Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-08
OUR 30 VS.
in
OUR C0UATRY'S SERVICE
Somewhere in France,
June 10. 1915,

June 10. 1915,
Received your most welcome letter
and also one from Everett.
Well, day before yesterday we
took IS mile ride in an auto truck.
and, believe me, you ought to con-
graduate yourself that you never
rode in a truck. I'm not all settled
in my joints yet. We arrived at
French and American camp COM
bined. and played for an official
dedication of the camp, l wish you
could have seen it. The flag raising
was done in a large square with the
flag pole in the centre. The band
and a squad of French buglers stood
at one end, and opposite us was
battalion of French troops and on
one of the ether sides was a battery
| of American troops, while opposite
them, making the fourth side to the
| SQUARE was a company of Italian
! troops. 1t was all very impressive
and military There was also
French general there who made a
short speech with two interpreter,
one interpreting to the Yankee
! troops and another to the Italians
! While there. we saw a great bunch
Of German prisoners. All of them
Tad the letters ~. G." painted in
white paint on some part of their
clothing. meaning ''prisonnaire
guerre" or prisoner of war. We did
not return until almost dark and
were very tired when we arrived
Then the next morning after our
trip of the day before we had to get
aboard another truck and strike out
to play for a funeral which makes
the fourth We have played for A
military funeral is rather a pretty
sight If one looks at that side OF it,.
The casket is carried on a gun car
riage to the cemetery with the band
ahead playing a funeral march, and
in the rear the company or battery
from which the deceased was a MEM
Der of, followed by a firing squad.
At the grave the band generally
plays hymn or two. and after the
casket is lowered the firing squad
fires three shots followed by Taps"
blown by a bugler. Afterwards
while marching away, the band
plays a snappy march.
After we got back we had a gas
mask drill and after that a foot in
spection and in the evening played
for A two hour concert. SO YOU sec
we are kept pretty busy.
| | have never seen the sense in this
camouiage business until we came
over here and saw tie workings Of
ii. 1t is truly wonderful how an OBJ
ject camout1aged can be made to
blend with the background. Have
seen a whole train of box cars paint
&c so that one would think he were
looking at the field beyond. 1t is
just as important a part of war as
firing a gun. There are even schools
here to teach it. There are also
schools teaching about the fine
points in anti aircraft, gas, bombs.
trench mortars, etc. Which reminds
me few days ago I'VE had a chance
IT, see {, barrage fred in the air from
antiaircraft guns. Shrapnel is used
tor this phase of the war. Each shot
was fired at the same height in the
air but each one was shot little
further than the one before it. The
shell bursts leaving a little white
clouds hanging in the air. The OBJ
ject of the barrage is to create a wall
OF shrapnel in the air so that an ex-
envy machine cannot get by that par
ticular spot without being hit.
While we were at the camp we
dedicated we saw several French
aces" An ACE" you know, is an
aviator who has brought down at
least five German planes. II noticed
that one of them had eight to his
credit. and all of them had been
awarded the "c'roix de Guerre'
These avaters certainly earn all the
medals they possess. A few days
ago one went UP and gave an ex-
fihition or flying which every
lavt or has to learn before alta cking
anx envy plane. This aviator went
through ali kinds of evolutions. end
over end, side over side, and the
tail dive" and one time came
straight down for 1900 feet before
Fighting himself. They use all these
dives in manouverinS for position
at attack. It is wonderful to watch
them, but good old terry firmly" is
where l belong and where I'm going
10 stay.
Just now a Frenchman came into
the barracks with those shells 7 told
you about in my last letter, so /
thought ] would get a pair. Hone
you will like them. Remember. thew
are made from the shells of the
French "75" gun and have proba hlv
sent their respects to the Huns be-
fore got them. The French "-5' are
called wonderful guns on account Of
the rapidity of which the shells can
he fired believe it is said they are
the quickest firing gun used in the
war, except Of course the machine
guns. ! must 60 now and make a
FOX to put the shells in. 7 will write
again soon. Love to all,
HARRY.
! From Harry T. Farnham. saith
Reet, Artillery Rand &C. A. o.
American Expeditionarv Forces via
New York, to Mrs H f. Farnham. s
Gannett street. Augusta. Me.
z