Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-23

December IL, 1917.
Dear Mother and All:
1t does not seem possible I'm Tin
the army now; off down here and
did not get myself at it.
| should hav. written before but
didn't get at It. have not been only
further to go; seems some like
dream, part of it.
We left Detroit Saturday at 200
o'clock and did not get here until
about 5 80 Sunday morning. 1t was
an awful long time on the road. We
had to wait in Toledo long time and
again we waited in Fostoria, and did
not run very fast when on the move.
We made our first drive on coming
into Toledo, when an express wagon
got on the track just ahead Of the
train It smashed the wagon and tore
thing up some, but no one was hurt.
The impact nearly threw everyone
out Of their seats, for the brakes were
slammed on with "biff."
At Fostoria we stopped at q grocery
store and bakery and the bunch made
raid on them. Quite lot of stuff
was carried away without being paid
for. Some of the boys were feeling
pretty good and were some rough. AS
rule, however, they are pretty
good bunch of fellows.
| There are four of US from the Max
well, and so far we have been able to
stay together. When we got in Sun
day morning we got some thing to eat
and then went out to the barracks.
The first thing we had to do was to
pass through the receiving station
and check our suitcases. We were
Obliged to stay out in one of the shan
ties about an hour and then had mess,
which was not very tempting for the
first meal, but since then it has been
first rate, as we do not expect Hotel
Statler feeds. One thing that is bad
about it is that they are in shape to
handle only about 400 day and there
are some four or five thousand or
more. They have been coming in
from all over the country, but now
they are getting them thinned out
some. One bunch was sent out yes
terday and another large bunch today
to different parts of the coutry. One
group went to Fort Dodge, Iowa; an
other to a port in Maryland; another
to Florida and still another to Texas.
The boys have been staying down.
in. We stayed at the hotel last night
four of us in a room for so cents each,
is better than bunking at the bar
racks. When they get a few more
away we will be better fixed.
/ am not sure just how long we will
be here. They took the measurements
for our uniforms Sunday, but it might
be a day or two yet before we get
them, for they have so many that
they are short on them. We won't
be able to get our overcoats for some
time yet. Lots of the boys have their
uniforms but have to wear their civil
liam overcoats. They also are out of
dope for incubation or "shot in the
arm" but got some today and gave
one bunch a crack of it.
/ don't suppose we will be here SO
very long after we get fixed out with
uniforms. 1t might be two and pos
sibly three weeks, but nothing is GER
tain, and the worst Of all don't
think there will be any chance for us
to get away at Christmas time. / am
sorry we had to leave Detroit before
that time, but am glad I am in, al
though we did not have anything to
; do after taking measurements on Sun
day, so came downtown and got to
bed early as we sure were tired.
All we did at camp today was to
eat twice and lay around the rest OF
the time There is not much to it
only to be on hand and ready, until
, we get our suits, and then there won'i
be much until we get to some other
! camp.
Will write as soon as we get. To-
Gated and get our suitcases. White
in care of Columbus Barracks, Y. M
G. A. Lots of love,
Harry Fuller.