The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-05

ing division, and that we should get
into the best shape possible, as the
3O9th Engineers were going to the
front within month.
From that time on we had an in
teresting topic Of conversation.
eOur stay in st. Germaine term
mated on October 8, when we moved
our regimental maneuyer field a dis
lance OF three miles, and located with
in a ten-minute walk Of st. Vincent,
somewhat larger village Here we
| eamped until October %, during which
time the weather was gloomy and wet,
raining most Of the time.
We were anxious to leave here. We
did not like sleeping on the ground,
especially in bad weather. We wei
coined the news when it came that
We were going to leave, regardless of
the fact that everything pointed to
cur going to the front where we knew
the living conditions were much
worse. We did not care, however We
were getting to the state where We
wanted to get in and get it over. To
US it was a settled fact, when after
a march of twelve miles, to Musician
where we were to entrain, we noticed
part of the train was loaded with
terials which. although foreign to rs,
were no doubt familiar to the men in
tie trenches.
We were again given a three-day
ration, and at 100 pulled away from
Musician, and again we jolted over
French railroads, passing through
Monpont, Coutres, Montendre, JonZac,
| Saintes, La Rochelle, La Roche-sur-
Yon, Nantes, Savenay, detraining at
Monitor, France, two days later.
THE scenery we had passed through
was interesting, but no one in our car
| had map, and we gradually became
confused as to what part of France
we were in. At Vertou, small town
near Nantes, we we're enlightened.
The train stopped there awhile, and
we were given a chance to talk to
some of Uncle Sans boys who were
] located there. They told us of our To-
/ cation and probable destination which
we afterwards learned to be correct.
after detraining at Monitor, we
were marched through the town, to a
section of Camp Monitor, where
!, through a drizzling rain we pitched
our pup tents We were not over
joye dat this. but getting used to
/ this kind of weather, we made camp,
like ducks taking to water.
Here the regiment was broken up,
| Company C to Donge; Company D to
the engineers camp, Savenay, and the
other three companies, A, e and F,
remaining at Camp Monitor.
THE latter three companies were
Immediately assigned to warehouse
and railroad construction. with the
prospect of remaining at Camp Mon
/ toir at least three months"
/ Then Drummer explained that the
battle front became a secondary mat
| ter while they erected floors tor their
tents, put up stoves and prepared gen
orally for winter.
at was here at Camp Monitor that
we received word of the surrender of
Austria Hungary. 1t was welcome
news to US, and from that time on
we looked forward to the surrender
of Germany
"On November 10 we were again
! given orders to move. At o'clock the
following morning, that memorable
day, November II, we left Camp Mon
toir in auto trucks enroute to join
/ Company D at the engineers camp
Sayenay, a, distance of twelve miles.
while waiting for permission to
enter this camp after our ride through
the country, we first received the
news that the war was over This was
impaired to us by Spanish laborer
who tried to explain La Guerre Fini.
We told him we 'comprennd,' and he
went on his way happily satisfied.
Before the day was over we heard
the news on every side. The couriers
passing us told us of the celebration
=
We were only glad to hear the news
1t meant much more to US. however
than we were able to realize. The
news that it was all over although glad
news, lett pang of regret with me
that we hadn't seen the front, and
really done something there.
Have no idea when we will be leav
ing for home, but we are all hoping
it will not be for long"