The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-03-31
SERCT. lH0S. HATCHER
WRITES INTERESTING
LETTER FROM HOLLAND
Rotterdam Holland,
March 18th, 1919.
Mr.. M. F. Hetherington,


Lakeland, Fla.
Dear Mr.. Hetherington: Will write
you a few lines in regard to nv trim
from st. Sulpice, France to Rotter.
dam Holland, which may be Of some
interest to you and the folks back
home:
Left st. sulpice. France enroute to
Chateau du Loir, February 10th, 1919.
al 3 a. M. arriving at Bordeaux
about II o'clock a. m. the same date,
too late to get the Paris Express. We
checked our baggage in Bordeaux and
proceeded to take the city In. We
first visited real American cafe and
mad lunch, and after luncheon we
went to picture show, which lasted
about two hours and then we rented
a taxi and went all over Bordeaux
and visited the principal places Of in
terest. Our train left the Midi station
at 9:25 p. M, so we caught the street
car and went to the depot and checked
our baggage enroute to Tours, France,
where we had to change cars for
Chateau du Loir. but owing 10 the
late hour arriving at Tours which was
!" a. m. the following morning The NJ.
p. escorted us up to the Red Cross
where they gave US a nice warm
breakfast, free of charge, which they
are doing all over France. AT a. m !.
February 18th we left Tours for
Chateau du Loir, @. M. Casual camp
arriving there about $3.50 a. m. the
same date, reporting upon arrival to
the commanding officer. We were
then assigned to barracks. General
headquarters issued an order to each
depot for three experienced men, and
OF course we were one of the first
three to arrive. We had to wait
around Chateau du Loir until all men
had arrived, which was 10 days.
We received orders February Dist,
1915 to report to Paris for further
Instructions. We left Chateau du
Loir at $50 p. M, arriving at Paris
at $50 p. m. the same date. We
checked In at Paris and went over
tc the Red Cross and ate supper, and
In the course Of an hour truck came
after US and carried us out to dig
nancourt barracks, about four or five
miles from the station, arriving there
about II midnight. The following
morning the Lieutenant in charge Of
the barracks, called US all down,
which was thirty-five Of us. and issued
Us all passes, reading from IL m. to Il
midnight. We visited every place OF
interest during that day, but we were
in Paris from the 21st until the 9th
and were issued passes every day.
and, Of course, we saw practically ev-'
erything that would interest anyone,
We left Paris February 9th 1879!
at 1870 p. M, a special train, con-
sisting Of seven coaches and two bag
gage cars. About $3.50 the following
morning We arrived at ST. Quentin,
France, where one of the largest bat.
ties was fought during September
and October, 1918. Every building In
the town was total ruin. After leav-
ing st. Quentin every town we passed
was blown up more or less, and the
train which we were riding in could
not run over four or five miles per
hour in some places on account of the
bridges and track had been destroyed
by the Germans. The French are
just beginning to get this track In
good shape again. The trains began
to run over this road about one
month ago. You can imagine what
they did to this country, for miles
and miles there were this barb wire
ENHANCEMENT, also dugouts and
trenches.
We arrived at Aulnoye, France, at
IL m. the 2Sth, which place the Ger
mans held for four years, and wap
one of their largest ammunition base
depots, a direct line to Paris. They
did but very little damage to this
place. The Allied aeroplanes did the
most of the damage by bombing it.
We had to wait at this place for two
hours, on account Of another train
being delayed. Some Of US walked
around the city for few minutes and
the German signs still remain on the
buildings. We left this place at ?
3. M, and in the course of three or
four hours we had crossed tie Bel
GUM border. but the country didn't
seemed to be damaged so much. About
$3.50 p. m. we arrived at Brussels,
but only stopped there for few min
utes and we didn't get a chance to
see much of it. We arrived at Ant