The Republican journal., 1919-06-05
A Travel Letter From Brest

Seret. Major Walter Anderson, for
merly of this city, now with the 9th Di-
vision overseas, writes the following in
teresting letter to his sister, Mrs Her.
bert S. Morey, of his recent vacation
trip:
Now just little about my trip. sent
you a few cards which show some Of
the ground covered. We left Brest and
went to Paris, which took us fourteen
hours. Arriving at Paris we were al
lowed twenty-four hours in which to
catch our train to any place we wanted
to 60 in France, for our passes read, "Al
points in France, except Paris and Leave
Areas" But when you get into Paris
you are allowed twenty-four hours in
which to make your train. Well after
our tWenty-four hours was up we took
the train to Chateau Thierry, where we
remained all night and the next day and
took IN the battlefield there and at Bel
leau Wood where we made our first Won
dertul drive and so many of our BOYS are
resting The place where Big Bertha was
the gun they used to throw shells on Paris,
is near Chateau Thierry From there>we
went to Rheims and saw for the first
time what destruction the Germans had
done, not only in destroying the won
derful cathedral, but to the city in gen.
eral. We arrived there in the afternoon
and remained until the next day at three.
We took in the French and German
trenches, even the Hindenburg Line We
then went IN roundabout way to YER
dun, passing through the devastated area
all the way, st. Mihiel, Argonne and all
the other places. Destruction, destruc-
ton everywhere. Arrived at Verdun in
time to have dinner and then made trip
through the Citadel, the underground
city of Verdun, which was very interest
Ing. can't stop to tell you all about it,
Tor II should get started on any one of
these places, taps would sound and morn
ing would come and l would only have
started, so say l why start. The next
morning we went out by truck to Fl.
Douamont. That was one of the forts
that was taken by the Germans at Yer
dun and held by them for eight months
We had the pleasure of going all through
it, and having each and every part of it
explained to us. When we had finished,
one of the guides told US that a most
wonderful trip was over to Ft. de Vaux,
and another fort, and then walk around
through the torn up area and make Yer
dun, a distance of about fifteen miles.
In getting to Ft. de Vaux we had to cross
Death Valley where so many thousand
Germans and French lost their lives.
After going through shell holes and dug
outs, climbing wire entanglements, etc,
we made the fort. There were only two
of the thiTty-four forts which protect
Verdun taken by the Germans. They
were Douamont and de Naux, so we were
very fortunate to be able to see both of
them. The dead were everywhere AS
yet nothing had been done to rebury
them, so they are only slightly covered in
shell holes. 1t is nothing to see their
feet sticking up, or an arm. | won't say
any more. The next day Dead Mans S
Hill and The Crown Princes Tunnel were
visited. Dead Mans Hill was the hill
that was taken and retaken so many
times From there we could see the Ar
gonne, where our own boys had
made the wonderful fight and sacrifice.
Not far from this place is the largest
American cemetery, 28,800 American
dead. They are digging up the bodies
and reburyng them. 1t is sure sad
sight to see, for if you are a true Ameri-
can you can't help but think of the
mothers whose hearts ale breaking for
her boy and he far away in a grave in
lonely France. The following morning
we left for the better part of France and
struck out for the Sunny South of
France We were about three days max
ing the trip as we stopped off at several
points and took in the interesting sights,
but our final destination was Nice, which
was one of the most wonderful places
ever saw. The Mediterranean is such a
blue, Just the color of a robins egg, and
the red roofs on all The cottages, makes
everything indescrbable.
For four days we took in Nice and
vicinity of fifty miles. making the border
of Italy in our travels, and the little city
in Italy from which place I mailed you a
card. | would have loved to have gone
into Italy for her people SCENE so full C
life. We intended to make Germany
but could not find time in which to make
the trip, May have time to make it yet
before leaving for home. My motto is
see all you can while the seeing is good.
We then left the southern part of France
and wandered up leisurely to Paris where
we remained three more days We were
only supposed to stay for twenty-four
hours, but we worked it differently. We
were only supposed to be away fourteen
days, but got our passes day ahead of
time so we left day early, and got back
one day late, making sixteen days in all.
| could have seen twice what l saw if it
had not been for the young fellow who
was with me. He rather got tired of
sightseeing and wanted to rest too often.
l am a wonder at going when get on the
go, and he could not keep up with me,
but then we saw great deal more than
we expected to see.
THE CHJIQCHEC