Imperial Valley press., 1918-09-18

ALLEY PRESS, WEDNES
was bitter experience and one we
will never forget, but at the time
every man conducted himself as a
truly gallant soldier. A few got sick,
but most of us pulled through little
the worse for wear. There was not
enough room for all the men to lie
down at once and on those rumblin"
cattle cars sleep was impossible. Our
rations were the simplest-hardtack
and bully beef; no coffe, and water
only at intervals. We had two nights
of this, also two days, and | can as
sure you that it will stand out al
ways as one of the experiences of
this war. But, as | said above, our
men took it all as men and passed it
off as a good joke--only memorable
one.
After two days and nights on the
freight train we fir,'lly arrived at our
prospective destination. That is, we
thought we had, but on further in
vestigation we discovered that for
some unaccountable reason we had
been carried twenty miles beyond om
place of disentrainment. Hence there
was nothing to do but march back
the twenty miles. But, since it was
then almost 9 o'clock and already
dark. we made camp for the night
out in the open and waited for the
morrow. We were up at the next
day, made coffee-the first in DAYS
and started on the twenty-mi.e hike
t. our real home.
E! We had rather hard hike. The
distance was long and the roads ex-
caedingly rocky and hard. We had
no heavy socks to wear, such as are
required on marches, and those we
did have were badly in need of the
hundry. Hence it was not long until
blisters began showing on our feet.
One by one the men began falling out
and for a while we wondered if we
would have any men left to take to
he front with u.s. We were all right
very other ay, but cur feet were or
I bum for sure.
For some good reason my own feet
tayed on the job. | did not have a
lister and marched further than most
c. the men at that. | kept running
up and down the line trying to get
the men to sing and laugh and every
things else, Int it was hard work Il
was difficult to sing and be gay aft
er that long ride in boxcars without
proper food and sleep. But we final
ly got there-that is, those of us who
did not have Clustered feet-and by
this time arc very much on the jot
Somewhere in France" When we
finally arrived at our billets, every
body was so nearly exhausted that
they laid down on the ground and
ten minutes after we halted most of
the men were sound asleep on the
ground
We are billeted in two small vii
lagos, as are most of the troops of
our division. We live with the vii
lage folk and are getting we'll ac-
quainted with their ways of living
Our quarters are not as they are in
Camp Lewis. but are quite reason
aole considering our proximity to the
front The men sleep in barns and
sheds not occupied by cattle and
Eorses--although we'll occupied by
other varieties of animals
Six Of our men who live in a chick
en- house had the nerve to put up a
sign on their gate bearing the in
scription God Bless Our Home" But
While our billets are decidedly humble.
! am sure they have stimulated more
humor than criticism or disgust It
is wonderful how our men have adap-
ted themselves to the many hardships
that have been inflicted upon them
since leaving the States.
! As usual, the, officers are housed
much better than they deserve. You
have heard of the beautiful chateaus
of France. Well, the one | am in is
not to be surpassed in this part of
France. 1t IS magnificent place.
Reminds me very much of La Canada,
although it is more elaborate and the
grounds are more extensive. The es-
tate and also the chateau are over
200 years old and in all the time the
title to the property has been kept in
the same family. The husband is
dead and the place is occupied by the
madame, four children, governess
nd retinue of servants. It's mag
nlflcence and elaborateness is bevond