The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-02-12

considerably and possibly worrying a
bit about what has happened since we
left for France. My other letters were
SO brief that don't suppose they en-
lightened you very much: SO I'm going
to briefly follow up what has happened
We. left Paris Island October 18th and
Travelled to Hoboken by train on the
Sunday following we showed out of New
York harbor and waved goodbye to the
Statue of Liberty. l got little sea-
sick on the way. across. We had good
ship, the Pocahontas, alias Princess
Irene" for she was AN interned German
vessel
We were on the water exactly two
weeks because .Zig-zag course was roll
lowed to dodge subs The ship pulled
into the pretty harbor at Brest, Fance,
on November LIST. They kept us at Brest
about 8 days and then we were load
ed on box cars (cheveaut S,-hommes 32-
400 and started across France. Our train
went about two hours ride south of
as Rennes, Laval, Byon and Bourges.
After being on the train about 40 hours.
we We're unloaded at replacement camp
at st. Aignons where we We're given new
in the gas chamber. Then we got back
on the cars and ~ hour ride, bound
for the front. Passed through Chatai!-
Ion, etc. Then one night about 3 o'clock
stopped. At daylight next morning the
train started out slowly again because
1t was necessary to lay new track ahead,
the old road being torn up and lombard
ed by the Heinies in their retreat.
At the little town of Dun we lett the
cars for good and began our hiking. Our
replacement outfit was hurrying to Join
the fifth and sixth regiments Of marines
Of the old second division, and they had
quite start on us.
On that hike we passed from France
into Lorraine, across a corner of Bel
GUM and joined the fifth and sixth reg
iments at Arlon, Belgium. The Germans
had held all this territory for over four
years. Their evacuation and retreat was
one big route and they threw away and
abandoned lots of machinery and equip
ment. III bet there was a car load of
German helmets strung along the road.
The rest Of the hike was across Lux
emburg and Germany toward the Rhine,
and now were located for awhile i'll
Rheinbrohl, a town on the banks Of the
Rhine about 80 kms from Coblenz.
= I spent Thanksgiving on the German
Luxembourg line. We had pretty "bon''
Christmas Got a bar of chocolates and
can of Lowney's chocolate between
each two men. ',E
We put in most of our time drilling
and doing guard duty-(b besides killing
coolies that seem to thrive pretty well
on u.s. We have our clothes cootie-
lied pretty regularly and get bath to
I've had racking cough for a week,
due to bum pair of shoes I had, which
wet my feet and kept them wet Now we
have supplies brought in regularly and
l drew new pair. Do you remember
the cold 1 had at Grinnell last year?
Well, it's about like that only now I
can't cut classes and lie in my little den
till feel better. ..
/ heard that Percy Cavett> sent home
a German helmet We sure saw a lot
of them but just the same there was no
chance of sending one to "the folks. at
home" sj..
Last Sunday we had some pictures
taken and they turned out pretty good,
only I hardly knew myself, was so
skinny. On that hike to the Rhine
got rid of every bit of surplus flesh, and
my legs got thin but hard as steel.
/ can't help wonder what my chances
are for college again. I'm probably here
for some time. / sort of envy some of
the fellows at home but at the same
time / wouldn't change places. If had
a good fountain pen could write often
er. AS it is we all mooch off two or
three fellows. You can't get good pens
in Germany. There is hardly a bit of |
rubber. On their trucks they use iron
rims and tires and they make some rack
ct going over the cobblestones. About !
the only thing can see that Germany
has plenty Of is from and beer. "Seife'
or soap is almost a luxury to the rich.
Say maybe you feel like objecting to
the use Of any dutch words but while |
4 guy was sure out OF luck at home If he