The Monte Vista journal., 1919-02-01
Ruhsasch. Germany
psc. -. 1915

ws,i ~ ~ sss II Germany. IN
a. snai, tsta jsss sss ssds Of the city
a. csS,sacs. Juss Aev lo.s ~ are
10 ssnsta hsss ~ ei sosFss eaaaot
ssy q, prsssss. bat ws oil he1e Il will
b. Of Q rsasoaabls sAost dusatioa
and that vs can ell 20 home bsfors
long.
Our trip 10 France eommsnesd .
year ago the 3>lh Of this month
when ws LETT Camp Merritt and ship
ped on the steamer Lapiaad for Eng
land. We stopped In Halifax harbor
for Two days awaiting the arrival OF
other sAiSs that we're 10 form our
convoy. sad vAsa ws put 10 sea there
we're eight transports aad one light
English cruiser. We steamed In
close formation ail the way aud moth
Ing much Of intsrsst transpired until
We picked ~ the torpedo boat chas-
ers which conveyed - down through
the Irtsh ssa 10 Liverpool.
Believe ne We were all grsatiy re-
iisvsd 70 get on the docks there and
take the train. About ten o'clock on
the night Of Jaa. 7th the date Of our
arrival We left the train at winchss-
ter. England. and marched out to
Morn Hin camp. an English camp.
We stayed In this place for three
days. and during that time our Reg
imsnt was favored with the oppor-
tunity Of going through the famous
Cathedral Of Winchester. From Win.
chester ws took the train and In sew
sral hours were on the docks at
South Hampton. We stayed under
cover on the docks until night fall
and then boarded three small steam
efs which took the Rsgimsat across
the Chanasl to Havrs. France. That
trip took about Ave hours time and
was made with all lights out and
everybody crampsd into . narrow
space. In the morning We left the
steamer and marched out to another
English camp. called rest camp No.
;. Here We stayed for several days.
sleeping twelve In . tent at night.
and with nothing at all to do during
the day but walk around or converse
with some English Tommies.
From Havre we went by train on Q
three day trip. that finally landed up
In Camp Ds6ougs Just south Of Bor-
dsaux. Some Of N rode in coaches
and some IN the French box car. COM
monty known to them a. q wagon.
and they are not much bigger than .
good sissd wagon. Camp Do Souge
was Just being built and occupied q
large s1tsat OF ground that was all
sand. 3sat like the sea shore. The
weather was very pleasant and shirt
sleeves were In order out Of doors
during the day. In this camp we
were assigned to the French @. P. F.
guns. six inch. and autos and tractors
were necessary to move the Regi-
meot. About April 9Th We left Camp
do Souge and were billeted In the
country near the city Of Libourne.
which u not very far north Of Bor-
deaux.
In the early part Of June we left
by train for Clermont-Furand . good
sised city near the center Of France
Our blltts were located about eiEh-
teen miles outside of the city. but
made frequent trips into the city for
supplies. The village in which we
were located was called Matres De
Ver. Whom We arrived the children
were out to greet US and give US
aowers. We soon became acquainted
with tho Inhabitants and knowing .
few French words and phrases, could
by use OF the sign language make our
wants understood. During our stay
We polished up the village in great
shape: gave the streets and alleys =
sweeping every morning and got rid
OF lot Of rubbish which these
French people had lying around.
July 4th our Regiment paraded in
the city Of Clermont Ferrand and on
the 9Th left for the Front.
The camp Of the srd battalion was
IN the yard Of the famous Chateau
Villars. owned by . former American
ladys named Wilson. She has writ
ton book about what the Germans