Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-03-13
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE
Interesting Letter From an Alexan-
dria Boy Who Is Doing His Duty
With Gen. Pershing's Forces.

With Gen. Pershing's Forces.
The many friends in this city o
Mr.. C. w. Fletcher, an Alexandrl'
boy, who is with Gen. Pershlng
forces in France, will be pleased te
read the following letter written by
him to his fellow-members of the }
r. N. Curtin Memorial Baraca C!as;
of the First Baptist Church:
Dear Friends:
Since my departure from the state:
I have thought much of you and lone
since intended writing, but have pu'
it off from time to time because the
task has been rendered so difficult D!
the necessary omission of the most
Interesting details. For that reason
I shall not confine myself to war OF
war topics-if | did | should probably
conclude with one paragraph.
My leaving the states was lmpeil-
ed by desire to be connected IN
some way with the Army of our
country, whose interest | had long
at heart. l was leaving my home
and friends, and that action was tax
en- after much deli5eration, bit II
was not until our ship steamed out OF
harbor that my very heart was seem
ingly dragged from me, ard | watch
ed, longirgly, yearningly, the fast
disappearing shores Of my beloved
country and turned hopefully. eager
", toward the land for which we were
bound.
The voyage was not altogether
without it's thrills, nor was it devoid
of the dreadful seasickness. Person.
ally, ! was good seaman; in fact,
good enough to keep perfectly well
during the trip, but most CT our crew
were sick, it being the first time
across for them. The weather could
not have been improved, except for
two days, when it rainsd. The sea
was moderately smooth until we
reached the Bay of (?), when 1t was
lust rough enough to dash the dishes
from the tables, and q few OF the
fellows, caught off guard, were
thr2wn from the upper bunEs to the
floor.
Our vezsel was a former Hamburg
American liner, ard although built
ostensibly for passenger service. was
50 designed as to render it easily con-
yertible into On Army transport u
was probably twenty years CID, YET
tho evidence Of Germany's prepara-
~, for the war was easily discern
ible in its construction. 1t makes me
Glad when think of the kaiser build
ing ships to transport our troops
Tbore were two former German SHIPS
in our feet both heavily loaded with
troops.
We g,ocked in the early morning
and at 7 o'clock l had my first close
view OF the French shores, but, tor
Ill 7 saw. one might at first have
thouoht it was Germany instead OF
Fronce for there were number OF
carman prisoners working on the
docks, and on the tramway leaaing
70 the docks. This was certainly not
what | expected to see, but | was
nevertheless pleased, firstly, because
thew were captives, and secondly, be-
cause they seemed to be so well pleas
Cd their evident satisfaction, think
is a poor reputation for the morale
OF the German army. Upon getIins
shoro leave ] explored" the little
town and the older section impressed
me very favorably. I met the Amer''
con consul VINO was kind enough tc
cable to the Secretary Of State Oh my
earre arrival, which message was r.
peated by the Secretary to my nome
In a short time we lelI Ihls pA@.
and an all night ride in one OF tne
French compartment cars brought Us
to a great city.
Transportation facilities IN france
is of course, a serious problem, more
so than in our own country | DC
l;eve however, a great deal OF TINS
could be more successfully WORKED
ont if they would build freight car'
that look less like toys, Tor those
have seen are only about haif tn'
size of ours. and if the passenger car:
were of different type. These car:
are built with side openings as wei
as doors at both ends, and are dlvldet
into compartments, each of which WI
accommodate six or eight persons
These are not we'll adapted to tn
hauling Of troops, but the frst clas
coaches furnish excellent accommoda
ticn for tourists or other small par
90 cn