The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-05

~
INNt with the American Expedi-
tionary Forces in France.
lg& &SI has written a story cover
w. ing the travels Of the 309th
Regiment of Engineers from
Camp Sherman, Ohio, to the Engin-
GERS Camp at Sevenay, France.
I'VE left Camp Sherman, Ohio, via
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad about
/ O'Clock on the afternoon of August
"a. 1918, with all equipment packed
for overseas" he writes. I'VE were
glad to leave, for life in the training
camps had grown monotonous to US.
Everyone in the company knew that
we we're going across. but knew moth
ing at to which country would be our
destination.
Our first stop was in Columbus, o..
at which place we were given refresh
ments by the Red Cross.
Our trip through the states to New
York was an enjoyable one. Every
body waved US God-speed, and at all
points where we stopped the Red Cross
was there with q reception for US. The
weather had been nice and the scenery
fine, changing from the broad level
fields of Ohio, to the more rugged
country of Pennsylvania, and then to
the beauty of the New York Catskills.
through which we travelled, following
the SusQuehanna."
stay at Camp Mills
Their arrival and stay in New York
is then described by Drummer:
Our stay at Camp Mills terminated
on September s. when we again pack
ed our equipment and returned to
Long Island City. We now got our
first look at the vessel on which we
were to sail. The steamer Scandina-
Wan, a British boat manned by British
sailors, was locked at the pier waiting
to be loaded. The boat was highly
camouhaged, and as we were told 1t
was still fast boat, in spite of the
fact that its prime was at least ten
years behind it,
Following is an interesting descrip-
ton OF the trip out of New York har-
Dor and the boats conveys:
after escorting us for several
hours, the dirigibles, aeroplanes and
submarine chasers left us and return
ed. The ships then settled down to
their task.
Although everybody appeared hap
by and carefree, the thought that we
were leaving our all back of that long
gray sline that had gradually faded In
| the west, made many heavy hearts,
and many of us wondered if we would
ever get to see it again.
| They Spot ireland.
About 3 o'clock in the morning on
| the twelfth day out we spotted Ire
land. The ride between Ireland and
Scotland was pretty, with bright and
vari-colored fields sloping to the
| waters edge.
I'VE passed what is known as Pad
dy's Mile Stone an immense rock
reaching up out of the water to a
/ height of almost 900 feet. We could
| see this rock for several hours before
we reached it."
Drummer explained that he recover
ed from the verge of seasickness and
enjoyed the trip. after passing Dunn
barton, we steamed slowly up the
| Clyde river" he writes, 'and from
there on up to Glasgow"
4 They departed from Glasgow by
train, going through interesting little
villages and larger cities.
Wood is scarce in the British Isles
and there are no fences other than the
old stone ones that go winding in and
out of the hill, which probably were
made centuries ago"
Stops in Winchester and Southland
ton were then described, followed by
the trip across the English Channel
under cover of the darkness of the
night.
After receiving breakfast Of
bareback, cheese and coffee we debark
ed and were lined along the dock il
company front, for inspection.
I'VE finally arrived at st. Antier, +
small village about eighty miles froE
the border line between France an6
Spain. Here we unloaded our equip
ment and marched to st. Germaine, q
distance of seven miles. The inhabi
tants number about 200, who were
very surprised at our arrival. Here
we were billeted in the homes of resi-
dents, in barns, chicken cooks, aEi
other buildings which could be made
habitable. After getting thorough,
settled here we constructed rife
range in order that we might keep II
practice and be ready for the Boche.
when the time came. The remaindel
Of our time was spent in repairing thu
roads and polishing up things in gen
eral
ION October 1 Major General Hale
visited St. Germaine and gave TIT
regiment talk. He told US that thi