Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-06-10


the third day out and had an awful
appetite for anything edible, due to
the sea air, guess. Even the rough
weather didn't bother me much, al
though the rolling of the ship made
walking around difficult during the
little blow.
Everything was crowded and in
convenient on the ship, not to say
monotonous, so all hands were on
deck with real, heartfelt Ameri-
can cheer when we sighted the coast
of France.
Everything was so cain and every
day, no one was worried or excited,
and the weather was so good that 1t
is hard to realize that we have cross
ed the Atlantic and the dangerous
submarine zone, where hundreds Of
good ships have been sunk. The
only things that would distinguish
the trip from a peaceful voyage was
the daily boat drill and the sharp
watch from the mast head, bridge
and gun platform, both by the crew
and by detail of soldiers.
Well, it is really hard to adequate
ly describe the first impressions of
France received on that bright,
sunny day | sailed into the French
port. The only way l could think
of it was as big, beautiful lands
cape painted by one of the old mas
ters. It's colors were SO vivid, its
contrasts so sharp, yet its whole ap-
pearance so peaceful that | felt |
only had to reach out and touch it
to rub it out.
Its background is a low, rolling
ridge of hills, dotted with symmetri-
cal clumps of dark green trees, with
smooth light green meadows in be-
tween. Between the eye and the hills
stretching away on every hand are
we'll titled fields on a fertile plain.
Each field is sharply divided from
the other and range in color from
brown and yellow to light green.
Here and there, surrounded by
carefully planted trees is the invari-
able gray stone and plaster farm
house with its bright red tile roof.
Every little distance from each
other is village or maybe small
town. They are all about the same
and very quaint. The houses are
joined together to form a solid front
right down the street; then they have
funny shutters and dewdads on the
front of the houses and the roofs are
very sharp, presenting funny ap-
pearance to the western eye.
WE'LL when | started this letter
was in rest camp, but have NOV
ed since then. This rest camp was
pretty good place, for we were all
pretty frazled out from our ocean
Journey. There we had clean bunk
houses, good food and bath and wash
house.
The French people to a certain ex-
ent were allowed inside the reserva-
ion at certain hours and many
md varied were tho things they
lad to sell, various fruits, tobacco
French, chocolate nic-nacks, and
ome were even looking for wash
ng and found quite lot, too, for
ONE of the fellows were flush with
money and not with energy so the
french "longche" looked like fine
way out of a disagreeable task But
he visible efforts of the fellows to
ak with the French laundress were
eally laughable. Many and varied
vere the signs and noises made on
ach side in an effort TO explain the
york wanted or the pay required,
ut with the help of a few busy
interpreters, things were finally
traightened out.
The French are very likeable peo-
lie, very Industrious and cheerful;
fter one considers the long strain
hey have been under, it seems won
Tful how they bear up.
Well, I'm up in a training camp
ow where | can hear the guns on
ne front, which is not far away Air
lanes are common here, flying over
cad all the time. | was out on an
Id battle-ground today and saw
osition that was fought over back
1914, so | claim I'm getting into
le war in earnest now.
must close now. ! don't know
neither this will all get to you or
OF. How is everyone? Where As
ert? How is everything? Tell every
ody hello. Your brother,
CHARLES.