The Yale expositor., 1919-02-13
DESCRIPTIVE LETTER
Sgt. l.. ]. Menzies Gives Interesting Data
on His Army Life From Enlistment
Until Armistice is Signed
Pont A Mousson,
Nov. 26, 1918.

1OuL "A MOuSSOu,
Nov. 26, 1918.
Dear Father:
The censorship rules have been
lifted for the time being and now we
can give details of what we have been
doing, seeing, etc.
AS you have probably guessed, we
left Camp Custer on July 18th at 1
+. Nj. and arrived at Camp Mills, N.
Y. at IL p. M. July 18th, where We
stayed until we embarked on July
30th, and the next day we left New
York Harbor for "Over There"
After an uneventful trip except for
seasickness, we arrived in Liverpool
passing between Ireland and Scot
land, on August 11th, Sunday morn
ing. We disembarked there about
10:30 A. NJ. and after marching to the
depot and getting coffee and cakes
We took the train at 1900 noon for
South Hampton, where we arrived at
10:30 the same evening. | think
wrote you about that trip stating it
was a case of rubberneck. / enjoyed
the trip as we made it in compart'
ment cars, swell cushions, etc, the
oCChClg Oil clOh6 bhO Woy wac fSAs
beautiful and every one thoroughly
appreciated every minute of it.
After arriving at South Hampton,
we had a heartbreaking trip to what
was comically called a "Rest Camp"
With full packs we marched for sew.
eral miles. We hadn't got our land
legs yet and were certainly tired out
and covered with perspiration. That
night we slept fine and supposed We
we're there for several days rest
however, the next noon we pulled
out again-ala full packs and made
the trip afoot to the boats-this time
bound to LeHayre, right across the
English Channel. BY following all
this on the map, you can get an idea
of the trip we have been making. The
excursion we made across the Eng
lish Channel that night aug. 13th)
was a most dangerous one-subma.
'rines and mines being present. 1t
was under cover of darkness and not
much sleep for any of u.s..
The next morning when the sun
rose we saw LeHavre, France, in the
distance. After landing about 10000
A. NJ. we were greeted by several
train loads of wounded soldiers pass.
ing to a hospital Then began an.
other back-breaking march. 1t was
hotter than blaZes and up hill all the
way to another "Rest Camp" We ar
rived there about p Nj. on the 18th
and believe me l was some glad. We
rested overnight and the next after.
noon again were on the move, this
time in box cars OF course that was
not nearly as comfortable as in Eng.
land. At that we saw great deal OF
the country thru the side doors OF
the Pullmans.
On leaving LeHavre, we passed
thru Rouen, Nantes, Alencon, lie.
Mans, Laval, Rennes, and detrained
at Messac, a small town just south OF
the river, and 20 miles southwest of
Rennes. We hit Messac on the af.
teTnoon of August 18th and marched
about a mile to the end of the town
where we were billeted in mills
barns, etc. This town is in western
part of France and treated us well as
there was fairly good eats and rest
a stream furnished us a bathing and
washing place. and you can imagine
after two weeks travelling, we were
ready for regular bath. There was
where we got our first regular mail
from the u, s. too, so we were pretty
happy.
Leaving there on the 25th Of the
month, we marched onward to our
destination. We made 10 miles that
day to Maure, and on Monday made
nine miles to Camp Coetquidan, ar
irving about 10 A. M. that morning
This proved to be our home for two
months.
Coetquidan is an historical camp
II was the site of Napoleon's Armies
years ago and has been used by the
French ever since, till the Americans
took it over for their own use at the
beginning Of the war. Here we wero
given training in all branches of ar.
tillery work and the last few weeks
before we left. we were Stimulating
actual conditions at the front. IL was
a most interesting time, but still
hard work. Often times we would
spend all night out doors in pup tents
rain or moonlight. Some mornings
when we got up the canvas would be
wringing wet, the dew was so heavy
The climate however, at that place
was not conducive to our happiness
practically the entire last month we
spent there being in rain or mist all
the time.
We got our horses, guns, and sup.
plies. and on Oct 23rd, we silently
packed up under the cover of dark.
ness and about A. NJ. marched to
Guer few miles away BY $3.50 we
were all loaded on the train, bound
for WHERE, we knew not We again
passed thru Messac, Rennes, Laval
LeMans, Chartres, the suburbs of
Paris, Troyes,, Chaumont, and detrain
ed at a small town called Andelot on
October 25th. From there we march.
ed thru Rimacourt to Manois where
We were stationed in barracks with
hunks. Here we remained until DC.
tober 30th. It was at this place that
we had some swell steaks. eggs, etc.
also plenty of Swiss cheese and jam
and hence will not forget II for a.