The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1918-08-23
Lieut. WaIsh's Interesting Letter
About France.

IhG following 16LLGT mas DeGn r.
ceived from Lieut. Daniel Eugene
Walsh, of co. c., 313th Inf. wv. A,
son of Mr.. and Mrs Michael E.
Walsh, East Main street, who il Go
ing duty in France:
Tuesday, July %, 1918
Dearest Mother: We have moved
After long, slow but most interest
ing ride we are now bi1letted in a
small French town. Our journey
was marked by distinct changes
III scenery and customs AT
first the fields, about five or six
acres large were enclosed by earth
Ell fences, covered with hedges,
then we came to. fields with no
fences, then fields with wooden
fences. Most III the fields are in
strips, probably two hundred yards
by fifty yards, evidently owned by
different people
During the first part OF our trip
we rot into Chic hills and the houses
were scattered much the same as in
our country, after coming out Of the
high country the towns are close
together, but farther apart than the
first part Of our trip.
4All the buildings here are of
stone, wood is very scarce, even
fuel. We passed through one sec
ton df the country where the people
lived in caves dug out in the side of
"a hill.
THE most beautiful and pic-
turesque part of the movement was
after we had gotten well into the
hills, there we saw a large valley,
wonderfully fertile, with a canal
summing through atha middle pf it.
On one side, well up on the hillside;
was al large monastery, with large
grape vineyards around it. the
buildings all covered with vines and
directly back of the monastery on
the highest point in Tine locality was
q statue of some kind, where the
people made pilgTimages. We passed
there just about sunset and the sun
set formed q wonderful background
for the picture On the other side
of the valley and ON the highest
point On that side, was Va very old
castlek all covered with moss and
vines The picture of the valley will
always remain with me, # never saw
anything so grand
Every Village has its chateau, or
castle, and to say that they ar i'm
posing, puts IL mildly. They are. on
the highest point in the village and
LOOK down on the village, giving you
the idea Of an animal watching IT'S
young ones.
Most all the people are Catholics
and every town Ma its church and
chapel. The chapel is used only for
burials.
due to the absence OF men in the
villages they are more or less dirty
and for the past two days we have
been cleaning ours out. It IL al
revelation to the inhabitants the way.
we go about it
"I have very good quarters Lieut.
Thorne or my company and myself
have a large airy room opening on
"a courtyard, with two of the highest
and most comfortable beds that
could ever be made The beds have
canopies over them and as Lieut..
ThOrne expressed lit Napoleon
would have been glad To have used
mattresses, one straw one -0n the
DULIOn anu LMG NNSIhAArT OnGS Oli III
Of that When you get in bed you
think you are going Glrl the way
through to The bottom.
THE people are very wen dis
posed towards us and win do any
thing in the world to make us COM
Portable
It got all of my baggage, my trunk
got wet and "a few Of my clothes
were damp, outside of that every
thing was fine and now am Just !
H. comfortable a. # was at Meade
1--WE get very little war news here,
The latest was very encouraging and
from what can understand the
general situation IL good
the morale of these people is /
wonderful IF it were not for the /
absence off young men. yon would
not know war Is going on. This
little village is the most restful
place in the world, 4 believe
Lots OF love to a11 and tell them