The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-08-21
WITH AN AMMUNITION TRAIN
IN FRANCE
Winfield :. Powell Tells Story Of His
Experience

| " iHnelu - iONelI IellS StOIy VI MS
Experience
Winfield S Powell left Camp De
vens with the 301st Ammunition Train
Regimental Headquarters, 10th Di-
vision There were % Troop ships
in the convey. Mr. Powell was on
the Alma" an English cargo freight
boat The ships were II days eros
sing the ocean. Three days out
foom Liverpool, the convey was at
tackled by two submarines simultan-
/ eously, \ gunner fired a torpedo
at thse. sinking one submarine; the
other disappeared. The American
convoy suffered no damage whatever.
No mishaps occurred during the rest
of the voyage. The Troops landed
in Liverpool July 31st, went to South
ampton, and embarked for France.
The night before they crossed the En-
glsh channel. the Germans had sunk
hospital ship. On this were 1850
patients. All were saved except
seven. Landing at Cherbourg, the
troops entrained for Bordeaux, and
were four days and four nights en-
route On arrival. they went to
Camp Dessous, remained month
then set out from st. Aweins to go to
tle front. They marched 20 miles
with full packs, going through for
rests and deserted country. The
first village they reached was st. Jul
Ian. They arrived at two o'clock
Here they received the glad news that
the armistce was signed, and there
was great rejoicing by all Here
they also had dinner. 1t consisted
OF one cup of coffee and one slice oil
breed. This VAS later supplemented
by raw turnips from French gardens
which were placed at their disposal
When the news was received tina
the 2rmistee had been signed, The
) company broke mp. Powell became I
casual" or ION detail being assignee
any and every kind of duty until Jan
Ind On that date, he went into The
new outfit troop train meal service
running over France. Belgium ant
Germany, picking up troops and ia
king them to the seaport for embark
alton home. These trains were rul
daily. carrying troops to Brest, which
was a "a hour trip, to st. Nazare,
II hour trip. and few runs were
made to La Hayre. The soldiers o
the troops all seemed to be in goot
spirits. because they were going home
The trains ran to big prepare
, ton shed in LIE Mans. in centra
France, taking in rations or supple
for 1900 men, on an average.
Supper for this number Of men
required: $50 lbs. of beef in stews
r 100 lbs. of jam, 300 gals. of coffee
2S7 lbs. of bread, 1S7 lbs. of sugar
so one b. cans of milk.
This coffee was cooked on marin
rolling kitchens, on fiat cars, whel
the trains started.
For breakfast the following a
mounts were used: $50 lbs. of fin
steak, 2S7 lbs. stewed fruits (eithe
peaches or appesD, 300 gals. coffee
. 2S7 lbs. bread, 3S7 lbs. sugar 60 on
lib. cans milk
Two meals were generally all tina
were necessary for a trip. In cas-
of any accident or mishaps, the thir'
meal consisted of: 90 cases of canned
t beans, 300 gals. of coffee, Isl lbs
bread, 287 lbs. sugar, so one ID. cans
= milk.
There was sad event at Cam
= Dessous on February 3, 1919.
train conveying troops ran into ont
taking American soldiers oa leave Il
Paris. This occurred through {
Frenchman's signalling for the trooI
train to go ahead before that carry
ing the soldiers on leave got out o
, the way The latter tram was strucl
about midway. TWcntY-siX of thu
soldiers on furlough were killed in
, stantly and fifty taken 10 the hos
pital not expected 10 live.
Mr. Powell received his discharge
July Sth. He arrived home July 9th
and is now helping his fnther, james