Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-20
Somewhere In Eng., Aug. I'd, l9lS

Somewhere in Eng, Aug. 26, 1915.
Dearest Mother, Dad and All:
Well, here we are in England and
expect to be here for some time, as
the men will get their training here
before going to France. Guess l Will
tell you about our landing and all
that is permitted by the censor.
We landed at one OF the largest
ports in the world and after disem-
barking marched out TO rest camp
nearby. on the trip across we never
thought much about submarines, al
though we always had our life pro-
servers handy. But when they told
us that we were out of the danger
zone and all the ships lights were
turned on, had a mighty queer
feeling all over. Everybody cheered
and threw their life preservers away
and we all had a regular jubilee.
Suppose you have my letter about
the Red Cross girls who were
aboard.
After a short stay at the rest camp
we came down here by train. And
such funny cars you never saw. The
passenger coaches are about 80 feet
long and divided into first, second
anu CLASS COlllphl ANp
toilet, wash basins or anything in
the second and third-class and there
is no communication between COM
partments. a train guard locks the
outside OF the compartment when
you get in and there you stay until
you reach your destination. Every
one goes that way and II is their
regular way OF travel Think OF be-
ing tied up in a little room for a
whole trip without chance of go
ing from one car to another or any
thing OF the kind. The first-class
compartments are about the size of
a smoking room cabinet we have at
the end OF our passenger coaches,
with running water and so on, One
travels in fine shape when he goes
first class.
Well, was battalion commander
over five squadrons and train COM
mander as well, so l had COM
partment all to myself, only wanted
10 have someone to talk to, and got
three lieutenantS 10 come In with
me. We stopped at a station for
lunch and the boys had hot coffee
served them by the English Red
Cross.
AlI lIt OlllNNlS koN was
sandwiches and coffee. We then
came on down here and came out to
camp. met lot OF men knew
when was a rookie at Lion Springs
We are dividing the squadron into
its various trades. etc. and will be
split up and reassembled after the
men are trained and then for the big
job in France.
The country in England Is beauti-
full wonderful meadows and green
hills Lots OF houses are thatched
and everything built to last thou
sand wears. | believe If an English
man wanted to build a dog house he
would build it Of 14-inCh stone
blocks so II would last Then we
could see old castles. ruins, etc, all
along the way Everything was
beautiful
But the English people have been
on a strict ration for some time.
You can't get meal without gov
ernment card, and everything is por-
toned out so much per person. No
candy to be bought--no meats to be
gotten in restaurants except fish.
except with a meat card. ] have
been treated very nice so far by the
few English have met. Saloons are
omen twice a day for three hours
each time, hut they don't have much
10 sell They get little Scotcn
or irish whisky In, so much per
week. but II don't last but little
while. so everyone drinks what they
call bitter beer and stout ans ale.
None OF them, much more than
Revo. only not SO good. You could
drink a barrel OF the stuff withouJ
receiving single kick. The men,
soldiers. women and all. go right into
the saloons together. They are di-
vided In sections and no one but
verv common people (7) drink at the
small bar A gentleman (?l or Of
Nrar nnmst not 20 LID TO the bar and