Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-02-07
AN INTERESTING LETTER
FROM A SOLDIER, BOY.

The following unusually interest
Jones. son of Creighton Jones. who
lives south of Nezperce. Cecil is a
nephew of Frank Jones of the Oro-
fino Mercantile Co. The young sol
dier is a graduate of Whitman col
lege, Walla Walla. Wash, and was
the editor of the college paper while
attending school there. His vivid
description of the overseas trip dis
plays his journalistic ability.
Dear Folks at Home:
Today we can tell you all about
our trip over, where we are now.
and what we have been doing. My
experiences will sound tame to
Ralph's and Fred's days among
bursting shells. Struggles face to
face with the Hun. and the thrills
of going over the top are as foreign
to me as they were four months ago.
while back at old Kearney. Quiet
preparation has been for the real
thing, my lot. Two weeks after
up to the front. Rumor has it that
they were wiped out almost entirely
two weeks later But this is not
the only event that prevented my
chances for actually fighting. Eighty
per cent of one unit that finished
the last school here were on the
casualty lists within three weeks
after finishing Second 'Lieus"
were in great demand. To increase
the supply rapidly. our course was
cut down to six weeks. They then
proceeded to put us on double
quick time Five of the weeks
were up when the curtain of war
dropped. Had the war lasted three
or four weeks longer. I might have
been able to spin yarns with my
two brothers. But that's what might
have been, and, besides. we are all
very glad the drama ceased when it
did.
l left off writing you in full the
go back to that date and mention
few incidents that l could not
heretofore. l got to see old Ralph
the night before he left to embark.
He was taking his bath; the sultry
weather made bathing the most
pleasant pastime possible. He look
ed mighty good (after he finished
his bath, of course), all logged up
in overseas uniform. We visited till
taps and l had to feel my way back
to camp.
The next evening l met Dick"
Mckay, first love-" then he sailed
when did, but l have never seen
him since. All l saw of New York
city was from the train and ferry
that took US to our transport. We
climbed up the gangway of the
Vanbon at noon. August 10. We
had all the room necessary due to
a heavy cargo of frsh meat aboard.
While l was washing my mess kit
after dinner the next day the boat
began to rock We had started our
13-day zigzag course across the At
lantic. OF course we We're filled
with complexity of emotions as
we slowly passed the statue of Lib
erty The throbbing of the engines
below was all that we heard. In a
few minutes the town of New York
and the Goddess of Liberty were
swallowed up by the fog. But we
were not alone. Our company con-
sisted of 13 transports. besides a
battleship and few destroyers.
/ The latter. with dirigible and a
! few hydroplanes. left us after the
second day out Then seven more
transports Joined us six days later
We were like so many ducklings
fiocked together for mutual protec-
tion.
Puget Sound. I was not sick a min
ute. In fact l haven't even SO much
as had a headache since my las,
shot in the arm at Camp Lewis.
was put on the military police forct
the second day out and did what
could to prevent the boys from
smoking after sunset. and alst
throwing cigarette butts over tn,
rail during the day. Twice. Will,
not thinking. l threw butt over
board myself, but a cautious surve,
Immediately afterwards assured M,
that had not been detected. There
were decks reserved for enlisted
men, which we kept them from
from leaving The remaining deck:
were for the officers and the NJ. p.
the half of each day they were of
duty With this duty three pianos
several good books, an hundred or 81
of interesting young fellows. thre,
square meals, lifeboat drill ant
those neighborly transports to lool