The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-01-17
SOLDIERS LETTERS


Trego by Warren Kent, who Is in tn,
Quartermaster's corps:
Is-Sur-Tnle. France. Dec. 10, 1918
Mr.. Byrd Trego, Editor,
The Idaho Republican,
Blackfoot, Idaho.
Dear Sir:
Your letter has been at hand fol
some time, and regret that it has
been impossible to answer sooner
but up until the last few days all per.
sonal correspondence has been
pushed aside for more important
work. ! also wish to thank you for
your kindness and thoughtfulness in
sending me regular copies of the Re
publican. This has always been a
welcome piece Of mail, and has been
the source Of great pleasure to me
as 1t has always given me first hand
news of the community in general,
and as you no doubt realize, nothing
Is more acceptable to a soldier in a
strange land than news from home.
Our company has been on this side
now for nearly q year, having sailed
from Hoboken, N. Y. on the eleventh
of last January on the good ship
Madawaska, formerly German ship
by the name Of KONG Wilhelm II.
This boat was one Of the many in
termed in the U. s. harbors in the
early days of the war. Every ship
has its history, and the story goes
that this particular ship was one of
kaiser's favorites, in fact being the
boat on which he took his wedding
trip. Two other ships and the cruiser
Montana formed the convey until we
reached the danger zone, where the
cruiser left US and we picked up five
torpedo boats. The last two days
we were left alone with two OF the
torpedo boats to make our way into
port-the two other boats being too
large to dock at the port we were
scheduled for. We landed In the har-
Dor of st. Nazaire, France ON the
of January, but owing to
a dense fog 1t was impossible to make
dock until the next day. We were
given a warm reception by the people
of St. Nazaire, who threw us apples,
in return for which the boys show
cred the French Riddles with coins,
candies, cookies, etc., all of which
were eagerly scrambled for.
Personally, did not see sub
altho 1t was reported that
one was sighted. The trip was I'M
save for the fact that we
had two days of mighty rough water.
Most of the boys were pretty sick
for few. days, and l must confess
that I appeared on the roll. The
first sight Of land was indeed q pleas
ant one, and smiles came to the faces
that had been blank during the en-
tire trip. 1t was pleasant sight as
we passed up the narrow harbor with
The sun shining from cloudless sky
with the green fields of France
along either bank, and
dotted here and there with white
buildings of old style architecture.
It certainly was great relief from
the bitter cold we had been enduring
1t Madison Barracks, New York dur
ing our four months stay there.
After short rest at St. Nazaire
We were placed on train of box cars
and started on our two days trip
across France. The French cars are
very small and upon each is that
familiar sign "Hommes $40,
Jheveaux Zen lang) g. which have
since learned means the car is cap
able of holding eight horses or forty
men. The first night 1t turned cold
Ind started to snow, so in our Slated
,ox cars we had pretty uncomfort-
lble trip.
We have been stationed at Is-Sur-
lille, Cote dur, France for nearly |
eleven months Is-Sur-Tille is a
mall village about eighteen miles |
rom Dion, the capital Of Cote dor.
t is here at Is-Sur-Tille that the |
Americans had their advance supply |
lepots for the boys in the front lines.
When we first came here it was but |
small camp, but within few weeks
ime barren stubble field was trans
ormed into an endless string of
and railways.
The country surrounding Is-Sur-
lille is very historic. In ancient
lines the Romans were turned back
n this valley-the town Of Dijon was
nee burned by the Saracens, while
n this same town Marcus Aurelius
pent part of his life. In 1870 the
Germans over-run this part of France
,etting as far as Dijon, but believe
we're unable to take the town. 1t Is
common sight to see an old church
IF wall with date on it as far back
s 1856.
: My work has been almost entirely
nth the alto transportation service,
vhich naturally afforded me several
rips to the front. On one of these
rips had an amusing incident. My
ruck had been concealed in a shelter
7aiting for dusk in order to make
he last few miles of the trip, and
ad moved on but few minutes
Then a German aviator dropped
omb on the exact spot where my
ruck had been parked.
The winter weather has set in
ow and we have been having q great
cal OF rain and mud, but as we are
ell chartered we will not have the
we suffered last winter.
Again thanking you for your letter
nd the papers and hoping that the
leas contained in your letter NAV
ear fruit when the boys return,