Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-07-18
Letter From Stuart VanMetre.
Somewhere in France,
Dear Mother-Will write you a fey

June 19, 1918.
Dear Mother-Will write you few
lines. though it is hard to say much un-
less should 90 into details, and then
II would take several volumes TO tell
even half. We moved from the rest
billet to another town in France, and
now the medical department is divided,
part with the lst Battalion and the rest
with the End Battalion. The End Bat
talon, which | am in, is billeted IN a
small town in private homes, school
buildings and in fact any place where
there is room to quarter the men. we
1.-THE medical department OF End b are
Guartered in a private>home. We have
a fair-sized room for ten OF us, and It
certainly beats sleeping under the prop
tents shelter half as we did one night.
The ground was not exactly like a
straw tick, although we slept very well.
Since here have not had so much to do,
as we are by no means Strengthened out
vet, but then when we get our horses
there will be plenty to do
had hoped that Grove B and |
could have been together, but as he is
in A Battery land that is in the LIST
Battalion), presume we will be Sepa-
rated most of the time from now on. |
am sure We were the happiest boys in
the regiment when we got of the boat.
We were together most every day COM
ing across, and this question often es-
caped our lips, "When are we going to
land ?" | felt perfectly safe at all
times, as we were well guarded.
This little town has but several hun
dred inhabitants We were the first
American soldiers quartered here, and
quite naturally attracted much atten-
ton at first; but now the novelty is
wearing off. The first day came here
went in a store and had terrible
time trying to make the proprletress
understand, but by few French phrases
and various motions with my hands for
nearly half hour was able to buy 10
cents worth OF eats. Now they are
beginning to understand better. and so
are tine soldiers. If the article | wish
to purchase is not on the shelf | get
out my little French and American dc
tionary and try to pronounce the word,
and then if they don't understand
show them the word in the book.
can understand a few things the chill
dren say, but the old people talk so
blooming fast that it takes keen ear
to get one word out of each sentence.
Have seen but one person here that
knows more than few English words,
and that is a girl who works in a store.
She understands our language and can
talk very we'll. Today man and his
wife stopped at our quarters inqulrlng
for her brother and | could understand
her o. X. She spent eight years IN
Philadelphia, so she should know our
language.
During our conversation she told me
that she and her little boy had been
prisoners in Germany for two years,
but did not exactly understand how
she came to be released. AT that time
her husband was French soldier. He
was once captured, but after five days
escaped and later he was discharged
from service on account of poor eye
sight.
Another thing of interest is the rail-
roads here. To place one of our cars
in the States beside one of those here
would be like comparing a giant to
pigmy. The passenger coaches are
very small, but accommodate more than
one would think. While they ride very
comfortably those in the States are good
enough for me- During the trip coffee
was given us at several of the stops,
and that helped out great deal with
our rationS.
AS it is nearing supper time, will
close. At this time you are just eating
dinner, as there are five hours difference
in time-12 o'clock at home and 5
O'Clock here.
With love to all,
STUART.
Medical Department,
3l3 Field Artillery, A. E. F., France.
DR.. Bushong has sold his property