Oxford Democrat., 1918-11-26

INTERESTING L1rrER FROM AN OFFICER
IN FRANCE. :

INrEBEsrINe LETTER FROM AN orFIcEl
IN FRANCE.
The following letier was received By {
personal friend In Oxford County from
captain In the American forces II
| FRANcz, Oct. 8, 1918.
Dear Bill:
II most certainly IL about time I lel
you know Of my whereabouts. I am ar
atrocious correspondent; in fact, deserve
to be court. martialed for my negligence
However, am alive and we'll, and 70
gret to say-a long way from the front
| Our trip across was all that could be
desired; smooth sea, big steady ship,
ian old White Star Liner) good fellow.
ship and not sign OF Fritxy's "subs"-
not even scare. We landed In Eng.
lands well-known port after sailing far
north and received an enthusiastic vel.
come from the people. Our march
across the city from the dock to the
railroad station Was remarkable for two
reasons: 1st, great city with few men
| I'd, q city full of patriotism-being run by
the women, old men and boys left be-
hind.
We crossed England to the south and
then spent four days In crest Camp"
tsome of the privates took exception to
the name Of the csmp) and then marched
to one of England's southern ports and
crossed the Channel. One night of this
was enough-for the men 10 particular.
OF course officers get the preference.
Ny preference" was to sleep on an In
tested mattress on the main deck-no
bunk. With us were Australians, Eng
lish and New Zealanders. The men were
on the second deck down; the first deck
was given over to artillery horses cor
rallied in wooden pens. About midnight,
when the vessel began to roll, the pound
ing of the horses was terrific as they got
thrown about. It seemed to the men
below that any minute the animals
would break through their corrals
and come smashing through the
big open matches upon them. Not many
slept on that night. In other respects
the trip was very interesting; we were
on an old India packet manned by Q
Lascar crew. For penny or two these
Indian servants will polish your shoes,
fetch water, lug baggage, etc., etc., and
end mp with "Whst will Master have
nextP"
The coast of France was very
picturesque. After waiting about several
hours, we steamed to our dock and
landed. The march through the city
was an enthusiastic reception. We saw
many German prisoners at work on the
docks. After two days in another "rest
camp" We marched down through the
city again at night to entrain. Our ova-
tion this time was surprise, especially
when you consider that the American
troops were marching by the same way
every night. One little girl ran out from
the sidewalk with large bouquet of
roses and gave them to me.
That night our men got their first in
PRODUCTION to "Hommes 40, Chevaux
s"-the French box.car. We passed
south of Paris through Orleans and at
about midnight hsulted at the small
town of Bigny. Our battalion detrained
here and that night slept in pup tents.
The following day each company got
it's billet. "H" Company was given an
old chateau, unoccupied for good
many years. The grounds were beauti-
fully laid out; parks, gardens and long
walks lined with trees. My own billet
was fine big room In another chateau
somew hat more modern and comfortable,
about q half mile away.
As you probably know, our fine old
10th Division has had the misfortune to
be made Depot Division; that Is, we
are stationed back In the S. o. s. (Ser-
vice of Supply, the area behind the
Army Zone and here receive, train and
send to the front, replacement
troops arriving from the States. Our
com snies are stripped down to only the
N. G. O.'s (non.commissioned oficers).
All privates We trained have been sent
to the front. 1t is only q question Of
time now when both officers and N.
G. O.'s will be moved to the front
and new officers and those re-
covering from wounds will take our
places. The sooner this comes the
bett or, for the dull routine Of the Depot
Division is not to my liking.
We have good officers club 10 st.
Amand, the town in which is located
Division Headquarters, also very good
Masonic club has just started. The
Americans are very popular with the
French. Taking "French lessons" from
some pretty demoiselle is now one OF
the favorite indoor sports My
very kindest regards, etc.