The Washington herald., 1918-04-12
u. S. Forestry Soldier, Now
In France, Tells of Work
Private c. Grodeski Gives Graphic Account OF
Logging Operations in War Zone. ~.
81. The Boys Are Busy! 4

Many Washington boys were in the
forestry regiments that trained at
Camp American University: and
many from other places became welt
known to Washington citizens who
entertained them.
n graphic story OF what these men
are now doing in France is con-
tanned in a letter just received by
c. B. a. Bryant. Y. NJ. c. A. secretary
at Camp American University. The
letter was written by Private Charles
Grodeski. A portion OF it follows:
Work In Continusus Rain.
I'VE remained in a temporary
camp here Tin France) about a
month, during which time IL rained
almost continuously. but we kept on
logging just the same. for you will
remember that we were outfitted at
camp there for all sorts OF weather
Since moving TO our permanent camp
things have taken on a big hum and
dare say We could show YOU some
wonders around here accomplished
during the short time We have been
in France.
I'VE have cut and shipped some
hundreds OF pine pilings. ranging
from forty to sixty feet. which were
used in building the docks where
the majority of the American troops
will land. We have one 5000 ca
pacity mill running night and day.
1t has been running for more than
month. and il is very seldom that
the mill does not overrun its stated
capacity.
strive for Record.
I'm addition We have four small
French mills running night and day.
of small capacity. probably OF the
SIZE common around the Potomac.
We are Just about ready TO start
our large mill OF 1900 capacity which
will run three shifts of eight hours
each and can assure you that
cveryone's intention connected with
this mill is to make il the largest
producer in France. As a record is
l.cpt and posted weekly. there will
no little interest taken in push
ing logs through to the limit
Large sideways are built on
either side above the mill with a
fiume between: the logs will be push
ed into the fiume and fioated under
the mill and hoisted onto the car
riage by means OF an endless chain
placed under each end. After going
through the first saw the product
is shifted TO various other saws and
carried on out OF the mill on a line
of rollers on either side at the end
OF the mill. where the finished prod
uct is slid down a smooth skidway
directly onto ears which run along
the edge of the dock. The mill ma
chinery IT what term underslung.
that is. where the actual saving and
manufacturing is done about ten feet
above the level of the sideways.
Push Rail Forward.
I'VE have a small railway built
from the French railway some three
miles distant up to both mills and
also a railroad built back into the
forest some distance which will be
pushed into the interior as logging
requires. In short. IL what We pro-
duce here is going to put the Sam
rs-ies across the Rhine and finish up
this mess over here YOU can all pre-
pare to read soon where they have
crossed o-rr. for We are not going
TO let anything interfere with push
Ing thing. TO the very limit
I'VE have been in France now more
than four months and are eligible
for a seven-day pass. or course the
boys are taking no little interest
in that leave and planning out what
to do and where to go. Doubtless
the majority will so to Aix-les-Bains,
for from all accounts that will be
Little America TO the Sammies on
leave who 20 there.
v. VI. c. a. There, Too.
'The Y. NJ. c. A. has located in
small town near camp. II is very
homelike. with a pleasant lady and
gentleman in charge Everything that
makes Y. NJ. c. A. is there, includ-