Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-01-02
FLYING IN FRANCE.
Former Newport Boy Writes of I'm
pressions There and His Work.

Following are extracts from let
tiers recently received by Mr.. anC
Mrs. George B. Young of Montpelier
formerly of Newport, from their son
John, who is in the aviation service II
France:
November IL, 1917
Gin still another camp-an Ameri'
can camp this time-only well under
construction, and humming with the
bang and rattle of industry. 1t is
typically an American camp huge
ugly, efficient. We do not mingle the
artistic with the useful like the
French, as is very plain to me coming
from a French to an American camp
In the French are gardens and parks
and artistic tiles even in the barrack
roofs and bowers and grass. Here
there is mud, mud, mud, six inches
deep and sticky like glue and the bar
racks are dismal but arranged to &C,
commodate a large number in small
| place, and the barrack streets are
straight and narrow but with no
chance for gardens or parks. In
short, the camp here is an excellent
example of just the way the United
States intends to get into this war
in a thorough, stern, steady manner,
in which there is all work and no play
It's the difference between France and
America The Frenchman puts his
love of beauty and gaiety into the
most common and naturally disagree
able phases Of even the war, so MAX
ing the burden lighter and the life
less dull. But the American goes at
it hammer and tongs, all set for a
fight and facing all it's harsh aspects
with no attempt at ameliorations.
Which method makes for the greatest
ultimate success remains to be seen.
I am inclined to think though, that
upholding the spirit-the so-called
"morale'' of the poilu (soldier). I
can see plainly that the American has
got to grit teeth and bear it, but he
will not grin. It's all too gloomy.
Of course things may brighten up
and my impressions of the soberness
of the boys here-insome quarters it
is more than soberness-mayb be ex-
aggerated for the camp is still topsy-
turvy and not running smoothly and
it has rained and gotten muddier and
muddier every day.
We are very well fed, and the is
sues of clothing, etc.,-the material
things-are all that soldier could
fairly ask. Our flying clothes for in
stance-a fur-lined "teddy bear" or
jumpers electrically wired to connect
with the machine for heat, a helmet
likewise warmed and gloves and fur
lined boots all electrically heated. We
won't get cold any more at any rate.
Am down here to learn to fly the
fast scout or ''chasse" machines
cannot tell you the kind, but they are
fo~ fCh4 OF 4ho
12O-14O miles per hour and land at
about 80. This last speed is what
makes them hard to manage. They
swoop down so fast that you hardly
have time to think and as the controls
must be handled very prettily to land
many fellows get fused and have &C
cidents but not serious usually. It's
satisfaction to know they are the
most difficult machine in the world to
fly at any rate. Did tell you about
my tests for the brevet in the other
school? Had great sport, with such
fine weather that We sailed along
beautifully finishing up in two days.
One day / went up $4,000 feet and
stayed two hours and a half. It's a
great old view up there and you feel
Is though you were in another realm
and the earth below looks like a con-
tour map. I had furlough Of three
days and instead Of going to Paris
took a bicycle ride through Touraine,
visiting the most beautiful chateau in
France. We met the Count de Ussy
through great luck and were shown
through his castle which is one of the
most beautiful in France that is still
lived in. 1t is not open to the public
but he is much interested in America
and aviation, so the concession"
November %, 1917.
This camp is improving rapidly
with development. I am well, have
lots of friends here, lot of awfully de-
cent fellows here and the sailing isn't
SO rough, gets better every day as we
become more accustomed to it. Have
not flown for some time as the flying
accommodations are as yet pretty
slim. The machines here are beauties
though and I'm crazy to get up in
one. They are different from the
training machines we have been
learning on as a Mercer is from a five
ton truck.
We are learning how not to act
when we get commissions and am
sure this training will be valuable
Just as business training from the
bottom up makes a more valuable
man than starting in near the top.
Have just been talking with some
German prisoners. Some of them are
really splendid looking men. It is as
tonishing how well informed they are
in some matters, such as the recent
German advances, the number of
Americans over here, etc., and on the
other hand how ignorant they are
about steps leading up to the war,
etc. One fellow Of about our age, as
clean and fine a looking man as j
have seen in France, insisted that
France and England both declared |