Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-01-23

as If 1 had seen. 1t yes+ erday. 1t
looked wonderful with the sun just
about out Of sight. There we're two
other transports besides the@,"Mavi."
The other two travelled on either side
OF the "Mayi," and three armed cruis-
ers played around them. "a
An airship and two aeroplanes fol-
lowed us for quite distance out. Be-
sides these they had an observation
balloon in the bay.
That was the last night l slept out
Oh deck. The next day, after l.once
cot on deck, / couldn't even go below
for my meals. While was on deck
felt good, but as soon as started be-
low things would begin to whiri. me
next day I was still sick and as going
below for a meal was out Of the ques-
ton, I bought bar of chocolate and
ate that. I was just chewing the last
bjt when the fish got the whole OF 1t.
The next morning bought three lem
ons from a sailor for sixteen cents
hp;ece. That was the first that
could keep with me and believe me, II
tasted good. felt rather queer TOT
two or three days, but enjoyed the
rest of the trip. On Sunday the ne
groes had church services, and a re"
of us attended.
There were about $500 negroes and
1900 whites on board. If submarine
had shown up there would nave Deeh
q general stampede. The sailors told
us that they had changed their course
twice on account Of signs OF SUBS, Dut
we did not see any. Our conveys lett
liz to return to the states, out soon
others met us and took us the rest or
the way. We sure felt relief when
We met them.
Friday we came into the Bay OF Bis
cay and dropped anchor In front OF
St. Nazafrre, where we stayed Tor the
night and the next noon we lahoeo
and marched to camp about TWO
miles out of st. Nazaire. We stayed
there until Sunday, when we packed
M and boarded the train at st. Ma
zaire. Then we began to see France
from a box car-side- door Pulmanhs
is what we call them.
BREAD. water and corn /"W1ll1e" was
orr ration while on the train. In the
United States we could have mace the
trim in few hours, but this tram
otonned every few hours. At the stops
We reflled our canteens with 1resn
water. We were billeted at st. Arghanl
over night and the next morning we
marched about eight miles to Thesee'
where I classified as chauffeur again.
then marched to our camp ground,
They had tents ready for us, SO we
did not have to put up our pup tents'
Il, these you have to get OUTSIDE 10
cress or undress, but I never did either
OF these while was roomlng In thenl.
The first week we were there we had
{, sleep on the bare ground, but a1ter
tt at we had strawstacks.
had a couple Of swims in a river
while in this camp. The water was
cool, but it looked too good to pass
up.
The buddy / had with me was taken
to the hospital with rheumatism and
pneumonia. I have not heard from
HIM since.
Drinking water is scarce in France.
Some meals we had to eat without cot
fee or water. Twice while | was there
7 used my coffee to shave with. Ii
vas better for shaving than it was for
drinking.
At ST. Afghan we again boarded our
"side-door Pullmans," and in a Cay or
two were standing in what is left OF
the city of Verdun. We could hear
the guns plainly. In another hour we
the first cots we nad seen in
we're in the first cots we had seen in
France. Since then have had fairly
good eats and good place to sleep.
The first few days helped bury bodies
and after that went in a. ward as
night man, and was in the dressing
rooms, X-ra and operating rooms.
When the war was over helped load
trains, then was put in the officers
men was sick.
The only kind of ambulance | have
driven in France is French flivver."
Three fellows and myself took lit
tie trip into the Argonne wood, where
/ heard a shell going through the air
FOR the first time The Boche planes
bothered us a few times, but did no
damage.
Have had no sightseeing since the
war closed-we are kept too busy.
I ought to tell you about the wealth
er We are having-rain mostly, letting
up how and then to get a better start
Now 1 will have this censored and
mail il. With love,