Washington telegraph., 1919-01-10
WRITES INTERESTING
LETTER FROM FRANCE
Brother of Mrs. E. R. Timber
lake TeIIsO His Experience.

sister, Mrs. f.. r. Timberlake of
this city, telling of his move
ments in France. Major Cor
ry is known locally, having Wis
tied his sister here last year be-
fore sailing for France. His
letter follows:
Nogend-en-Ba Bassigne, France,
December 6, 1918.
Dear Ruth:-I was very glad to get
your latrer today and will show my
appreciation by answering at once.
A year ago we were with you in
quiet. peaceful America; and now, in
quiet little French town, with very
pleasant surroundings and all Of the
comforts that could be asked for
away from home. But the time that
has interviewed has been filled with ex-
periences neve, to be forgotten. Am
glad taht | am an American and am
glad of my presence in France during
the past few months. America has
been welded together in stronger
bonds because of this war than could
ever have been expected in ages of
peace times, and we know the world
better and the world knows US bet
ter. The good and the bad has been
demonstrated in us and in other ma
tions. We will profit by other ma
tions and they by us.
Always, heretofore, they have
known us by our adventurers, our
spenders, our diplomats, and a small
number Of commercial men; now our
brain and awn have mixed and min
gled with theirs, and study observa-
ton and absorption will bear their
fruits.
Now l will take you about quite a
bit in my doings and goings while
lnla 80 NY part y the -came;
On the 3ist OF January, after sec
ing Daisy off on Pennsylvania r
r. train, caught taxi in New
York and told the driver to take me
to pier Nc. 80. He said: "Sailinl
today on the Adriatic ?" l knew alb
solutely nothing about the name o
the vessel, but his surmise proved t.
be correct. At II noon the big liner
slipped quietly away from her berth
and past the Statute of Liberty, and
soon We we're out on the high seas
with America gradually fading into
blankness. No one except those who
held the ships wheel, knew whether
we would 90 the northern or southern
route. After we were well out at sea
she swung around to the north and |
chen guessed the route. We went in
to the harbor at Halifax and lay at
anchor for three days, no one being
permitted ashore.
After the three days our anchor
was quitcly raised and out to sea a
cain, collecting as we went twelve
other ships, including an American
battleship. Then north, north, north,
until | thought we would strike the
shores of Greenland, all ships in the
convoy maintaining a constant inter
val. BY watching the corrections of
the ships time. and keeping my watch
set on New York time, | was enabled
to keep closely informed as to lon
ritude; and by rough observation on
the sun at noon could get a close ap-
proximation as to latitude. All Of
which was in order to have some
thing to do and something to think
about.
Four days out from Liverpool we
were met by eight destroyers to es-
cort US through the danger zone. They
chased and froliced about the big
convoy like bird dogs working with
hunters.
On February l6 we landed at Liv-
crpool, spent the afternoon and a
part of the night in that city, ther
down to South Hampton by tram. The
next day was spent in South Hamp-
ton, and that night, in absolute dark
ness, crossed the channel to La Havre
France, arriving ashore She next
morning, February Is.
At La Havre we spent two days in
a British "Rest Camp"-Was not
tired when l went there, but extreme
ly so when left Here we made on
first real entry into the war. British
GERS, sitting around drinking run
and telling war stories, the stories
growing as the rum decreased in th'
bottle. The conversations were prin
cipally among themselves, but large
ly for our benefit. Here | heard tha
Boche planes did not dare SHOW
themselves during the day, and tha
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