The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1918-08-01
Lieutenant A. j. Ducournau
| Writes from France

By special request the follow
ing letter from overseas was
granted fer publication, which
will be of unusual interest for sew
eral reasons. 1t was written by
one of our boys, and one of the
finest and most popular boys at
that-then it is full of things that
are of general interest, whether
the reader has a boy of his or her
own already over or expecting or
preparing to 90, and it is such an
unusually well-written description
of things that everybody should
know about for general Informa-
ton on the principal matters of
the day, to say nothing of its his
torical value:
Dear Mama:
We are now billited in a small town,
Brain-sur-P Authion, six miles east of
Anglers, city of about $4,000, east of
Nantes on the Loire river.
The surrounding country is very
beautiful. Asyou know, this is almost
the heart of the ancient estates of the
House of ANTON. There are many mag.
niticent chateauX along the beautiful
Loire river. |, with ten other officers,
occupy one CT these very picturesque
chateaux Chateau Naricsy- on-Boeule)
1t is very old, but has been restored
is surrounded by extensive and well
kept lands, making an ideal. place il
which to live. The stone walks anc
roads are bordered by tall tres of the
Poplar variety, and the grounds are
covered with beautiful, red peoples
making a really wonderful sight.
am now permitted to tell some Of
the experiences Of our trip ''over."
We were at sea out of Hoboken sew
enteen days. landing at Tillbury Dock:
southeast of London, remaining in the
Thames river all night before debark
ing. The welcome we received is al
experience which shall never forget
me shore was lined for three mile!
with people all singing The Sta
S1,sngled Banner, and other American
airs. A band OH each ship was play
log, and. the whistles of all the boats il
the. narbcr were blown as our ships
passed up the river, and then back t.
anchorage. The next morning we were
unloaded, and at II a. m. moved out o.
train for Winchester. We remained a
the Rest Camp, Winnall Downs, 70,
two days, during which took the OPP
port.unity to see all the places of inter
est. Winchester was the capital O
England under the Saxon kings: w,
vislsed the Castle of William the Con
oueror, the graves OF Alfred the Great
William Rufus and Arthacanute, tn,
old Danish king. spent three hour
in Winchester Cathedral alone, and en-
loved every minute We also saw
King Arthur's Round Table, pictur
of which l am sending to Alfred
After remaining in Winchester thre
days we embarked. During this triI
we had much excitement. More a
times than. / cared for, but l am 40
permitted to say anything of thes'
matters. except that we slept littl
and wore our hfe-preservers con
stantiy. The next morning we fount
ourselves in the harbor of -. w,
debarked and marched to a rest camp
where we remained three days. Their,
was a splendid officers CLUB here, ant
We were most comfortably located. w,
met officers from the Mesopotamial
raat, from Palestine, India, SoutI
A tr;ca. the Western front. and from
II . army at Salonika. Ali expressed
or ut admiration for the American
fro Sls. The French people have givel
us a most cerssiai welcome. Many ad
NIT. with tears in their eyes, that thu
Anne. leans ''sont nos sauveurs. Gu
troops: are acting IN most exemplar.
mann. II, and everybody loves them
It is a. very interesting sight to SCI
eur boys" sitting in front of thu
houses holding babies and riding TIL
chiIdre n around on their backs. Il
spjtc If the language difficulty, tn
kmeric AN and French soldiers &c
along ,paendidiy, and are CONSTANT,
seen tc Cether. lie Sammie," as tn
French call aim, is a wonderful fellow
and The best soldier in the world. 1t i
q wonc erful inspiration to be here
Ard 7. vho love my country so dearly
deem, it a great privilege to serve il
her defe ps.,. Our entire brigade vii
he on he line shortly. AS our regi
ment is lready in splendid shape, Their
i eone likelihood that it will be de
tacbed rom the brigade and sent for
ward ear J+er. This due to the fact tina
we were trained by the splendid officer
Col. Dan ford.
hope tn: t you will not worry abou
me forI ar, most happy to be here il
"I,a Belle + rance" my grandfather
native Ian I'd. which he loved so dearly.
With 10 We and all good wishes.
Your devoted son,
ADoLPHE.