The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-03-27
JOHNSON
on FRITZ TRAIL
Somewhere in France,

Somewhere in France.
Dear Mother:
AS have nothing to do, will try to
write history of what have done
since left New York.
We arrived at Camp Mills Sunday,
April %, and from then till the morn
ing of May End we were getting
thoroughly equipped for oversee du-
ty. We got on the train at Minneo-
la, Long Island, at $3.50 in the morn
ing and our stay there had been quite
strenuous-not very much Sleep. We
got to New York about $3.50 and went
aboard ferry, which took US to the
Cunard Line Station, where we were
put aboard the Carpathia, of which
l am sure you have all heard. This
was on the End of May. She left
dock that night do not remember
what time as l was asleep. She
went out beyond the three mile limit
where the convoy was made up; we
left some time that afternoon.
And so our trip across the briney
deep started. We had fine weather
most of the way, only couple of days
that were kind of rough. In the
whole, it was very pleasant voyage
and was really the only time that
can say that l had to myself. We
had number of boxing matches and
movies. did not get sea-sick as
expected, but of course there were
a few who fed the fishes.
We came down the Irish coast and
saw some very pretty scenery. Ar
rived at Liverpool on the night of the
14th of May. Liverpool is very fine
harbor, Liverpool on one side and
Sunnyside on the other, which were
the prettiest places ever saw They
had a gentle slope from the sea and
the whole place was built from red
brick, all of which made very fine
view from the harbor. We were not
unloaded till the morning of the 18th
put on trains and sent to Winchester
to camp about mile out called
Moan Hill We arrived about sun
down, spent two nights here, put on
trains and in about fifteen minutes
we were at South Hampton. We
laid around the docks till night fall
when we were put aboard a steam
launch and packed like sardines. In
the morning we were at La Havre,
France. This was the worst night
lever put in--you could not move with
out stepping on some one. We got
off that morning and stretched our
limbs, were marched about two miles
to Camp No. 2 where we rested up
about two days and were then sent
north to place called Gee, little
ways from the ocean. Could take a
street car and go to a town called
LIE Treport in few minutes. We
stayed here about month when we
moved to a place called Arches, but
we only stayed here for not quite
week, then 1 went with an advance
detail to Wesserling to find place
for Division Headquarters. Was here
for about week and saw some thrill
ing times.
I was now in Germany in what
they call Allsace Lorraine. This
is mostly mountains and can quite
we'll remember when we crossed the
border, went through tunnel as we
got higher up all the time. We had
to get out several times to adjust the
lcarburetor Of the car. From here
we went to Ventron and stayed here
about two months and then went to
Geradmir on the same front, only
little more active. Was here about
two weeks and in the meantime met
quite number of the boys 1 came
over with. Kersting and 1 walked
around town all one evening and
talked about old times, but they were
only billetted in this place couple
O1yos y AOA AOAS W0 OAIA olAOu
and went to Lunneville, took trucks
from here ent to Rosters, here
about a week, were again loaded onto
trucks and went into the st. Mabel
drive-division headquarters was at
Liverdon. Was not much to this
|only artillery fire. This was the only
real action I had seen till then.
could not sleep for the guns but l
got over that later on. After the
drive we were loaded on trucks and
rode them for about two days, we
had now arrived at real front Divi-
sion headquarters was put at what
they call Com lie Cont Farm.
And now they started the great