The Jasper news., 1919-01-16
ssrst. corwin Powell Writes Interest
r. ingly.

My dear follce:s tttecelved my Cnflst-
mas package all o. X. Everything was
justas you placed 81 il, but the box
was mashed little. don't know, yet
who sent the different things but /
thank you all very much. YOU sent
just the very things wanted. Was
just thinking about buying a.swatch.
The candy was sure fine, and the first
have had since left 1.-The states.
They have very little candy here. SUI
gar isa scarcity. with the French, My
package must have been in the first
boatle6d ssntoyebaes
/ hardly know what to write this
time but will try and tell you little
shout my trip over. Came over the
season OF the year when the ocean is the
calmest in August. Embarked the
28rd and set sail the following day.
Took IL days to make 1t across. The
last thing that could be cited after set
ting sail was the Statue OF Liberty.
BY the way, Invent TO the picture show
LAST night and " showed the Statue,
which was very good oft.
There were Is transports in the con-
voy I came over in besides one man
o'war and submarine chaser. About
dozen submarine chasers came with
the convoy for four days and then went
back and also an observation balloon
the first day. Our company was aboard
the largest and fastest ship and one
which the Germans had been trying to
sink, 80 we kept in the center Of the
bunch to be more protected.
It rained about half Of the time and
was foggy the other half. So all you
could hear, were the fog horns. One
night four or five ships got lost and we
never found them until the next even
ing. 1 remember passing ship out in
mid.ocean and some of we boys were
guessing the distance it was off. We
tho't perhaps It was q half mile of but
one Of the crew told us 1t was eight
miles away. Whenever a ship was
seen the battleship took right after it
to find out what it was. They always
salutedl You know they salute with
their guns.
never got seasick at all but most OF
the boys did. had charge Of the Sec
ton our company occupied. Had to
be swept and mopped up every morn
ing and beds made up for pretty keen
inspection. Also had charge; Of life
boat drill twice day, so didn't have
much time Of my own. All port holes
were closed by sunset and notTa match
struck upon deck d.
When I've got In, the danger zone
about two days off the Irish coast, all
had to'gvt up on deck at 3 o'clock in
the morning, Sure was cold, too.
had on all the clothes possessed in
Guiding ayercoat and slicker and then
had to hunt wind break. We came
up around the north coast Of Ireland
and down through the Irish Sea to
Liverpool, England. Could see land
on both sides, coming down through
the SEQ. Have heard much about the
joy it brings when you first sight land
but know now what it means.
By the way, this was British ship
named the Adriatic of the White Star
Line. England transported large
percent Of the U. s. boys. We de-
bark the afternoon OF September 5
and ihiked .. through Liverpool with
heavy packs for an hour or more to q
rest camp where we stayed two days.
1t rained all the time with mud knee
deep and we had just tents to sleep in.
So 1t looked rather blue to us there,
but we didn't tarry long and hiked
about mile to the train. England
has better trains than France but they
sure looked comical to me, then. Each
passenger car is divided into four see
tions.. Each section accommodating
about six people to section. We went
to Southampton but never went
through London.
England is the prettiest country
ever expect to see. Looking out Of the
car window, 1t resembled fine land
scape painting. Buildings are all old
stone structure, in clusters. You know
they live in small groups so the land
10 free from all unnecessary objects.
Ewes foot OF land is under high state
OF cultivation and divided off into
small fields. Have very fine stock
thar ,uisa