The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-12-26
Fine Letter from
Donald Augustine

DOAHesAu ZAu6A0tAAAN
The following letter from Donald
Augustine to his father. j. w. Angus
fine. is full of interesting descriptions
Of the soidiers' life in France Since
the censorship has been lifted the
boys can tell much more of the inter
esting phases oi their experiences,
and Dopald writes entertainingly He
giorifes the boys have done real fight
ing and reereis that he didn't get over
there sooner in tine game:
On Active Service With the American
Exped itionary Force, Issodun,
France. November "a. 1915.
Death Father-This is what we call
Fathers Day Every lad here is
supposed to write to his dad today.
and these letters are supposed to be
ct their destination by Christmas. In
these letters the boys are allowed to
tell anything within reason. l haven't
time to go into detail. but will tell
when we left the States AMI some of
the happenings up to the present
time
We left Camp Upton or Sunday
morning ut about o'clock. September
80, believe. II was our first trip with
iuil packs. and many of US thought
we had kick coming on the way we
were jammed in those day coaches.
Now we would think those palace
cars. Just as IL was getting daylight
we rambled into Long Island station.
got on ard went TO our ferry TO take
C<,a 4. ~xfI
be some time before forget that early
morning ride across the East River
and Hudson from Long Isaind City to
Hoboken. II was IN impressive sight
20 me. to see the city with its enor-
nous buildings and skyscrapers. come
out of darkness into daylight. Then
there Was with all OF US, that feeling
OF suspense. having no idea where
We were headed for. TO another camp
or across. Not until we passed the
landing of our ferry and headed up
the river did we know where we were
going. Presently we could see that
giant ship. the avterland a German
vessel looming up in the early morn
ing mist. Then we started cheering.
for we knew II was overseas for sure,
This ship wa saiready loaded and
left that afternoon
We pulled up to the netx pier where
the George Washington was tied up.
only partly loaded This ship is an
other German vessel, second in size
only to the ayferiand In peace time
It must have been some fine ship. AS
Il was. we had no right to kick for all
transports we're crowded And the
mes sthey served was about. the best
anv transport served We had to lay
at the docks until loaded. The first
day or SO out enjoyed. but then the
"fu- commenced to work. and not
being on the water before. the most
OF US were somewhat upset. But be
fore we were across the most of US
got o. K. We had the finest kind OF
weather all the way over. II took
US about 1s days to come over. due &c
the zigzagging we had 10 do ordi'
narily the boat we were on could have
made II in fire or six days
We put into port at Brest. France,
Sunday morning. October Il. But as
luck would have IL. our company was
designated to clean up the ship Every
berthing ulace, mess hall and com
partment used by the troops. had &c
be washed thoroughly. II took US
about three days to do this.
Finally we did get our feet on Old
Mother Earth again, but oh. what a
country. Mud. mud. every place.
| We had been aboard ship for over
two weeks. during which time we had
had very little exercise. SO when II
came to taking a hike with full packs
some of US felt IL somewhat We got
into camp about Z p. m Fortunately
tents we're already up Most of US
were too tired to wait for coffee and
made our beds down. not even taking
time to fix up our tents and ditch
around them As a result. n number
of the men awoke in miniature lakes
that were formed after II started rain
shovels were in great demand. dc
not remember just how long We were
at that so-called rest camp at Brest
But l remember of only one day and
night that il didn't rain. anS IL only
took the smallest kind of a shower. or
rather drizzle. to make everything
sloppy for hours. The land was sim
ply saturated.
Well you may imagine the feelings
some of the lads who, in civil life,
were used to only the comforts of q
modern home. Camp life in the States
at its worst was q paradise to this
many Of them thought. Many lad
who kicked on the chuck and camps
of the States would have given every