The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-01-23
LETTERS FROM
HAND CO. BOYS
Continued from first page)

we were stationed at Camp Merritt,
New Jersey, just outside Hoboken, the
port OF embarkation. On August 31st
we got a small ferry boat and went
up the Hudson River to the docks in
New York and transferred to the Bel
gic. the boat we came over on 1t is
an English freighter that was made
into a transport and one of the largest
boats sailing the pecan. The boat did
not leave the docks that night which
was Saturday night. On Sunday
morning, Sept. l the boat carrying $500
men left the docks and sailed out into
the bay and left that afternoon for
its trip across the ocean. There were
Ii transports In the convoy and IL GER
tafnly made a pretty sight as they left
| port. as they were only a block apart
| and keeping our boat in the center Of
the convoy. We had a SUMMARIZED
chaser and the battleship Texas with
us. We sailed far north and went
many miles out of the regular course.
We went up along the Newfoundland
west coast and crossed over into the
Irish Sea and through st. Georges
Channel and landed i'm Liverpool. Eng
land on Friday, September 18th. Our
trip over was rather slow and we had
encountered rough seas only a few
days while in Devils Hole. At Liver
pool we marched through the streets
and out to a rest camp called Notify
Ash Camp We left this camp the
next day and took IA train to South
Hampton, England. which gave us a
chance to see the country. We arriv-
ed in South Hampton at midnight and
marched 3 miles to another rest camp
and left there the next Afternoon for
France. We sailed all night on a
small boat named the Yale and landed
at lie Harve. France. the next morn
ing and went to another rest camp,
| might say that the rest camps they
here are MOI very restful either
We left lie Harve the next night and
in box cars. 40 men to a car
and In these small French box cars
the men must use a little strategy i'm
order to get any sleep at all. We rode
for two days and nights. and our
meals were scant and at night the cars
cold. but II was the best they
could get for the. men to ride in. We
at lie Mons. Francc< where we
ii pup tents and STAYED a
and there we went through the
gas school. From lie Mons we travel
I'd in box cars again for two days and
night and passed within s miles OF
Paris. and landed at a little village
FAMED Gondri Court and FROM there
We hiked about 3 miles to Abainville.
The narrow guage railroad camp wasI
lere which we worked until November
'th. Abenville is only 40 miles from
and lies due south and wei
ould hear the firing and see, the
continually while W e were
on November 9th. We left
IbenviIle. where | might state was
ne only place where we had wooden
arracks to sleep In. We travelled in
arrow gauge gondola ears and on the
ariy morning Of November 10th. we
ere In the Metz sector. not a great
istance from Mount Sec and was I'M
er shell fire for 4 hours. Fritz had
u train going through the
'rest and fired some Of her big shells
I us' It was some thrilling expert
ncc 70 hear the shells whizzing over
our cad and exploding all around
ou. Later in the day we rode
trough the Argonne Forest and
trough the St. Mihiel Sector aud
mped mat night just q few miles