The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-09-27
News of the Bows

Clarence Mayer has sent the follow
ing letter to his father, A. F. Mayer,
from somewhere in France:
When we left Camp Merritt it was
so hot we could hardly breathe and
not a breeze stirring, but on the
ocean it was different, as most OF the
time we wore our OvercOats to keep
warm There were only a couple of
days that the ocean wasn't calm and
then the old ship rocked so hard we
couldn't walk around so we stuck
to our hunks. Nights we slept up on
deck, which was just simply great, for
the decks below were too close to be
comfortable. Our Y. M. c.. A. man kept
us singing and gave us books to read
so we had no time to feel blue. We
also had religious meetings several
times. Coming thru England we saw
some very pretty sights. We travelled
by rail quite a bit, which was very
tiresome. Our trip ended up in a side
door Pullman or French box car and
we were packed like bunch of sar-
dimes, but we wore that same old
smile we departed withholding could
discourage US. This war is not what
it's cracked up to be. The people in
the U. S. don't realize what our boys
are up against, for if they could see
some of the things we have seen they
would stop and think It's far from
being play-it's a mans full size job,
and we are all anxious to do our part
| o,,o Lotto % III, T Il,
to write but you know how it is.
Raymond j. Hefty who is In Eng
land, writes as follows to his mother,
Mrs. Sam Wagner of Milwaukee, He
says I'VE rode in small coaches from
the landing port. Each one has six
compartments, feach seating eight
men; there are side doors. Received a
souvenir message from King George V.
We're cheered all along the route The
country districts are looking fine, with
few wooden or frame buildings, most
ly all stone and the roof of red tile. All
the homes have the appearance of
neatness and in some places, but they
are few, one sees lawn enclosed
with a hedge fence. Today the sun is
shining brightly and we enjoyed out
of doors life. There are two canteens
here and a large Y. M. G. A. tent.
Don't know what we'd do without it.
Expect to go to France soon" Co. H,
34Oth Inf, Am. E. F.
Emil Tanck has received a token
from Archie Erickson who is in Eng
land, in the form of letter addressed
to the American soldiers by King
George V. of England, as follows:
SOLDIERS of the United States, the
people of the British Isles welcome
you on your way to take your stand
besides the armies of many nations
now fighting in the Old World the
great battle of human freedom.
The Allies will gain new heart and
spirit in your company 1 wish that l
could shake the hand of each one of
you and bid you God speed on your
mission. George r. II
The following Watertown men have
arrived safely overseas:
Lawrence A. Kelm, son of Mrs. John
Banner; William Luther, son of Mr..
and Mrs. William Luther; Elias Plath,
Sergeant Raymond Reichardt, Law
renee Pimpl, Leonard Zwieg, Arthur
Zastrow, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Zastrow; Sergeant Alfred Jimmie"
Dohr, sister of Mrs. E. r. Graf and a
former member of the Watertown ball
team; Fred Vergenz, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Walter Vergenz, route 3; Alex
Jaeger; Herman Lemke
Melvin Norbert and George Hoff-
mann, who had been stationed at
Camp Wadsworth, S. C. for some
months and later transferred to New
Orleans for coast patrol duty, are now
stationed at Little Rock, Ark