Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-09-11
From England to France.

Kind Editor-If you can find room
in the good old REGISTER for a few
lines, I will try to give few of the
details of trip to Paris and the battle
fields. On the 9th of August / was
granted five days. leave. One of my
best shipmates and set out for Paris.
Leaving Liverpool at 1870 P. NJ. ar
rived in London about P. NJ. There
we had to stop for the night. On the
morning OF the 9th we set out again,
leaving London at eight A. M; going
by way of Faulkstone and Boulogne.
Got to Boulogne about 1:0OP. NJ. Got
a train at 1880 for Paris. Arrived in
Paris at P. NJ. There we stopped
for another night.
Awoke at five A. NJ and set off by
train to Scissors. From there we
got army trucks to take us out to the
front lines. The lines that we visited
were known as the sold Hindenburg
lines" This part OF the fields was
not policed yet so there were many
sights to see.
There was unused ammunition
enough to carry on good battle or
two. They told us it was dangerous
to touch anything as the Germans
were the last to hold the lines. Any
way ventured to get few souvenirs.
We come upon dead German in
the trenches. His head and right
shoulder and arm was gone. There
were only his feet and legs from the
knees down that looked natural. This
portion had the shoes and puteeS on,
and looked like it could have been
that OF live man. Strange to say
but when one comes upon the body
of the enemy what astrange sort Of
sympathy will creep over him.
The barbed wire and entanglementt
were just ss they we're when they drove
"Fritzyn out. On this one particular
spot the lines were taken and retaker
from time to time. There were al
kinds of shells, German, American an6
French, although the Americans die
not fight where I was, but held the
lines south and east of that point.
After spending the day out there
we then went back to Paris for the
night. Then on the morning Of the
sth we spent going to places around
Paris and at Loo P. M. we went to the
city OF Versailles. Visited the palace
of Louis Fourteenth. In one of the
apartments of this old place the peace
terms were signed. This was knowr
as the s'HaIl of Mirrors" I went al
through this old palace. There were
many strange apartments of different
styles and shapes. Also, many strange
portraits that covered the walls ant
ceilings. On leaving the palace we
went out across the Kings old
promenade grounds.
After leaving this we again wen
back to Paris. And on the morning
OF the eth we went to the Pantheon
where all the war paintings are. This
no doubt, is the greatest piece oi
architectural work in the world. i
consists of all the different nations
of the allied war. They were all il
colors that made them look almos
real, the landscape and little villageI
in the background were really great
At noon we started on the homeward
voyage which lasted IS hours. w
saw the great Sd Division loaded OF
trains and headed for Brest, where
they will get boat for the U. s
They informed US that only the Firs
Division was left in France.
We reached our destination on Sun
day, 10th. We were there seven day
while the rest of our shipmates wen
on their leave. Finally they all go
back and on the day before we lei
we all went ont to tell our Liverpoc
''duckies' goodbye. This was a sa'
affair, indeed, as we all knew that W
would never meet again. So on tn
18th we left Liverpool for Brest wit
quite number Of war brides aboard
We stopped over night at Brest, tool
on mail and few soldiers and the
set sail for the U. s. A. with our home
ward bound penant flying high. W
, are now about forty eight hours fror
New York. The trip has been yer
nice and calm.
A. J. THOMPSON,
U. 8. 8. Plattsburg.
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