Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-04-18
Sergeant Snyder Writes From the Other
Side.
Somewhere, Sometime.

Dearest Dad-The date line is out oil
Difference to the censor, and if he cuts
I'D the letter so that it isn't readable,
we will bring down maledictions on his
head. BY this time you know whether
We have arrived safely or not, as do
also |, for at present we are cutting
through some salt water somewhere
q don't think the censor will cut out
that much). Until find out exactly
what ! cen say, there isn't a whole lot
that can tell, except things OF a gen
eral nature. First of all, the weather
has been ideal. While we were not IN
the danger zone, the sun Shone, the air
was warm and the men could lie around
on the decks summing themselves. Inc
sea was calm and there was very little
seasicknesS. The first few days there
was some seasickness, but fortunately
the famous disease has not touched me,
and | haven't had to leave the dining
room one time. There are not many
who can make that brag-even the
captain was under one day.
When we hit the danger zone the
clouds rose up out OF the horizon, the
wind blew, the rain descended, and a
friendly fog from out OF the north that
enyeloped the ship completely covered
us. AS result we sailed safely
through the danger zone, the biggest
scare we had being thunderous noise
in our section when bunch OF folding
wooden tables fell over as the ship
listed to Starboard. The resulting
racket was enough 10 make us think
for a few minutes that the whole ship
was shot to pieces. After the hrSt
shock we had a good laugh at some OF
the fellows who were really badly
scared, and they'll be kidded for some
time.
My luck still seems to be holding.
Four of us, first sergeants IN our regi-
ment, have a nice, coy little state
room all to ourselves, and we are as
comfortable as we can be. OF course,
the men are more or less crowded,
which is but natural, but they are COM
Portable and we'll fed and get plenty OF
fresh air, and don't have any work TO
do, so that they have no kick coming;
and except for the chronic kickers that
we have with us always, they are all
satisfied. They might as we'll be, too.
The SergeantS have it better than
had thought for We have a mess hall
of our own and every day we have one
of the military bands to play for US at
our noon mess. ilaybe that isn't some
class
lust when we land, and where we
land, are questions that the aforesaid
censor refuses to let me answer, even
if | could, and the most | can say is
that probably we are going to land
somewhere sometime this month,
captain Edwards, if he were the CEN
sor to read this letter, would Say:"For
heavens sake, cut out the camoutage,
which is what this letter amounts to-.
So far as health is concerned, | be-
lieve salt water agrees with me, for my
appetite is good and | sleep as though
danger were the remoteSt thing IN
my being. I'll admit, however, to feel
the solid earth under my feet again will
be a very pleasant sensation, and like
the heroes of mythical fame, shall feel
like falling down and kissing good old
Mother Earth"
What are my sensations in the danger
zone? Well, TO be frank with you, !
haven't had any sensation of fear, for
having just read "Over The Top" !
feel like Empey when he says that If
you are going TO get it, you are going
to get it, so what's the use OF worrying.
The thought of danger has been the
least of my trouble, the real problem
being, how can get aft to our company,
when after dark we can't cross the deck
and below all the bulkhead doors are
shut. Our State-room is well forward,
and the men are in the very rear end
of the ship. Ii is some job to get back
and forth between the two places, and
since my own quarters are a whole lot
more comfortable, | naturally spend
most of my time there.
The Y. M. G. A. has a place here on
the boat, and we have plenty of books
and magazines, so that time does not
hang heavy on our hands. There isn't
much work TO be done, and what there
is TO be done have been letting some
one else do. | sure have had an easy
time on the boat, but | guess that as
soon as we are settled we will have
plenty to do. hope that we will get
settled right away, too, for we are all
anxious to get at our regular work.
Things have been moving along smooth
ly, and there is nothing of Importance
that can tell you. There are lots of
things that would interest you, but the
censorship is too strict for me TO cut
loose with them, so those things will
have to wait until later.
Well, will close for this time Love
to all the folks, and keep my letters
coming to me, please.
Lovingly,
PTI