The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-10-17
LETTER FROM MAJ. McLAREN

LEI lex FkOM MAJ. McLAkEN
The following letter is from Major
McIaren to his children and his pa
rents in this city:
Camp Knotty Ash, Eng, 9-23-lS
My Dear Children and Parents:
Just short letter to say that we
had very pleasant trip over on the
steamer Northumberland, and that we
are settled here in what Is known as n
rest" camp for very short time
after which we shall leave for some
other place which | cannot tell you
now but ] will write you again from
there and let you know where ! am
and how am. We did not have any
trouble on the way over, no subma-
rines got very near US, nothing ex-
citing happened. We had rough sea
and one or two nights the ship plung-
ed and rolled so that we could not stay
in our hunks so we landed very tired
and had to march about seven miles TO
this camp which is very poor and mud
dy, the march was heart-breaking to
tired men but we made it through the
streets of the city over cobblestones
which made marching worse than us
ual. never saw so many dirty, dis
heveled, unkempt children in all my
life. The place is infested with them,
streets full of them. Some with
clothes and some in rags, some bare
footed and some with iron soled shoes,
most of them red haired and all beg
ging for penny or anything. II
was very peculiar and although was
most paralyzed was so tired could
not help but wonder at them. The
city itself is rather beautiful, fine
houses and parks, great estates and
fine roads and drives, not very good
sidewalks and very few young people
hundreds and thousands Of wounded
soldiers. funny two-story street cars,
one horse jaunting carts, steam auto
mobiles, fine lawns, pretty hedges,
houses covered with ivy and rotten
weather. II rains about twenty times
Il day, then the sun shines and il rains
again before you can get rain coat
off. The nights are raw, wet and un-
pleasant. The camp is one big mud
hole, but we are used to mud, got used
to cold and rain at Camp Grant, and
are comparatively happy for we have
orders to move on.
War news is good apparently there
is another big drive on. We hope to
land in France after awhile. The
sooner the better we shall he pleased,
not all the regiment is here. That
makes it hard to run things with just
IN ha
united again very soon but have not
heard anything about that. We may
not get together until we land over
in France.
| left kilograms in regard to my
safe arrival. One should have reached
you before this. Have not sent my
cablegrams from here as it did not
seem necessary after leaving the tele-
grams. will not know when to expect
a letter from you as it has now been
more than three week. Su, We cannot
know when a mail steamer will come
in nor when mail can overtake US, and
with the regiment divided we shall
have still another mix-up about it.
hope you have written and that some
etters will catch me in the next few
weeks.
Had fine practice march this af-
ternoon with my battalion. There is
little we can do here as regards drill
for neither ground nor time is avail
able, we came to "rest" camp but it
is far otherwise. We have most work.
ed our heads Off paraded Sunday be-
fore British officers to hear the read
ing Of the Kings letter and to receive
copies Of il. mailed you each copy
yesterday. 1t should be getting to you
about the same time this does or earli-
er as they will not be held by CEN
sor. do not know much news to
write you, even what do know ] mus:
not tell and so will have to make
this short letter. am hoping that
you are in school and well and happy
and that Grandma and Grandpa are
well. Tell them not 20 worry ABOUT
Daddy for he will get back all right
and will have busy and interesting
time over here. Write to me often.
must close and get busy. Lots OF
work to do yet tonight, with lots II
love. Daddy"