The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-01-31
Letters to the Folks
Back Home.
FROM FRANCE

A letter was received recently by
Henry H. Shearer, of Alesia, Md,
from his son, Corporal Walter r.
Shearer, telling part of his exper-
fences since he left the States:
"Romorantine, France, Dec. s, 1918.
Dear Father: Just few lines to
let you know 7 am we'll and happy
George and 7 just got back from
town, after spending fine afternoon
together.
CAS- the censor is not so strict now
+ am sending you a little sketch Of
our trip and our duties since we left
the States.
81 guess l will miss my hunting
this fall, the same as last season, SO
T HOPE to put in little extra next
fall, as we expect to be back early
this spring, if nothing prevents. But
we have quite lot of work to do yet
before leaving here, due to the large
body of men and its quite large
job getting us all back. But all that
is wanting is a little time and we
will get there.
"W1e have been having quite a bit
of rainy weather but not very cold.
"I haven't heard nor seen any
thing of the boys from around there.
We will all have different and strange
stories to tell when we get back.
will close with best wishes to all.
I remain, your son,
CORP. WALTER r. SHEARER,
I'd. Company, 4th M. Regt., Air Ser
vice, A. T.. f."
The account of his tourney over
seas and experiences is as follows:
cat last l have the opportunity to
reveal to you the course of events in
which T have participated since my
departure from the U. S.
After close confinement in which
all information was withheld from
us for two days, in the early hours
of July 18th, we we're ordered to de-
part for the port of enlbarkation
which later proved to be Pier So,
New York City How we'll | remem-
ber as T lay thinking, in the early
hours of the morning, of home and
what the future held in store for me.
AT last just before 2 a. M, the or
der, was given, Fall in. Oh, how
quiet the boys were; here and there
smothered laugh but mostly solemn
whispering. At last we were off to
face the adventure, bidding Camp Up
ton, l.. l. farewell. I will never for
get the sight as the long brown col
umn swung off into the darkness
= We were not martialed away by the
flare of music but quietly faded into
the night. Any attempt at CONVEX
satiOn, was sternly reprimanded by
the officers. This was my first reali-
zation that / was at last off to war
"W1e marched down to where the
troop trains were side tracked await
ing us We quickly and quietly
boarded them and we're whirled away
everything like clock-work. 1 real
lied then what a tremendous task
Uncle Sam must have i'm transporting
his great army across the sea, and
at the same time outwitting the. Hun
Subs"
I'VE arrived in Long Island City
just as the dawn was breaking,
where ferries were in readiness for
our transportation to Pier So. AS we
glided down the East River in the
early hours OF morning, under the
gigantic bridges with the sky line OF
the great city on both sides, many
hearts were heavy but all laughed
and joked among themselves as we
warped up the huge docks of Pier
IS, where great liners with their
camouffaged sides were waiting to re-
ceive us.
I'VE hastily disembarked on the
great pier and were soon marching
up the gang4plank of the Royal Mail
Steamer of the Cunard Line, "Sax-
onia." We were soon assigned to
various denartments and ready to
partake of our first mess. Long will
I remember that pungent appetizing
odor of that department which much
resembled that of a stockyard.
\ About p. 10. we were tOwed out
into the mighty Hudson wfere other
ships fell in behind us, our ship be-
ing the flagship of the entire convoy.
1t was not long before we took our
last look at the Statue OF Liberty.
We we're guided on by United
States battle cruiser and were ac-
companied by scout planes, observa-
ton balloons, and sub pursuers.
The scouts and observers departed
at dusk leaving Us to our own fate.
7 After two days voyage we dropp-
ed anchor in Halifax Harbor, Nova
Scotia, where we enjoyed the beauti-
full scenery of the beautiful old
French city and it, surrounding
country. Here we had a fair view
of the ruins caused by the explosion
df the ammunition ship. We stayed
in port two days, i'm view OF the fact
that ship had just been torpedoed
out of port.
'At the end of this time our safety
being assured we weighed anchor
and steamed out upon the high seas,
where we were joined by other trans
ports, this making our convoy the
largest up to that time that had
sailed from America with troops for
the IA. E F, the number totaling
twenty-three in all. We sailed on
and on in a zig-zag course, vending
cur way far to the northward, COM
ing in contact with icebergs Day
after day passed until at last We
were met by number Of sub-chasers,
about 400 miles off the coast of Ire
land. -
Everything went well until 3.15Ain
the afternoon Of the 18th day OF our
VOYAGE. when suddenly all were
startled by terrible thud, caused by
the explosion of a depth-bOmb
thrown by "A ship On our port side.
But a few. seconds elapsed until the
entire decks, rats and rigging