Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-12-25

CONTINUED from Page one).
around this place. We came into this
particular sector after the st. Mihiel
drive. Have not been up to the very
front line, but have been under artil-
lery fire several times when the
chances were some slim, but have
you see have been very lucky. Our
work does not take US up to the front
line trench but we run telephone lines
and operate telephones in dugouts
where the artillery is working and is
a sight worse than being under rifle
and machine gun fire. Ask anyone
what about the signal corps and one
that has been here and knows will
say they catch hi.
It sure is good to know that it is
over, and my spirits have risen con-
siderable
Well, I'll tell you more about this
later, Dad, just how soon | don't
know, but believe four months will
discharge.
I surely have had some dandy
times. It has been worth good deal
for just what little I have seen and
been through. We were at place
called Langres in the Hope Marine
district, previous to coming here.
While there went to the source of
the Marine river, a spring. This is
about mile from the city Of Lam
gres. You can easily find these plac-
es on map. In coming where we
are now we came through the cities
of Nancy and Tou, two large French
cities. Near the city of Langres is
an old cave where an old Gaul chief
L L e. f.,
vious to his capture by the Romans.
This was 70 years B. C. Old places
like this, churches, museums, that /
had chance to see while there, were
very interesting and I enjoyed it very
much. Will tell you more about these
places later. I have started this let
ter backwards but thought you would
be most interested in where am now
| We left Camp Devens July 10th,
were 81. days on the boat, embarked
at Montreal, went down the ST..
Lawrence to Halifax, where we pick
ed up Is more transports. Went
through Barton about $50 p. m. We
had one British cruiser with US from
Halifax until about half way over
when our escort Of American destroy
ers picked us up and stayed with us
until we split up in the Channel, some
of the transports going to London
and Liverpool.
/ It was exciting all the way over.
Two days before we landed, at p.
m. we had devil of fight with sub
marines. They did not get any of
us, but it was reported officially that
we sunk six submarines. It surely
was quite exciting. We landed in
Cardiff, Wales, a city Of 100000 in
habitants. We were the first troops
to land there since 1915, and they
gave US fine reception. We parad-
ed in that city two hours, and I'll
never forget it. Just off the boat,
how the old ground rolled. We were
given an address of welcome by the
city. Some bunch, I'll say. Wore
wigs just as they did in George
i Washington's day. Lunch was serv-
ed by the English Red Cross, and we
were waited on by the incest ladies
in the land. The girls were thick
there, and it wouldn't have been any
place for you, Dad, but didn't mind
| We left there at 8 p. m. and went
to Winchester, Eng, to a rest camp
for few days and you can believe
me, it seemed the best place that
had ever seen. We got there at 2 B.
m. after hiking five niles to camp.
From this camp we went to South
ampton, and at night went across the
Channel to France, landing at Cher
bourg. It took three hours to cross.
We stayed there SO hours and were
loaded into box cars and rode for two
days and two nights to Chateaudl1n,
This is in the central part of France
in the district of Cher. You can
easily find this on the map. It is
near st. Almond. This was a beauti-
full place and we styed six weeks.
The weather was warm and almost
uerfect. Had nice rest and got ac-
climated. From here we went to
Langres. Will tell you many things
about these places soon now, when ]
get home.
On the whole, we have been very
lucky, understand We are the only
organization that have kept our bar
rack bags while in action. We usual
~ move every month. It is impossi-
bic to say when we will start for the
U. s. A. No one knows. We hear
one day we are in the army of occu-
patton, and the next day that we are
not. If we are not, we may be back
by Christmas. If we are, it may be
three or four months so there it re-
mains. When know / will let you
know.
I will surely look after my health
Take care Of yourself and Ma.
Love to all,
Charles.