The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-24
y Soldiers Letter.

Mr. w. c.. Harllee, Rembcrt, S. G.
My Deas Uncle: I have intended
writing YOU ever since l left the Unit !
ed States, but my duties have been so
very strenuous [ have not been able !
10 find the time in which to do SO. !
until now. The censorship Of mail ,,
is so very strict that l am not allow
cd to mention where l am Or exactly
what am doing, SO l will try and give
you Il limited idea Of the voyage over !
and the countries | have visited up to
this time.
AS you know we left Camp Sewer.
Greenville, on May 21st and with the
exception of one days stop at Camp
Mills, Long Island, n. Y, we were
continually travelling until June 18th
when we landed at port somewhere
in England and from there immedi-
ately entrained for rest camp about
zoo miles inland where we remained
until June goth when we We're taken
to a port somewhere in France and
the next day com aenced a journey
which lasted for one night and two
days, landing at our present station
Everyone in the train was complete
ly tried out owing to the fact that we
have travelled since leaving Camp Sc
vier more than 5000 miles, but now
the men are we'll rested and we are
hard down at training.
The voyage from the port we en-
barked at somewhere in Canada to
the port we landed at somewhere in
= ir,+n fr.;y n
particularly SO on account OF our pass
ing through a portion Of the iceberg
fields and the submarine danger zone
eff the coast of Ireland. We were
fortunate enough to see a school OF
whales and several icebergs as we'll
as experiencing two attacks from
submarines but with our tElnsport
bombs and torpedo boat destroyers.
the attacks were easily repulsed, the
submarine in short order. At this
point I am delighted to state that
from what I have seen and learned
the Allies have the submarines en-
tirely under control. They dare not
show themselves for if they do it is
certain death to them, which is east
ly accomplished by depth bomb the
Allies are now, using which when
discharged in the water is effective
in radius of 400 yards.
Quite a number of the men and Of
fcers on my transport were affected
by seasickness and myself particular
", for nearly a week I was deathly
sick and for the whole time ate prac-
tically nothing, but after we ran into
smooth waters. the ScaSicknesS left
me and I got all right in a few hours
and when we landed was in goo;t
shape to look out for the unloading
Of our equipment from the vessel.
Being the supply officer OF my regi-
ment, I had the distinction with de
tail of non-corlmissicned officers to
be the first to land from our boat.
The docks at the port where we
landed are the greatest in the world
and was an interesting sight which ]
(never expected to witness. The rail
roads in both England and France
nave fine road beds and while the
trains make good time the locomo-
tives, passenger cars and freight cars
are not more than half the size Of
those used in the United States. The
passenger cars are divided off into
small sections which accommodate
from six to eight men with doors
opening on the side of the car with
no way to communicate with other
sections. All cars are fitted with only
four wheels and the largest load
that can be placed On freight car
does not exceed ten, tons. From this
you can gather an idea Of how small
the cars are. The country through
which we passed in both England
and France is very similar and here
I will add that I have never seen a
more beautiful country. The farms
all look like landscape gardens, the
trees and flowers are most beautiful.
Cattle, poultry, sheep and swine
seem to all be thoroughbred and the
wheat, clover and grass fields are as
fine as I have seen. even in the West
Of our own country. Those three
crops are the principal things grown
with the exception of vegetables and
fruit. The orchards in England arc
principally apple orchards, but in
France they are principally cherries.
The country roads through both
England and France never cross q
railroad on the level but either un
derneath Or overhead, consequently
IN these countries there are very few
railroad accidents. so numerous in my
own country. The ten days we re-
manned in England was most interest
ing to me as we were stationed near
one Of the oldest towns in the coun-
try. in which there was an old cathe-
dral and city walls built by the Nor
mans over 900 years ago and many
other curiosities dating back for CEN
turies.
The food supply both in England
and France is very limited and con-
sequently the American soldier at this
time is not allowed to patronize res
to111-IutS or. hot los b11f if is thou