The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-12-31
INTERESTING LETTER
FROM CLYDE EPTING

FROM CLYDE EPTING
Nov. "a, 1918,
3oe Division, Supply Tr., U. S. A.,
P. o. No. 791.
Dear Dad: Today has been pro-
claimed by General Pershing Faith
ar's Day" and we are all requested by
ths general to write to our fathers.
Some of the strict rules regarding
censorship during fighting period have
been moderated, so now am able to
tell you most anything know.
Will just give you few details of
our trip from the time we arrived in
Liverpool, as you know Liverpool is
the largest cotton exchange market
in the world and has got the largest
dry dock in the world; this accounts
for us going to Liverpool as we sailed
on the largest and fastest and former
ly the finest passenger ship afloat, the
Aquitania, sister ship to the Lusitania,
which was sunk by submarine and
was eventually one of the causes of
our participation in the war.
After lingering in Liverpool day
or two we crossed England in perfect
ly good passenger cars to Southamp-
ton on the English Channel: there we
rested few days more. / believe l
have already described the scenes of
England, so will not dwell on that.
We left Southampton on the beauti-
full afternoon of August 16. l say
beautiful afternoon because the sun
was just setting, going down the his
toric Southampton river. A large hy-
droplane plant, with hydroplanes float
ing all around us, and the beautiful
scenes, tends to make most wonder
full landscape. Added to this, was
meeting, coming out of the Southamp-
ton harbor our largest ship, the Olym-
pic, flying the Stare and Stripes,
loaded with some ten thousand of our
boys. We crossed over the channel
without accident, to the French port
of Cherbourg. We rested again for
about three days at camp out of
Cherbourg. Then by rail to the train
ing area around TonnaiTe. We were
not right in Tonnaire, but ouE head
quarters were there. We were sta
toned and billeted in suburb OF
Ervy, in the State of Aube, France.
liked this locality finc, the people very
hospitable, and the country level and
beautiful, and the most fertile part of
France
After being around Ervy for about
one month We entrained for Bruyeres,
within twenty miles of the front, 10
Gated in the Cascade mountains, a
branch of the original Alps. After ten
days stay at Bruyeres we left in big
motor trucks for Roan-Le-Etape, six
miles from ST. Die, both of these cities
were in German hands but were recap.
tured by French before we entered the
war. Raon-Le-Etape, is only three
miles from the actual fighting front
Our infantry fought there then, but
the supply train always stays back at
some rail head. l didn't get any near.
er the front this this, at this place.
Raon-Le-Etape is on. the extreme
southern end of the battle line, down
near the Swiss border. This was con.
sidered quiet sector, very little fight,
ing going on there. The mountainous
section preventing much hard fighting.
These mountains are the Vosges, also
branch of the Alps. These noun.
tains are not so high, but continu'
Gus range, they make beautiful
scene and you may go out on these
mountains and kill wild hogs and deer.
We didn't lose any men scarcely on
this front, in fact our division was
not yet considered fighting any, but
just getting a little experience in the
front line trenches. l worked pretty
hard there, in fact we led the divis,
ion in doing dental work. We extract.
ed lots of teeth for the French civil.
ians.
. We could hear the guns and see the
flashes of fire from the bomb and
artillery, the prettiest sight is to see
an aeroplane battle, something excit,
ing.
After staying at Raon-Le-Etape for
month we were moved by trucks to
Rambervillers, just about 20 miles
from Raon-Le-Etape, for a few days