The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-10-14
Lancaster Boy Writing Grand
father, Says There is No
Need for Them Now.
THEY ISSUE A CIRCULAR
After Year in France With MANY
Hardships the Men Think the
Time Has Come When They
Should BE Returned.

f.. l.. f. Magill, of Pleasant Hill,
has received letter from his grand
son, Corporal William II. Mackey
with the American army of occupa-
tion in Germany, which voices the
sentiment that the boys now overseas
are anxious to come home. Enclosed
is a circular addressed to the editors
in this country, approved by the en-
listed personnel, NJ. S. T., No. 42S. A.
E. F. in f. The circular follows:
Since the personnel of Motor Sup
ply Train, No. 42S has been in France
for one year, and since that time each
and every member thereof has been
constant reader of your valuable
paper, and realizing the good work
you have done for the \. +. F.. We
desire to call your attention TO a few
facts with reference to the treatment
we have been receiving at the hands
believe that when We present these
facts to you, each and every one of
which We can prove to be the gospel
truth. you will at least call the mat
ter TO the attention of the proper au.
thorities and see that our train is
given speedy dispatch back to
Gods Country"
First: Motor Supply Train. No. 42SI
landed in France, at the port of Brest
on October 13, 1918. We were imme-
diately put to work at this base driv-
ing bunch Of old, worn out pierce
Arrows" Those trucks were without
either tops or sides. We drove these
about Is 20 20 hours every day in
constant downpour of rain We did
this practically without sleep or any
thing to eat. but this was before the
armistice and we felt at that time.
and for two or three months thereaf-
ter. that we had no cause for COM
plant. inasmuch as we felt that we
were doing our bit to win the war.
and after the armistice to help get
the hoys" home During the time
mentioned above. we were forced to
sleep in tents, on the ground in about
six inches OF French mud
Second: Along about the first OF
January, 1919. we moved from Camp
BoisDu-Bolougne to Fort Federes.
where we lived in somewhat better
quarters, viz: corrugated iron bar
racks, with hunks made OF 2x4s with
chicken wire springs" Up until
about the month of May we were fore
ed TO work the same number of hours
as mentioned above. About this time
the rainy season was finished. then
the government furnished us with
"Slicker Suits" and rubber boots.
'nce they were issued we had no use
for them as the rainy weather was
over. We practically built up Fort
Federes. and about the time We had
the camp put into decent place to
live in, they moved us to what i.
known in this base as Motor Over
haul Park, No. 716," and kept us in
that camp until ii was turned over
to the French on August %. They
then moved us to the now world fa-
nous" Rest Camp, PontaneZen. noted
throughout the civilized world as a
rest camp. AS to the rest that was
accorded to the one million and a half
troops who passed through this So
called rest area" we will allow each
and everyone OF them to be the sole
judge as to the question of rest.
Third: Before the armistice was
signed 1t was practically considered
courtmartial offense If the driver
Lid not keep up a speed of about 30
TO 10 miles per hour Since January
they have been enforcing very strIns-
ent and practically Impossible traffic
regulations. Since the inauguration
IF these traffic regulations by the Com
manding General of Base Section 40.
p. II inflicted upon the men VINO had
families back home, and who were
drawing their allotment severe
punishment, owing to the fact THAI a
soldiers pay is very little Up to the
present writing there has been about
95 per cent of the drivers of this and