The Delta independent., 1919-02-07

Deen assigned. The roll is called to
see If any are missing. The purpose
of the drill is to accustom everybody
to reach the desired place in the short
lest possible time and without con-
fusion. Upon leaving New York we
were under an escort of two destroy
ers and one airplane. The escort left
us when we were two days out and
we crossed the high seas alone. The
ship was well armed and being very
fast, no U-boat could catch up with
it. About two days out from Liverpool
We picked up another escort of five
destroyers which accompanied us the
balance of the journey Happily, we
never got sight of an enemy submar
inc, and | doubt if an enemy submar-
inc got sight of US. On our journey
from the south coast of Ireland, thru
the narrows to Liverpool, we passed
through the region where the Lusit-
ania was sunk and while not anticipat-
ing an attack, we were prepared for
any kind of an emergency. We land
ed at the Cunard pier about seven
o'clock at night From there we
marched to an American rest camp
called knotty Ash, about miles dis
| tant.. Along the line of march the
women and children gave us very
enthusiastic welcome. and brought out
pitchers filled with tea from which
they gave us drinks during the halt
ing periods The scarcity of men was
extremely noticeable, except for Grip
pied men limping along the streets
I rJx.a 4,
to Southampton. The next evening
about $50 we were aboard the Nara
gansett, an old American side wheeler
and we started on our trip across the
channel. There was no sleep for us
that night Orders were issued to re-
main fully dressed and to wear life
jackets at all times. Five destroyers
escorted us across the channel waters
About midnight several shots were
fired by one of the destroyers. but no
information was obtainable as to the
cause of the firing and We could only
guess. We sailed into the port of La
Havre, France at a. m, and at 6
o'clock We were on the soil of France
The first noticeable thing l saw was
large number of German prisoners
at work along the piers and We COM
mented upon the fact that so few
guards were with them They dressed
in their own dark gray uniforms, but
with a large 'P" in black letters paint
ed on their backs. This meant "Pris-
onnier de Guerre" or prisoner of awr
Next came gangs of Chinese Coolies
brought over by the British as work
parties. At this camp there were
troops of all nationalities, including
Italian. Algerian, Australian, Serbian.
British. French and American. The
British officers extended to US
the use of the club rooms and rest
rooms where elegant meals for war
times We're served. Two days at La
Havre and We started upon our jour
ney to the interior of France l will
not attempt, at this time, to explain
our impression and chagrin at travell-
ing on French railroads. but we i'm
mediately agreed that it was no Won
der that the Germans came almost
within sight of Paris Our route lay
through Rouen Here we stopped for
meal. In the city we were shown
brass plate in the ground that mark
ed the spot in the public square where
Joan de Arc met her martyrdom, and
within sight from the brass plate was
large monument erected to her men,
ory. We went on again toward Paris.
We did not go in or through Paris.
but through st. Denis, in the environs
of Paris. and all we could see of Paris
u~nC ' hn :. ~.
the buildings. Resuming our journey
We travelled through Collommiers. on
to Chapmont, in the Haute Marne.
where General Fershing had his head
quarters. At Chaumont / met num-
Der of officers and men l knew From
Chaumont we went south through
Lansres, Neufchateau, Antilly. to Con
drecourt. about - miles from the bat
tie lines where was located the school
of the 1st army corps Arriving here
we found that the field officers had
no school here, and we were required
to 80 back to Langres. but we had to
wait five days for travel orders.
When travel orders came we pro-
ceeded to Langres where | went thru
the school and graduated with very
good qualification. was ordered to
rejoin my division which was then
getting located in the department of
cher with headquarters at La Guerche.
found that my regimental headquart-
ers were located at Chateau de Ora.
vier where I reported for duty. Here
| | learned that my battalion had been
divided with one company at Sancoins
one at Verraux. one at Germigny ZEN
empt. and one at Chateau Renaud |