Mexico weekly ledger., 1919-04-10
TOUT sun,


u. S. S. Missouri writes an unusually
interesting letter to his father, Judge
J. A. Guthrie of this city. The letter
follows:
Dear Papa
U. S S. Missouri, Box IS, Post Of
flee New York.-Hoboken, N. j. 3-5-
'19.-Our ship the U. S. S. Missouri
arrived from Brest today at 1 p. M,
bringing over the 106 Machine Gun
Battalion all of New York. We left
Brest the 5th Instant had some engine
trouble, two broken valves that slack
ened our speed. The 106 are a fine
bunch off elbows who related many in
teresting stories of their hardships,
going three or four days without a
square meal, just an occasional hand
out. Sleeping in the mud when shells
and missels of the battle were singing
over and bursting around them. Some
of their SCARED faces and amputated
limbs verified the truth of their state
ments that they had been through and
done their parts as heroes in winning
this war. While l on this side for a
year or more had been engaged in pat
rol and guard service along the coast
principally on the look out For U-boats
until the monotony of it as l thought
and experienced, was terrible. But
after seeing and hearing these boys, l
have no kick to make. I've always had
plenty to eat and a dry place to sleep
in most of the time. l vas fearful of
one thing, as you know if there is a
clean orderly place anywhere is is on
a U. S. S. l thought Mr.. and Mrs.
Cootie would somehow steal a ride
back. However the clothing of the SOL
diers before coming abroad are fumi-
gated and renovated so there was
no place for the Cootie Family below
or above decks.
We left in February for France and
for four days we were almost in a con-
tinuous storm. At times the ship
acted loke a Texas bronco, jumping
three ways in one movement. This
is the time one finds at least a part
of what's inside of him land the stran-
gest thing is that when the sea is most
boisterous the fish demand the most
food and you have to hand, or rather
throw, it over to them whether you
like it or not. After you have donated
all you had in store, you want to quit
but can't. Some Middies get wei it
in one storm, others seldom, if ever.
After the storm the sea was smooth
the balance of the way. We entered
a narrow channel leading to the harbor
of Brest. From this, we had a beauti-
full view of the city and its verdent
hills, for it was springtime over there.
However after we landed, we took a
closer view of the narrow muddy
streets, Anticipated houses, little dinky
street cars, ten passengers and no
more, plenty of slush, dirt and rains.
1t rains there about three times a day.
There are German prisoners and
these captives are worked on the roads
and other heavy work about the city.
Nearly every nationality seems to be
represented in the city and the most of
them understand enough of English
and French to get along. The city has
hospitals where our boys are cared for
and a~nxiously waiting embarkation
fortheir homeland, and they are COM
Three ships brought 1900 with
US.
The greatest sight to witness is
when these ships come close in and
see the crowd of relative and friends
en- shore The soldiers line up on deck
each looking to recognize a face yell
"There he is" 81 see father, I
mother, wife, sister, ETC." laughing :
hand clapping and tears of joy trick !
ing down their care-worn and long J
faces. ,
In pushing and pulling our ship in '
~ some little tugs, one of them acct
bent mt of the propellers of 7
,ur ship. We will have to go to docks '
1t Philadelphia for repairs and we n
nay get a brief shore leave. +
I met a middle who knew Garrett :
Barnes of the U. S. S. Bridgeport. He Y
aid to tell me hello. I sent Garrett il
note, the best I could do. 1t would .
ave been a treat to have met him. T
l know I'll get some long delayed !;
etters and papers for it seems ages :,
ince l have read a word from home. :.
that you are well and best -
egards to friends, II
Lovingly, =,
CHARLES H. GUTHRIE. =,