The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-09-05
FROM OVER HERE
Garrett County Soldiers Write
From Southern Camp.

To the Editor of The Republican.
After so long time we hope YOU will
permit US few lines in your paper in
behalf of the boys who entrained at
Oakland station Aug. 9Th for camp.
After due consideration we thought
it best not to write our letter under
first impressions of camp life. This
letter, therefore, will deal in brief out
line of our trip coming to camp and our
schedule after our arrival.
All left Oakland practically in good
spirits and we're very orderly the whole
way.
Immediately upon our arrival in Cum
berland we had dinner at the Queen
City Hotel. Then a special train was
made I'D OF more draftees from other
sections of the county. Before the train
left, the Cumberland band furnished
the boys with few of their best selec-
tons to cheer them on their way, while
the citizens and girls of the town
saluted and waved their hands and
handkerchiefs from the windows and
sidewalks.
AS we bounded down the valley, the
atmosphere became dryer and the sun
hotter. and just to think, our trip Just
started and over 700 miles of hotter
road to travel.
We arrived in Washington about 7:3O
p. m, where we were switched off on a
side-track to rest. During our pleasur-
able recess in the train coaches and
standing around in the hot sun, the
ladies of the Red Cross appeared on the
scene, and bless you. we were royallv
treated. 1t gave US a fair social and
made US feel like we had mothers and
sisters even far away from home. They
were IN veritable service from Wash
ington even to Spartansburg. At all
our stops they served US with iced tea.
cigaretts, chewing gum. cakes, post
cards and smiles. The Red Cross, let
it be remembered, will not receive their
reward here. AS an organization they
are doing more to keep up the morale
of the army than any other single
agency.
We arrived at Spartansburg Thurs
day morning about /, and were trans
fered from the station in motor trucks
to the camp and were served short
lunch and quartered in our tents. Since
that day. until the present it has been
examinations, NEGOTIATIONS and drill,
with all of which we have become
quite familiar. and have learned to like
drill"
Well now for eats. The mess rations
run about as follows: Breakfast: fried
potatoes, well done, rolled oats or corn
flakes, scrambled eggs or otherwise,
bread and coffee. Dinner: potatoes,
liver with stewed onions or boiled beef
rice pudding, baked beans, lima beans
and sliced cabbage, also tomatoes raw
Then the last course or desert comes:
prunes, bananas, apple pie, cinnamon
rolls. cake and lemon sauce, drinks
either ice tea or lemonade. Supper:
potatoes, salmon or other meats, maca-
roni, peas, canned corn, bread, jelly,
apricots and cake. Iced tea or lemon
ade for drinks This was our daily
menu for the first week and the second
was ditto.
The weather has been very reasonable
since we came, for the benefit of those
who lived farther north. The temper
allure running as high as 125 in the
shade, but there isn't any shade.
We like everything except the water
and climate. We like the army and the
girls, but the latter we don't see very
frequently as they stay down at the
city and we don't get to go down there
very often.
But we are thoroughly optimistic for
the future. The worst is yet to come
and then; behold better day.
Just in closing we want to assure
our folks at home that we are going to
make good our every tribute in bring
ing this reign of terror to close and in
the end an honorable peace fitting for
the principles of Christian democracy.
CHAS. A. Moon,
ORvILLE C. FRAzEE.
Spartansburg, S. c., Aug. %, 1918.