The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-07-25
LETTERS FROM OVERTHERE
Three Garrett County Soldiers
Write to their Folks at Home

A number of letters received recently
from the Garrett county soldiers in
SCI vice lover there" have been for
warded to The Republican for publica-
ton. From these the following have
been select for publication this week,
the first being that written home by
Corporal Preston e. DeBerry, son of Mr..
and Airs Clark DeBerry, of near Oak
land, who is in service as a motor truck
driver somewhere in France:
Sunday, June %, 1918.
DEAR HOMEFoIKS:-W write an
other letter while have nothing else to
do this evening.
We Just got back here Friday from
making delivery of trucks to ore of
the q. S. Bases. Part of our company
went to a seaport and drove forty
three Ford and seventeen G. M. C's
through. We covered three hundred
and sixty miles in about three days.
Had good roads all the way, but picked
up lois of hob nails ard had plenty of
punctures. | used seven different in
patched on my Ford in one day. At
hiSht wv hdd hdJ " olCSP VII III tuC
back of our cars We drove over Mt.
Blanc on our way. Were within about
sixty miles of the front and could hear
the guns on quiet mornings. Stayed in
a camp there after our trip and got
some of the finest, big, black, sweet
cherries there, ate so many | was al
most sick. 1t was the first fruit we
had seen for some time, except out of
cans, and it was hard to quit eating.
We are all Learning little French as
we go along and have chance to study
it here at this place.
Saw a hotel on our trip Iun by some
Monsieur DuBarry, don't know whether
he is any relation or not.
The French women seem to be doing
most of the farm work. They are
making hay and cultivating crops all
along the country we came through
Sometimes a few German prisoners
would be working too, without any
guards, but whenever they were in num-
bers there were several guards. We
also had the honor to get to sleep in one
of Napolc on's horse stables while
travelling.
| think these trains over here would
put NE out of commission quicker than
anything. Each cGr is divided into
compartments holding eight men. They
have two wooden seats across the car
facing each other, and one has 20
either lie on the tloCf or situp ard sleep,
neither OF which is especially comfort
able. Then we eat all canned goods
and drink French coffee, which is not
first Lass by any means. We get
plenty to eat in camp, though. Have
all been given wrap leggings and little
cans I'D our other leggings and hats
taken away.
Some of the boys received mail when
we got back here. This is my third
letter home since arriving oversee. We
just about get settl~1 down and some
clothes washed when we are gone again
We may stay here a little while this
time. We are all hoping to stop long
enough to get a payday for last month
We can buy few things to eat here,
but not like in the States Whenever
we get where there is commissary we
can buy few things and get them
cheaper than at home.
Suppose everyone is busy cultlvating
crops and preparing TO make hay be-
fore many more weeks. We have seen
nothing more Of the men left behind at
Camp Mills; don't know if they are over
yet or not. One sub appeared when We
were at sea but soon pulled down her
pei scope when fired on. Have not
seen any boys from home over here and
don't know where they are. Has the
regiment belonged to at Camp Meade
left vet? Have the other men of the
first draft been called yet?
Don't have much chance to write, and
only one Of these letters every two
weeks, so they may be slow getting
there. Am getting along and have
been well. Write when you can and
don t work too hard. Will close with
love to all.
Over here it is dark only about five
or six hours a day now. Has been lainy
the last few days.
CORP. P. G. DEBERRY,
Co. D, 307, A. T.
From Edgar Kelley, son of Mr.. and