Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-04-04
March 4, 1919
Editor Highland Recorder:
I remain, Your cousin,
Forest M. Sipe.

March 4, 1919
Editor Highland Recorder:
Dear Sir:-Three years ago today
| was in your beautiful little town
which is the county seat of my own
county
. Little did l think of being away
from Highland three years, and NOT
for a minute did l think that would
be on the sunny coast of the Medi-
terranean just three years from that
day. Since leaving Highland, / have
spent some time in several OF the
Western States, which I like very
much, being in Texas at the time
was called to the, University of Va.
for military duty, May goth.
May 21st l was on my way East,
arriving at Charlottesville, Va. early
Friday morning oath
Here 1 received two months mill
tary and auto training, after which
time was sent to Camp Mills, New
York. Was there until Aug. 7th |
went aboard ship Aug. 7th, and sail
ed for Europe on the Sth. Was on
the waters twelve days. My landing
place on this side being Liverpool.
1 debarked there Aug. goth and
four days later (24th) landed "a
cross the Channel to Cherbourg,
France.
From there various towns, some of
which are-Versailles (15m) from
Paris) Charities, LIE Mans, Rennes, ST
Nazaire, Nantes, Tours, Orleans,
Tonnerre, Chaumont, Epinal,. st. Die,
Nancy, DIXON, Lyon Marseille and
Nice from which town am writing
today. Also visited Verdun, just
three days after: armistice had been
signed. Verdun had been "a large
city but when 1 saw it, it was moth
ing but heap of ruins, The Ger
mans had been in easy range of the
city for long time and think they
left nothing undone in the way Of
destruction to- the town.
Thousands of people live under
ground.
After landing in Camp Mills I was
placed with a hospital company.
Therefore my duty has been to as
sist the sick and wounded. My
first real experience being at ST. Die,
this town is near Alsace Lorraine
and at the time was there, (Sept. &
Oct. 1879 the town was but 31-2 mi
from the front trenches. We were
shelled by big guns and attacked by
German planes many times. We also
operated, during the last days of the
war. near Verdun, and here had sim
liar experiences, only more severe.
After signing of the armistlce, we
liked about 140 mi with our packs
to the small town of Mussy-Sur-Seine
and we have been here ever since
l had first intended writing only on
the trip, which I am enjoying now,
but something seemed to say; give a
little sketch of your entire tour,
Just one week ago I was trodding
through the little town of MISSY
drilling and doing K. P, when my
top Sgt. came to me stating that he
had pass for me, in the office, to go
to Southern France for a week.
Delighted at the thought, I made
ready to leave next morning. I had a
Is Kilometer drive in truck to the
railroad, Next morning was rainy
land very cold. decided to go any,
way. Got to the station $50 A. M.
only to learn that the special train
for soldiers would not arrive until
P. M. I was tempted to return to
my billet but ] TOUCHED it outrtill it
came. Then / was more outdone
than ever. There was hardly a win
! dow pane to be seen. They were
almost all out and some of the doors
were off their hinges, but I spent
at least two days and nights in them,
The first night was very cold and
we had to sit up and sleep but after
the first night began to get warmer
SO suffered no more from cold. I
came directly from Northern France
to Marseilles on the Southern coast.
The scenery through all the country
was magnificent. Upon nearing Mar
settles one could see every indication
of summer. From there we pass on
east along the coast to Nice, this is a
beautiful town facing the sea and
fortified on the back by the Alpes-
Maritimes. Is situated at 43o 7" Lat.
north being separated from Paris by
1,088 kilometers. The entire coast
from Marseleilles to the Italian bor-.
der is bordered by great ranges, the
natural protection of this city togeth
er with its situation gives 1t an e4-
ceptional climate The sun is sell
dom dulled by clouds. The degree
of temperature for winter and sum-
mer changes only four degrees on the
average. Usually only about go days
of rain in a year. Since the annexa-
ton of the city from Italy in 1860, to
France it has grown to population
of 100000 inhabitants. I am sitting
in my room I'M large hotel looking
out over the sea which is most beau
tiful, but, when one ascends to the