Alma record., 1918-12-26
HAROLD REDMAN WRITES
INTERESTING LETTER
CONTINUED from page one)

at Havre. France on Sunday the ii
of August just little after dinner
We then hiked up hill to a camp and
got our dinner at $500 p. m. Our
next move was on August 13. thirty
Of Us got in "A freight car, Is feet
long and with our heavy packs. SO
you see we didn't have much room.
We also had our food in there for q
three days trip. After riding in that
condition for six hours We landed at
SanSerre. III tell you we were a
happy bunch when ve got out of that
car Then we hiked about tw miles
to the little town of Menetreal, two
miles from Sancerre. / received my
first mail on August 20 and August
30 our company gave show and it
was also pay day
September 8 We higed all day with
our heavy packs and in the rain, but
we finally reached Les AK on Octo-
Der % and landed in Sancere at 2:l5
p. m. where we expected TO stay for
about two weeks but orders came that
we would leave the next morning
We waited all day and then went back
to our barn for the night On No
vember /, 32 Of us took the train
with our packs and four days feed.
The car was only 20 feet long, so we
didn't have room enough TO sit down.
On November 3 at 800 a. m. we left
the train and hiked up hill with our
packs to the camp. arriving at 6:15.
| saw Mr.. Marthy there in the even
ing for the first time in France.
Nov. 6 l was transferred TO the
military police. and like it fine so
far We left camp on November 9
and went to the little town Of Grand
reville between Toul and Nancy.
On the Is German airplane went
oven our little city. but it was shot
by an anti-aircraft gun. The fellow
jumped out with parachute and
came 70 the ground all safe and
sound. | am enclosing piece Of the
airplane. November three of US
went over to Toul but could not get
in the city, there is a big stone wall
all the way around it with only six
roads Leading in with guard at each
place. Some Of the boys got in the
day before but they soon found that
they were out of luck.
Leaving on November 20, We march
to Phoney and then to Sorey, where
my old company is now located. Nine
of US are stationed at a railroad CEN
ter about two miles from Sorey. We
have a dandy place here, had fried
potatoes and toast for breakfast for
the first time over here and we now
have warm water 10 wash and shave
with We have seen the cook and
made plans for real Thanksgiving
dinner, goose and pumpkin pie. We
can buy the pumpkin at the canteen
Tor Z or francs per can.
We are having fine weather here
now but there was two months that
1t rained nearly every day
The people here are far behind the
times, they use a two wheel cart on
the farm for hauling grain, hay, etc.
If they have heavy loads or have to
go up steep hill rhey hitch two or
three horses, one in front Of the
other
They have all dug wells with a
windless and pail. Their freight cars
are from II TO 20 feet long and the
wheels on them look like the front
wheels of an army truck. They are
fastened together with chains and
have a bumper on each side. When
fastening or unfastening the cars
they have TO duck under the bumper.
The brakes are just long lever on
the side that is pulled down. The
passenger cars are nearly as large
as ours but most of them are open on
the side, and they have from six to
eight parts to them. these are called
the third class cars
The American money sure looks
good to US, the money over here looks
more like a wrapper off a soap box OF
baking powder can.
| have been getting lot Of gum in
my letters and it sure tasted good
but il has been ten days since re-
ceived any mail. Oh! yes / sold 4
stick of gum TO German prisoner SC
have some German money also.
Hoping that you are we'll and hap.
py, | will close for this time with lots
OF love. From Harold.