Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-18

ton or nothing 70 ra..-Adv.
febl1.is-IS
were taken % me army camp there.
u IS a ia-ss casual camp where they
send all the fellows who have lost
their companies until they can find
out where they are.
About the middle Of the forenoon
We ran into fellow who was in the
headquarters Co. OF our regiment.
he took US down to the Co. which
just by chance Rad happened TO
make this place their HEADQUARTERS
We went with him down 10 the Co
which was CHARTERED in an old mar
het building. right in the middle OF
the city. We had q pretty good time
there, saw many very interesting
things and places. We visited The
Chateau De Blois. bull, in the 10Th
century, ] believe. where the Kings of
France used 10 live.
] can; begin 20 tell you all we
saw. II was wonderful. ard | have
post cards Of it all TO show VOL. if
don't lose them. We staid in Blojs
two weeks. Then they changed their
headquarters to Tours ard We wen,
with them. This is a city Of about
100000 people and is a most inter
esting place. l wasn't able 10 Get
any post cards OF this place. be
iieve l wrote about working in 4
French hospital on an emergency
call TO US for help. and i: was there
mat l cid t. II was during the big
drive. and the condition in which |
saw some o. those French soldiers
arrive-well, won't try to tell you
about il here. All can say is that
they are more brave under intense
pain than ! ever believed men could
De.
After being there about two weeks
we were notified tina; we were 10
leave TO Join our Co. at eight tha,
evening and we were pretty happv
fellows
We got one compartment; ali to
ourselves and as the seats are nicely
upholstered they make fine beds il
you each have the entire seat 70
yourself as We did. One thing in
which We were a bit unlucky was
travelling SO much by night. but
every city we came TO We got out
and l looked about. The largest city
which We went through tina, night
was Nevers.
The next morning We made our
breakfast on bread. tomatoes and
corneC willy" .4bou, seven We ar
rived in Dion. another large city. but
didn't stop. At ten we arrived in
1s-Sur-Til!e. a big junction. where
We had 70 wait two hours. We spen.
the time looking the town over.
Took the train again at noon and
rode until 40 when We arrived IN
Port d'Artur. Had TO wait again an
hour. Again took the train and rode
till nine P. NJ. when we reached our
destination. St. Loup Sur. Semore.
II is little place Of two or three
thousand inhabitants.
The station was dark. and every
where il was dark. as We were up in
the war zone and TO light could be
shown on account OF air raids.
Then. if ever. I had to talk French.
else we would have had to stay in
that station all night. The station
=" a. OAliy pClSOli 6iC011A
tackled him but he didn't know
where the Americans were. He
hunted Up a French soldier from
some place and I asked him. He
said he knew and would take US
there. SO We set out and had only a
short ways to 80. All the fellows
were in bed. The guard routed out
two OF the fellows and they took US
to the other barracks. They were
auartered in three different barracks.
One bunch was in the store house Ct
a furniture factory and we ate there.
The rest were in two wings Of an old
theatre and We s.aid in one of these
places. They were building shops
there and intended for US to work in
them. but owing to their not being
completed we never did anything to
speak Of all the time we were there.
but rest and drill.
I liked the little place very we'll and
was sorry 10 leave. but also glad as it
was becoming rather tiresome doing
nothing. and we were all anxious to
get TO doing something.
We arrived here in Eperial in May
and have been here ever since. 1t is
very busy little city of about 10000
inhabitants. right in the Vosges foot
hills. We are located in park
abou, one mile from the city. which
is one of the largest automobile re-
pair parks in France. There are
seven companies Of US here. Most of
the shops have been built since we
came here. The old wrecked and
ruined cars are brought here from
the front
Everything is done by system. One
gang hauls in the cars. one takes
them all to pieces. Their there is
separate department which works on
oniy one thing ALI the time We