Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-09
OUR BOYS
OUR C0UhTRY'S SERVICE

OUR COUhTRY'S SERVICE
The following letter has been re-
ceived b. the pupils OF the Washing
ton schoo! at Belgrade. from Acting
Corporal Harold D. Taylor, member
OF Company E, 5eth Pioneer Infantry,
A. E. F.:
In a dug-out.
Somewhere 1T France"
American Expeditiora-y
Friday evening. Nov l. 1918
My dear scholars:
Just a few lines tonight to let YOU all
know that even though l am many
mics away. haven't forgotten you
and our pleasant and sometimes un.
schooihouse To begin with ! will sa
that as writing material IS unknown up
here at the Front Lines and l by
chance happened to have brought what
l am writing on from our landing
place at st. Nazaire where we first 60:
our glimpse of France We had
rough but safe voyage across the At
lantic Ocean as it is about 3400 miles
across the way We came from
Our transport " - took a zig
gag course SO as to escape being fol-
lowed by German submarines, and We
were disappointed in not seeing one too
However, boats were being sunk ali
around US but couldn't see them.
We were around days sailing which
is making good time in the rouge
windy weathe: We had. We were 70
land at France bat submarines
were working there Sd We surprised
anil cheerings and loud noises
even though it was at a. N. At A.
NJ. We IT lr"hed through the dirty
. streets whore there were TO sewers or
drainage and all wastes were enptled
into the streets. and we arrived a. our
camp which had many troops. W..
thought ~e could not endure the hard
ships of this camp but We got used to il
and a the course of week or SO We
marched to the tra,1s. We're they par
Tor cars or passenger cars' ! say TO.
for they were small cas-.e box cars
supposedly TO hold IS cheraux aux ~
hcmmes'' IS horses or % :l.rl, but they
piled US IN - n or car anl TOO
many - lo-c ir'o as re vel
going. The tracks are r7cc,.ed an,
bumpy and for three days at IN avc:-
age speed OF eight miles per hour, We
bumped our wa:- until ": ed at 4
station Somewhere IN France name
which is far from the eght-
ing zone. The scenery vas just one
great sigh. after another passing
through many large cities bGt not the
city I had hoped Paris l viii say
all the houses in France a!- one-s.or;e
stone houses built. yes, l will say hun
dreds Of years ago. The farms are
level and stretch for kiiometers Is Of
mile equal / ~ with we'll cultiva ted
land and not q tree in sight. Women
will be seen working in the fields while
the men are at the front trying to keep
back the enemy from devastating
everything as they did at Belgium. Al!
over the country the roads are wonder
full and we'll kept. In travelling through
France, the roads will be the first to
attract your attention. Al! of the
French people seem like honest. poor
peasants. poorly clothed and wearing
wooden shoes.
Well from - " we marched
many miles where We found stone
houses vacated and we dwe!t in those
for a short time. I went &c town very
often and became acquainted with the
French people and took meals with
them.
While enjoying good times at this
village where Joan os Arc" lived and
where her father was born. We took
our packs and marched a long ways TO
the cattle cars again. when We started
for the Danger Zone" Son, (from
now on I have to be careful what
write), we landed at the nearest station
to the Front, and it being rainy and late
we pitched small pup tent; for nights
rest on the damp earth. From here I
heard the roar Of distant guns for the
first time. and it Sc. me thinking all
night long. Well We camped wherever
night found US in woods. etc. until
where We are now. right on the front
lines The woods are nothing but
stumps now. the trees being torn down
by shells exploding: big shell holes
about radius Of two yards Of each
other and three to Ave feet deep:
barbed wire entangiemea.s; trenches
running to and fro in every direction.
dug-ou.s large and small from one IL
40 feet under ground; building once
beautiful, now fiat to tn, ground ana
using the rocks to make roads: these
are few Of the many things one sees
at the front. that is behind the lines. l
dare not tell the scenery Of horrors on
the firing lines.
However the Germans are on the run
towards their home and what are not.
are crying "Kamarad." hut I say no.
for somewhere behind tina. chap is :
machine gun being operated by a
string and fastened to the Germans
foot One has to look up into trees al
so for snipers who can see you but you
can't see them. Last evening from IL
o'clock the Americans Kept an artillery
barrage all night and part Of this fore
noon and drove the Germans back
about 10 kilometers In eight hours.
and many prisoners we're taken. This
is being done right along and is bring
ing the war to closer end. An air
tattle OF several hundred planes is now
on. The sky is bright with lights from
the exploding shells. liquid fire. rockets
etc. and some noise and racket with ]
shell every now and then visiting US