Alma record., 1919-01-30
FERRIS WRITES
Gunner Boy Tells of Sights and
Experiences in France.

Private Olin G.. Ferris. the son of
Mr. and Mrs John Ferris of Sum
ner, has written a very interesting
letter TO his brother, in which he
tells something of his experiences in
France and gives good description
of some of the cities that he visited.
The letter follows:
December l3, 1918
Dear Brother Irett:
Letters are reaching me in o. X.
condition and on scheduled time of
late | am now on q convoy
trip with a detail of seven men. after
personal and divisional property.
We sure are having some trip out
of it, We started from Bourbonne
Les Bainnes, the place where the
l04th Field Signal Battalion is now
billeted. We started Sunday, going
to Chalindrey where we hung up for
the night. Leaving early Monday
we entered Dijohn in the evening.
Here we stayed Monday night.
Dijohn is one of the best cities in
France and We sure spent pleas
ant day here. II was here that l
had my first ride on a street car in
France. II cost me the sum Of ten
centimes. or nearly two cents. In
Dijohn. the streets run in every di-
rection, and on nearly every corner
there is a large statue and a water
fountain. with the water pouring
from the mouth Of some man or
animal, as you have seen in pictures.
OF course, these are very old, moss
covered. valued antiquities which are
very attractive, and well worth see
ing
Then there are the old churches,
which are very large, and very elab
orately decorated in Doric. Ionic and
Corinthian architecture, and have
towering steep!es and majestic
domes. They are enclosed in a
large court by high palisades, which
have enormous iron gates which are
attended by gate keeper.
There are also some very beauti-
ful parks over here, narrow alleys,
two-wheeled gigs, Gathering wooden
shoes. beer gardens and hundreds Of
other things of intense interest TO
the American soldiers.
We didn't leave Dijon until Tues
da yevening, and spent twenty-four
hours on the train, going TO Bruges,
and arriving Wednesday night. We
took up our trip again ThursdsH
arriving at our goal that day. II
is the largest American camp and
largest American prison in France.
On our way back we will be guards
Of our convoy which will consist Of
train-load of 29th divisional prop
erty
| will now proceed TO give you
brief outline of my travels in
France. - Arriving in Brest,
aboard the ship Great Northern,
escorted by her sister ship, the
Northern Pacific, we were well
greeted We went first to
Pontaneyen barracks, the place Of
NapoIeon's headquarters a century
ago. staying there for three weeks
before going TO Bivigney and then to
Montsangeon. We were soon moved
to Vourvenan, then TO Pranthoy,
then Brebotte, and then We entrained
for a long ride which took US into
Alsace, at that time German terri
tory. We were stationed at the
famous chateau of Montreaux-Vieux,
where the 29th division saw its first
/ fighting. After three weeks
we pulled down our tents and hiked
back into France to Petit Croix, and
then went to the st. Mihiel sector
where we were in reserve. Then we
entered our second front Of action
the Verdun front.
Passing through the famous old
city Of Verdun, which is now a city
Of ruins, we entered the large iron
gates-the ones which the Germans
tried so hard to reach--and marched
down to one Of the Gibraltar forts,