The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1918-05-03

The following is an extract from
a letter received from Sergeant Dal-
lam Monday evening. While to some
extent it Is rehash of former letters
and somewhat Of repetition OF the
letter to Mr.. Hadley, still there are ex-
tracts that throw more light upon the
trip across and life in sunny France
during war times. Although the let
ter Is dated March 30, after the big
drive had started, no mention is made
of that momentous event. Probably
that subject was tabooed by the
censor:
In previous letters I have told every
thing in the way OF description that I
could. or thought l could, within the
have been here long enough now to wear
on much of the novelty of things and
probably there are many sights that meet
would prove Interesting to you which we
over look BECAUSE Of familiarity.
so much time has elapsed since our
etossnE GLOSS can from pm Amerea tmat presume
telling something of the conditions of our
trip and the manner In which we travel
ed after arriving here. In fact. have
ters In American papers that told many
things ! understood were prohibited and
! have seen pictures also that gave in
Therefore. ] will venture to relate briefly
and In outline only little of our expert
Mills there was evidence that we were
soon to start abroad. The movement of
supplies and troops from the camp indi.
what was comng anG the weather
there in tents intolerable. Two nights
before we left we abandoned the tents
and moved into barracks pufit for aviators
where we were more comfortable. The
night before starting we received orders
to be In readiness to move and there was
little, sleeping for any of us as everyone
therewas much speculation as to whether
we were to embark at once or go to somc
other camp pL,, for q time. The majority
would 90 to Camp Merritt, and train for L
period before coming over.
We had spent the evening before in
case We did leave at once Tor France.
Long before dawn we received orders to
fall In with our packs (that is in heavy
marching order, and there followed q, a
place and prepare for march. Soon
the eager men we're in their places and
after brief wait we were marched out
the darkness quite impenetrable. Though
we could not see our fellows, the ordered
ed by the crunching tramp OF, many feet
on the frost-hardened ground. and this
together with the low-voiced commands
thai that we we we're were entering @ % the ~ big @ adventure %
OF our lives, Finally the command for:
ward. march" was given and repeated
down the column and we swung off down
the broad street through the camp. We
marched silently and swiftly and at the
end OF twenty minutes. when dawn was
just beginning. to diffuse an uncertain
long troop train. Without any deav We
climbed aboard and had hardly seated
ourselves when we were under way. How
but instead Of pulling into another camp
we found our rail journey terminated al
a port Of embarkation and we immedi-
ately marched to the dock ar, anG were soon soon
elated and full of excitement The big
trip. for which we had all been hoping
and impatientiy waiting. was finally be-
imagine than l can describe orr feelings
upon pulling out to sea and watching 'he
| shores Of America recede below the hor'-
board the transport from start to finish
The weather was fine. the sea smooth
and our creature comforts we'll cared for
| throughout the trip. There was a lot OF
genuine talent on board among the men
and we had a number OF splendid enter
| tainments including singing. instrum az tai
music. story telling. boxing and so forth
| AS we approached the danger zone life
on board continued in the same routine
but naturally everyone felt the exhilara-
| ton of ever present danger. Christmas
| day found us far at sea and we had turs
key dinner with cranberry sauce and
| other extras for dinner on that day The
| restless sea never failed to interest us
| especially as we had the exceptional in
centive to watch it closely for the pos
| sible appearance of a periscope For sew.
'eral days before reaching port on this
side we wore our life -preservers, most
! uncomfortable and cumbersome burden
1 and for several days and nights We die
not remove our clothing even to sleep
This was not because OF nervousness ol
fear, but orders. precaution in case
| OF accident"
After many days we heard the glat
shout land" and what a joy 1t was tC
see the far headline family showing tt
| the east. Gradually we neared the shore
| and all eyes were straining to take ir
every bit of the scene presented. AS We
pulled into port all that was odd ant
new and different was noted and studied
| with the deepest interest
Next came the Decentralization Wha
a thrill we felt on first touching foot t.
| the soil Of France. Little time was giver
us on the water front. After hast,
meal. or field ration. we fell In ant
marched into town. We were given