The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-02-14
Doctor Hunt Anticipates On
Moving Where Cannons Roar

Extracts from letter received
from Major Hunt.
Somewhere in France
Jan. 10th. 1918
On the 9th of December we were
very busy getting packed up on the
boat after We sighted land. We could
not get off the boat for various rea.
sons which l cannot state, for four
days after we arrived in the harbor.
It was aggravating to be within mile
of shore and not be able to get off.
Many French people came up
to see us and we could
see good deal going on
on shore. Enjoyed the boat however
as there was calm and peace and no
regulations. Meals were excellent,
only We were restless, We felt So re-
lieved to be passed our first danger,
and glad we had beat Germany in
our first battle. (This boat had been
in danger of a submarine on Christ
mas eve, but We were safely piloted
through.) 1t was a happy moment
when we first set our feet on French
soil. We were in the town about
eight hours before leaving by train
for the camp. Had chance to see a
good deal, but were very busy. Few
men were to be seen eXCep, elderly
ones, and soldiers back from the front
for rest or to recover from wounds.
All the women nearly wore black
The people treated us cordially too.
1t seems SO strange to be in foreign
land, and to hear the lingo" and
realize that we were foreigners The
city was large one, and large sea-
port where the U. S. A. has a large
base hospital. Had good supper
there in the army Y M. c. A. God
bless the Y. M. C. A. We positively
could not get along W thout them over
here. Tell any you have occasion to to
subscribe to the army Y. NJ C. A. if
they want to help the boys over here.
l was SO "doggoned' hungry that first
night in France that l ordered two
full orders and ate them both. Left
town at eight p. NJ on what they call
train over here. l wouldn't call it
that The privates rode in little box
cars, sitting on wooden benches, and
had to eat hard tack and cold beans,
etc. They had no light or ar, and
were not allowed off the train at
stops. The officers had compart-
ments. No place to sleep but sitting
up, and no heat on the train, and al
so nothing to eat for the officers
We could not wash or shave, sleep Or
eat. We made stops about once in
twelve hours for hot coffee, served to
the men with no cream or sugar. Oc.
casionally the officers could steal out
and get bite of something to eat.
This grand pleasure lasted forty eight
hours, and we arrived here safe and
sound, dirty, hungry and tired, but
game to the cause and happy, No
body had any serious kick coming be-
cause we do not expect to be minis
tered unto, but to minister.
The country we travelled through
was lovely, in fact a perpetual gar
den, a little town every few miles.
Our average speed must have been
about eight or twelve miles per hour.
Much of it was up grade, and We pas
sed through many tunnels We were
fortunate in having the French inter-
prefer of the train in our compartment
and he told US much about the coun-
try, and people, and taught us lots of
French. Some officers from Valley
City were on my train. Arrived here
in time to get nicely settled in camp
before dark. When all was settled,
and the company comfortable, many
of the officers, including myself, went
down town and cleaned up, and had
RI at no
hotel between feather ticks. This is
a small country town, an very old and
antique lover four hundred years old).
l forgot to say that everywhere in
France they wear wooden shoes, and
the clank, clank you hear is interest
ing The sidewalks are just wide
enough for one person, and most
everyone walks on the cobble stones
in the street. Streets very narrow.
All buildings, even barns and out
buildings, are of stone, with slate
roofs. Roads are wonderful, stone
bridges, etc. This is very hilly here,
I was going to say mountainous.
Beautiful streams and brooks. Every
thing is like fairy land. Holly grows
everywhere, and moss and lichens
cover everything. The grass is green
although there is some snow and ice.
There was quite bit of snow when
we arrived, but it is all gone now and
it is very muddy. 1t also rains little
every day, and some days, all day.
There is nothing to go to except what
The army has. We were surprised at
the abundance Of food and the cheap
ness. You can get a seven course
dinner, with three courses of meat, :
besides soup and fruit, nuts, wine,
beer, etc., for three or four francs
"a franc is ninteen, plus cents). We
had supper, bed and breakfast, for
one dollar and eighty cents apiece
They have more food it seems than
we do in America. There is no scar
city around here of eggs, meal, sugar, !
etc. Of course one never sees any
white bread. Even our army bread
here in this camp is black. One very
noticeable thing is the wine and beer. I
Every place in town is a bar. Every
body, big and small, men and women,
drink it. It is Misunderstanding here.
Beer, about like malt at home. Light
wines are almost mountaineering.
You cannot buy whiskey. The men
Ire forbidden to buy brandy, or cham
oaign, but all are allowed to go to:
il ! 1s,l.