Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-03-12
LIEUT.. WHALEN
VISITS IRELAND
Continued from First Page.


the Lakes of Killarney. A man by
the name of Mr.. Courtney was my
driver and he pointed out a lake on
the top of the highest mountain in
Ireland. He said a man at one time
attempted to find out the depth of
the lake, and he was picked UP in
cobbler's shop in Australia.
When l crossed the channel we
landed at LIE Hare and l went from
there to- Paris and Immediately look
ed up Mr.. T. F. Conner, of DEBORAH
I had a very pleasant visit with him.
He is doing excellent work in Paris,
and I believe he is to be placed in
charge of all the motor tran sport
work in Paris. You know Paris is
the headquarters of the X. C. work
and you would be surprised to see
their large warehouse and all the
trucks and cars they have tn. ie
Every day they send out tons and
tons of different articles to all parts
of France and Germany in these
cars. So to have complete charge If
all transportation is mighty big
job, and it speaks very we'll for Tom
ITO be given so great a responsibility
+ / met many X. c.. men in Paris; at.
tended big boxing show put on BY
them, where they had about 5
bouts. Boxing is very popular over
here, and / am sure when the dough
boys get home that boxing will
again become very popular in AM
erica. 1t is very manly sport.
By the way, l saw in the paper the
other day that they are trying to
make America smokeless. don't
know what success they will have,
but am sure if an advocate of the
anti-smoke league comes over here
/ he would be just about as welcome
famong the doughboys as the Kaiser
would be at the peace conference.
After my visit in PARISH went to
bordeaux and was assigned to PAUL
lac. When came out here l found
10000 soldiers and sailors on Sun
day. I went about SO miles to say
Mass at another place where there
are 10000 soldiers. / had very
busy day there. The first X. c. hut
built in France is at that place. y
Since coming here the weather
ihas been very nice. They say spring
Twill be here in two weeks. ~
The troops keep coming here and
ptake transports for; the states. Most
likely by next September all the sol
diers will be home except the Army
of Occupation. and others who will be
kept here for special work, such as
engineers, labor battallions, etc.
/ have no idea when I will get
home. They are keeping all the
Chaplains here, for they say they are
short Of them.
| was surprised to- read in the pa
pers that Comisky let Rowland out.
| met Bill Friel in Paris. He is X.
c. secretary there. He at one time
managed st. Paul, and later Column
bus and Milwaukee l often saw him
in st. Paul. Johnny Ever5 is gone
home again. saw baseball game
last Sunday afternoon, and as soon
as the weather gets little warmer
there will be many games played
here.
| Well | think / have written great
deal already. / will have to call a
halt. I hope Fred Biermann will have
an opportunity to get to Ireland, for
would like to read letter of his
describing that great country, with
its grand people.
l had a fine time there and was
sorry / could not remain longer, but
perhaps can get back there when
the weather is better than it was
when / was there.
+ All your people are very we'll.
Your mother is fine and your married
brother and his wife and two child
rem are very well. Your twin brother
looks just like you and talks like
you, and many times I almost
thought it was yourself. He is a
very fine gentleman, but he could
not be otherwise since he is bro
Their of yours. ~..-
You remember Fighting Bob
Evans. His son is at this camp. There
| is also Colonel here by the name
of Pepin, graduate Of st. Thomas
college of st. Paul. He was the first
man to get his commission from
that institution back in 1908.
have many pleasant times with him.
There is also another Catholic Chap
lain here by the name of Father
Kettell, who is a professor of Scrip
ture in st. Bernards Seminary,
Rochester, N. Y. There are three K.
C. secretaries here and they have a
h;o but hare Thara 10 alco n theatre