Morris tribune., 1919-04-18
MATTESON TELLS OF
HIS TRIP TO FRANCE
Gives Interesting Account of Travels
Since the Time He Left
Home

her son, Leroy, who is a cook in Co.
L, 4th Prov. Reg, France. He tells
of his trip from home and relates
some of his experiences on his way
to Europe. The letter follows:
"After being drafted I went to
Camp Grant, Ill, and arrived there
the 25th of June, 1918, and was put
in Co. A, 343 Infantry, seth Division.
I did not do any drilling to amount
to anything. I was a cook nearly
from the start. August 31st our
battalion left for Toronto, Canada,
being the crack battalion out of seth.
We had this chance to see the Can
adam exposition and we had a most
wonderful time, travelling first class.
Our cook car was in the baggage car
and we had the best of eats. Toronto
was such a pretty town and we had
such a good time we hated to leave.
September 9Th we left for Camp
Mills, N. J. We stopped at Niagara
Falls and saw the falls at nights.
They flashed a large search light on
it and it was great. We also saw
Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Lib
erty as we crossed from Brooklyn to
Long Island, N. Y, arriving at Camp
Mills, September 9TH. September
10th a fellow and I got a pass for
New York City. We saw China
Town and New York's wonderful
subway and we went to Coney Island
some beautiful sights there. On
Wi +Io
OLYMPIC ship, one of the largest
ships afioat. We we're bound for
England. There were at least eight
or nine thousand on the boat, nurses,
telephone girls and soldiers. I was
not sick day. We did not see a
tin fish which means a submarine,
enjoyed the trip immensely.
1--WE arrived in South Hampton,
England, Sept. 21st. 1t is not such
a bad looking city, nearly everybody
rides a bicycle. The grub was sure
no good, eating English rations. We
lost a lot of boys from the flu Street
cars are not like our They are dou-
bic decks and are small.
september Goth we loaded a boat
for France which was sure crowded
and nearly had to stand up to sleep.
Arrived at CherbOurg, France, Oct.
list and we saw Old Gambling House
Casino. We went to rest at the
camp and then back to Cherbourg,
walking five or six miles with pack
They loaded us in box cars, 40 men
or 8 horses. Like trying to get
quarter of beef in salmon can.
Had bully beet, cold tomatoes and
French bread. We arrived at a
small town in southern France, Oct
9Th which was called st. Labue.
Most of the boys we're trans
ferred to the front We sure had
good meals while we we're in st.
Labue
November 9Th we left for lie
Mans, France, a city of about one
hundred thousand. We slept in pup
tents and got plenty hiking with
full packs, after which we left for
BelfOrt, France, where we stayed I'M
til Nov. IA, then moving to St.
Corr Ill, France and then to Bel
GUM Camp for day or so and back
to camp near lie Mans, France, Sleep
ing in pup tents. I imagine there is
at least $4,000 soldiers in camp, but
nearly all sleep in pup tents and rain
nearly all the time. We go to LIE
Mans quite often. Atqis is an old
city about 211 kilometers which is
about 13G miles from Paris. The
city is over crowded on account of
refugees. There is a tunnel built by
Romans, that is the main bridge or
tunnel and the walls on the other
ends were built in the third or fourth
century, and it sure looks ancient
II saw the house of Queen Ber-
engere. She died in 1880 and her
tomb may be seen in large Cathe-
saw furniture of the time of Louis
XIII and XIV and many other in
teresting relics. I also saw a beauti-
full Cathedral called st. Julien. It
occupied four centuries in building.
1t is said it was started in the middle
of the eleventh century and COM
pIeted in the fifteenth. The city it.
self is ancient, narrow streets and
the poor people wear wooden shoes,
wagons are pulled by only one horse.
wish you would see how dirty these
people are-me for U. S.
II intend to see more of France
when I get a chance and will have
more to tell you when 1 return. Lots
of love,
Leroy"
"P. S. I am we'll so don't worry.
Sleep in large tent where there is
stove. Five of us sleep in separ-
ate beds. The boys don't sleep in
pup tents now, either barracks or
squad tents. Eight is a squad"
Farmhouses Modernized.