Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-05-14
LUNENBURG
Letter from Lieut.. Donald n. Thomas
of Milbank, N. D.
Tours, France,
March 80, 1919

have number of things to write
about today. | had started to write
last night when a friend came in and
wanted me to go to movie as con-
sequence | shall have to forego the
customary stroll that | have been TAX
ing on Sunday afternoon if | tell all
l have in mind.
However, it is not a very pleasant
day, so it matters little. We had Il
light fall of snow last night, the
third snowfall that | have seen in
Tours. | notice in the paper that New
| York had a severe storm too, so it
may be quite Il general thing.
All Americans get their pay raised
several francs this month because Of
the fact that the rate of exchange
has risen. Before the war five francs
equalled one dollar When we first
came over, because of the existing
conditions the value of Il dollar had
so risen that it was worth 5.75 francs.
AS more Americans came, bringing Il
considerable amount OF trade to
France, the rate dropped to 5.45 at
which we have been paid for several
months previous. Or the 18th we
were surprised to learn that, as we
understood, France was unable to
meet certain Of her loans, the rate
had jumped to $40. 1t hasbcen 60
ing up steadily since and today's pap
en- quotes it at Cos. We are to be
paid at $50 | am told. You can
readily sec what Il difference this will
make. 1t amounts to $780,. 45-.35 en-
Il dollar OF IS francs on 100 dollars,
which means that l will receive about
GO francs more than last month. If
one had any capital he could readily
make a tidy sum by converting dol
lars into francs at the present high
rate and then holding them for q drop
(which) will surely come when condi-
tions arc adjusted.
You will recall my promising to
send you the little pamphlet we were
on the Engineering accom-
plishmcnts in France. We printed
them up this week; the figures quoted
speak for themselves, although there
are one OF two things that | want
to call your attention to-.
Note that enough barracks were con-
structed to reach from Milbank to
we'll beyond Minneapolis GOO milcs)
if the buildings were placed end to
end. If to these we add the hospital
wards, which were buildings of the
same type, the whole would reach
fror, Minneapolis to the Missouri riv-
en- at Mobridge 600 miles.) The
docks built or taken over from the
French and improved by the Engin-
GERS would form continuous dock OF
almost the distance from Milbank to
Twin Brooks Is miles). Consider such :
an immense dock equipped with great :
cranes and unloading devices and you /
will have an idea of the facilities ;
needed to handle the supplies that {
came over the A. f. +. To store
.hcsc supplies approximately 500 I
acres were provided in all, at various
points scattered over France. These {
would more than cover three quarters ,
Of square mile. Enough standard +
guage railroad was constructed to ,
each from Chicago to New York =
1000 miles), although, understand :
ne, this was not constructed as :
main line but rather largely in the
lepots and at the ports, etc. The ,
100000 pounds of bread produced :
laily in the great mechanical bakery
1t Is-sur-Tille, would without doubt :,
,e sufficient to feed Minneapolis and =
st. Paul. Not to mention the piling, g
les, and other products cut by the
engineer Forestry troops, sufficient =
umber was produced which were it l.
Ill in the form Of planks one foot
vide and one inch thick, would reach v
more than one and one half times a
lround the earth. The fuel wood, if @
placed in one continuous pile of the
as cord, would reach 375 a
niles. These are few of the ac- }
Of the Engineers of I
he S. O. S. :
Just by the way of variety, I'm l.
soing to take an unusual method of I
cling you of the nature of the en- l
ertainmcnt at the Trainon this week. II
went to this weeks offering last 1
honday night in company with John
md lieutenant from the historical
section of the medical corps, both g
If whom have had newspaper expert t
nee, and both, for diversion, wrote v
Up an account of the entertainment Ii
l., they would for a newspaper. | g
rive the copy which the medical lieu b
cnant turned in which may give you t
good idea of the show. h
"From Withholding to Footlights" Il
Opens this week at Trainon t
Auditorium r
With congressman representing t
line states rs special guests, "From r
to Footlights," musical i
'ariety show staged by the Liberty t
Players of the 77th Division, open g
d last evening at the Trainon Thea |;
re before one of the biggest houses C
# the season. e
Sparkling with keen humor, yet s
ubtly expressing the dorghbcy's n
onging for home, the production is to c
&c considered amorg the most finish Fl
ID ard c!cv, of the A. L F. Cir t
uit. Character inpe 'sonatiOns wee tt
cmarkabl! good, whi!c scenic Of p
cc;i new SONGS ..nu Snappy di:l n