The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-12-24

You have read accounts no doubt
of the manner in which all the bust
ness of troop shipping is carried on
and | could add little except details
1t took us eleven days to cross and
we were so glad to get out of that
sardine box that even England
looked fine to us. Coming across
wished many times for q camera to
record the stately sight of those
eleven monster ships pushing steadily
across the sea like some old armada
bearing men, men, men to help In
the great war. It was a quiet pic
ture and represented so much action.
L estimated that practically all OF
our division was in those vessels, and
possibly other contingents. All the
ships were grotesquely streaked with
camouflage paint, and all the way
they ceaselessly beat right and left
,zig-zags thru the choppy seas,
especially the last few days. We
went by some northern route, and
it got so cold I half expected to sight
Greenland some fine morning.
didn't like England, because l
couldn't get to see any of it, and
because it was dirty, misty weather,
and seemed gloomy The people were
not enthusiastic.
J loved France from the moment
l saw L'Havre one early morning
after keeping all night watch as On
agent to the colonel; in case of
emergency was to carry his orders
to my company. 1t was swift and
jumpy night ride. Almost every one
was sick. l wasn't They slept
everywhere SO it was next to i'm
possible to make ones way about on
deck or below. We shipped at
Southampton.
The rest" camps in England and
at L'Havre were rather uncomfort-
able places where we cleaned ur for
further journeying. We were kept
busy enough that we objected to the
name of rest camp" being applied
them.
The two billets where we spent q
week in each case after L'Havre were
fine. learned a lot of French and
a lot about the people in those two
weeks.
Everything is mixed up now as to
our future at this school. The
emergency is over and they don't
want any more officers. The ques-
ton is in every ones mind, and at
the same time visions of the Statue
of Liberty come persistently to our
minds.
While I was smoking my evening
cigar by q fireplace in little den
at the luxurious Y. M. C. A. / thought
of Sagehurst. Well ! want to come
home and spend a year or SO in
Blackfoot and then decide what to
do-unless l am by that time mar
ried, which might arrange things for
me.
But l will tell you that my main
attraction in America is that little
job with The Idaho Republican.
Were it not for that l think l should
strive with all my might to get at
tached over here for duty.
The principle advantage America
has over this country is comfort of
living. They are hundred years
behind us in the development of
comforts and conveniences.
LILO pcOplc arc Luc SdMc-Luc
usual small proportion who know
literature and music and enjoy art.
Their desires are simple and their
rather within reach. They
do not talk of moving anywhere, or
Of business opportunities. They have
their trades or professions and do
not work themselves sick by any
means. You know it makes some
difference in q mans outlook and
ambitions to spend year or so in
training. Right now the
only thing that holds me to q desire
FOR civil life is the start l had in
business there. / believe this uni
versal military training has its gen.
oral influence upon the people. Per-
haps also in America it will serve
TO slow up our inordirtate craving
for commercial triumphs.
A merry Christmas to Sagehurst.
Sincerely,
FREMONT.
Fl. Kutnewsky, First Sgt. Saumur
School, A. P. o. 718, Sau-
MIR France