Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-04-30
INTERESTING SOLDIER LETTER
PVT. Thomas R. Manning Writes Inter-
estingIy from France.

The following extracts from letter
from Pvt. Thomas R. Manning. to hi:
mother. Mrs. Susan Manning, Burke
contains numerous things that We fee
will interest Chronicle readers. The
letter was written March "a from La
Baule, France, Camp Hospital No. 81
The extracts follow:
II wish that | could find language
to express the beauty of this place
La BauIe is situated on a little rise,
looking down on the beach with the
tides rising and falling, so gently play
ing on the shores. La Baule is moth
ing more than a summer resort.
There are some swell hotels as well
SIS magnificent homes. The govern
ment had a hospital here, but it is
turned in and is now being used as an
embarkation camp for nurses. There
are five or six hundred OF them here
now and 1t is grand to see them stroll
ing along the beach, some riding BIZ
cycles, others picking up shells.
Nov and then when a steamer
passes carrying home anxious soldiers.
one has to turn his back because he
can't go. We are not lonesome, no.
not homesick, but everyone that has
home and friends longs to see them.
"You asked what division l am in.
I do not belong to division. At the
time you wrote me | was On hospital
train. Our duty was to carry patients
from one hospital to another, and Of
ten to the coast. | made number of
trips on it.
81 was down to Italy and can say
southern France surely is beautiful.
l have seen hundreds of towns and Will
ages. l have seen and been in prac-
tically every town of note in France,
while on the train. was transferred
off the train few days ago, together
with another fellow and stationed here.
We are in charge of medical work
for which we have been specially train
3D. We have q room and an Office all
to ourselves and the Major will call
around to see US at the proper times.
II visited Paris; was there three
days; was there on my birthday. On
that day l saw the famous church,
Notre Dame. also stood in the church
that was hit by the "Big Bertha" or
some long range gun. The blood is
still on the floors. will not attempt
to describe the beauty. especially Of
The window panes.
II crossed the finest bridge in France
and perhaps the finest metal bridge in
the world-the Alexander III Bridge
visited the tomb of Napoleon and saw
the Eiffel tower, the highest tower in
he world.
Il spent one evening in Versailles
md was in the palace or home Of Louis |
XIV; was in the room where so many |
,sace terms have been signed and had |
ny hand on the table the present peace
erms are to be signed For lack of
pace, can't mention the places so
oted in history. l took stroll in the
woodland where the kings hunted. |
ant stop here without mentioning
hee Louvre Garden aud the Louvre
luseum. saw the art work the old
lasters sculptured thousands of years
60.
l will have to close now, as the Cap
ain is coming to arrange for enlarQ- I
,g our compartment. don't know
hen l will be home. Am very sorry !
nat you and father are not we'll. III
m fine and dandy. will close, hoping s
rat you and father will take good
are of yourselves.
II am, dear mother, your dutiful