will Belfast do without Mr.. Dickey,
let alone some of its business men. Most
of us bows have gained and for myself can
stand all the cook will give me, and we
eat and sleep great,
Some days age we were very pleased
to have Mr.. and Mrs. Selwyn Thompson
drop in to see U.S. 1t was great to see
some home people and Mr.. Thompson and
his wife are very pleasing to the young
people. The other Belfast boys were
visitors most every night, and as we were
in quarantine over two weeks they would
20 to the canteen and get our ice cream,
etc. Only hope we can help out the boys
who are coming next week. 1t is some
change for US, and of course will be for
few who are coming then. The Y. M. C.
A. is one fine place, as also the Liberty
Theater. Ball games are in progress!
every night, which are interesting espec'
tally those between the "Nigqers' ane
Northeners. Would like to see the 3re
Maine get the training we are now get
ting, and all be here together, but rathel
think we won't see our old Company pa
rade for some time. Bugle call for re-
treat and that means one must snap"
The following letters are from Victo
c. Merriam.
May 80, 1918.
Dear Mother:
Well, here we are. We have nothini
to do today and some of us have Just has
sing at the piano, with Belfast DO!
playing the accompaniment. The con
tingent from Waldo county is fine buncl
and the fellows from, Belfast all chum to-
gether. The trip yesterday was pleasan
all the way We did not 60 through
Portland at all. At Burnham we met
bunch from Bangor and our car wa
transferred to the rear of train whicl
carried us through to Deering Junction