Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1918-06-14
WILLIAM E. VAUGHAN
NOW in OLD ENGLAND
"Seeing the World" in the U. s.
Navy and May Go to Italy and
Egypt
The following letter was received
by Mrs. Fay Hall from her brother,
William E. Maughan:-
$50 Grosvenor Gardens,
"U. S. Naval Aviation,
T,ondon England


Dear Sister:-The wind is howl
ing over the "Beachy Head" where
we are located Our hut rocks and
groans with the force of the wind
and if it were not very securely fast
ened / would expect to be taking
ride in a collapsible wooden airship.
We (three of us) live in Eastbourne,
one of the prettiest England towns.
The town is very clean one. The
red brick houses and red tile roofs,
with white castings and dressings,
embarked in huge squares or circles
of hedges, or behind very old ma
sorry, in which shrubs of various
hues and dashing colours and many
trunked trees preserve a very satisfy
ing aspect to the eye. We live in a
little suburb of Eastbourn very close
to the waterfront and within easy
reach of the omnibus. The last trip
being at $50 p. M, we usually walk
home from down town as we uphold
the American idea of late retiring.
Our food is we'll cooked at our board
ing place, and I've overeaten once or
twice. 1 found that honey and sar-
dimes are bum combinations. Meat,
butter and sugar, we secure thru our
rati0ns cards. But we seem to have
enough. Egss cost 81 per dozen and
we eat a fearful number of the poul-
try product. The fresh milk is sure
sy fine and after that Seige of illness
] had enroute from France to here it
has been helping me get or keep on
nay feet. Not having water on the
train, we had taken wine, in lieu of
said water. Some of it was rotten
and coupled with hard tack, etc., and
no sleep for ~ hours. I found a rev.
olutien stirring around my solar
plexus
"Some one said we might be here
for five or six weeks If we do it
will be rather soft because of late we
haven't hurt ourselves. 1t isn't my
fault, but I haven't done one days
work out of five since I joined the
navy All the drill was play for me
and our special balloon work here is
so interesting it is better than the
movies 1 wish we could get some
actual flying here. We are attached
to the British Royal Air Force under
Lieut.. Agden british officer.)
Rockey, Bertschinger and myself are
the only uniformed U. S. men here
and it is SO amusing the way people
gaze at us and the guesses at what
we are. Too highly sounded conjec-
lures placed us as Frenchmen once,
japanese another. Such misplaced
knowledge.
'1t is just month today MAY 24)
that we sailed from the States on the
biggest passenger ship ever launched.
One which we interned at the out
read the letters I have written to
mother regarding our voyage and
stay in France and arrival in merry
(?) England. 1t was stated we would
go from here to Paris and I still be-
lieve I may yet see Italy or Egypt
If | do that means another long, long
trip by rail and water. Join the
navy and see the world. Some one
added Uncle Sans sight seeing
trips Quite appropriate but would
not mind being settled for awhile.
I've had enough travelling in the
States alone for long time:
II was down to theatre last
night Mostly all singing and very
little dancing. Not much pep, and
Jokes were old. But talent one must
remember has all gone over to the
front long ago just as our own will
soon be.
IT suppose George and the rest of
the fellows will be coming over soon.
Would like to see him. had only
one Vaughan address but 1 haven't
heard from it, so the letter was pos
sibly not received. lost that bunch
that was given me so I haven't 10
Gated any of them. You can send