The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-08-22
OskALOOsA BOY
SEEING FRANCE.
GEORGE cRuzEN TELLS STORY
OF OVERSEAS TRIP.
FROM CAMP DIX TO QUARTERS
An Interesting Story of Observations
Made Along the Way-Is Helping
Build New Camp On a ..
Large Scale.

Large Scale.
The Herald is permitted to print
parts of two letters written by George
Cruzen of his trip to France, together
with his observations and comment
upon the country and the things he
has seen. George was a little too
specific in parts and the censor was
somewhat severe with portions of his
communications. Enough of the
story remains however to make inter
esting reading,
July 0, 1918.
Dear Folks:-I can now appreciate
why the boys at the front are negli-
gent with their letters home. 1t is
almost impossible to find time to
write. In Dix we thought we were
hitting up the drill pretty fast, but
we were simply loafing as compared
to the past twelve days.
Here is brief outline of our trip
as near as | can tell it, without dates,
names of towns, ships, etc.
We were told one day to pack up
and stay in our tent area, ready to
move on call. At Z o'clock in the ev-
ening we were given two sandwiches,
a canteen of coffee and advised not
Ito touch them until instructed, as no
one knew just where we would get
our next mess.
About midnight we liked to a wait
ing train. rode the rest of the night
| IN p;,r
found ourselves waiting to board ship.
Hurrah for the Red Cross. We were
hungry as a pet bear (still with sand
witches we couldn't eat) but they were
on the job with the best coffee and
the sweetest rolls ] have yet tasted.
We boarded ship about 1880. Had
our first "a la carte" meal aboard at
noon. I'll not say anything about the
rest of the trip, at least not now. But
were here now, and it isn't so won
derful either as over a million Yanks
have gone ahead of us, another mil
lion is on the way, and still more to
follow.
Over There.
Well, we landed, filed out of the
boat and marched over many blocks
of cobble stones through a drizzle to
a train. We left the town, quite a
bit of a bloomin' burg" too, and be
gan to ride. At three o'clock in the
afternoon the sky cleared, the sun
came out, and say, listen closely, the
part of { } | saw on that ride was
the most beautiful, picturesque and
peaceful looking country l have ever
seen. Let me repeat, it was beauti-
full. But in it and back of it all, the
laid. You see nothing but women
and children, old men and soldiers
) il stayed on the train until almost
midnight when we stopped Then
we took another hike through dark
ened streets to what is called a sol
, diers' embarkation rest camp. Here
is how and how much we rested:
Flopped on the weed floor of tent
for few hours. Then we got break
fast, coffee, bacon and a piece of the
bread, and be glad you can get it.
Then we had a physical inspection a
bath, and here / am, midnight, again
aboard another but much smaller
troop ship, in state room. But
wore going Jake" CHATS o. X. in
the army. We have a little light in
here which is enabling me to scribblc
this letter
Seen Along the Way.
Practically all the houses saw as
luz 4, 4 -
the same design and all of brick. They
resemble our older apartment build.
ings. Everywhere things are tidy
and clean, Every inch of the soil
is titled and in places unsuitable for
grain or crops is flower bed. It
seems impossible they can keep things
so nice working handicapped as they
are. The roads are just wide enough
for two vehicles to pass. They twist
and turn every where and are mostly
| lined with hedge and always hard
surfaced. Horses are hitched tan
| dem to a wagon.
And the railways. You could put
an engine and several freight cars in
one OF our 10000 capacity box cars.
But they seem to do the work with
them
Holy smoke! how this boat rolls.
They will put me off pretty soon or
I'll spoil my reputation gained com
ing over and be compelled to toss that
cup of cocoa and piece of bread with
all that perfectly good jam omit over
in the briny.
A France At Last.
Next Day: Had good nights
rest and landed in port of north
ern France this morning. Had my
first army hard tack with a little !
piece of cheese for breakfast. Can't |
tell you much about France yet as
I've only seen one town and five miles |
of country. l noticed every foot |
of that FIVE miles however as we hiked |
the first three in the sun and last |
two in the rain.
While this section of France is
not pretty, | am advised that we have I
iandqd I'm nroha hlv tho woraf rarf 81