Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1919-01-08

Part of a letter from Harry Dick
ans OF Orleans. who is in Y. NJ. C. \.
work in France, written TO his taml-
ly:
Nov. Goth, 1918.
Brussels, Belgium.
When 1 wrote last, week ago to-
day. l told you l was about 10 start
on 3 three DAYS trip. Well, i have
not got back yet. / am IN Brussels
and there is quite s story in the in
teryal. We left Lille Thursday morn
ing and went over the roads the Ger
mans were reGreating over. You can
/ imagine they were something terrl-
/ bic.
I had gone about 100 kilometers,
when | bumped s rock on the bottom
Of the crankcase and broke the big
oil plug and burned out 3 bearing.
Well. | was stuck The "chief" jump
( ed 3 French Iorrie and went along.
with instructions for me 10 follow If
: l could get repaired. / stuck around
several hours. Of course, it was
raining. BY and by an American Ior-
+ RE came along and l got them 70 tow
ME back 20 an American field repair
outfit. We had 10 take the engine
apart and / was with the outnt two
;
wards Brussels which the Germans
had not yet evacuated. Some way l
go- clear through the British lines 10
their advanced outposts. where / was
arrested.
The British It'll Cavalry division
was advancing on Brussels and OF
course would not permit anyone 10
80 through. They kept me prisoner
for three days. They were awfuIly
good 70 me: messed with the general
and staff officers. As they advanced
labout II miles & day. l advanced
with them. l had rotten places TO
sleep but apart from that, II was
great experience.
We went through country where
they had not seen an English or
! American soldier for four years. All
along. the roads were Uttered with
abandoned cannon. automobiles and
motor lorries. l could have had
car by just picking II up.
. Night before last, the advance was
delayed for two days and l got per-
mission from the general 10 pro-
coed 70 Brussels. So yesterday
morning OF l started and l went
through towns and villages that the
+ Germans left the day before. The
2 people sure were surprised 10 see an
I American car and l was the first
American through. All went we'll
until I was Is kilometers from Brus-
sells. when l ran into the French
army ouCpOsts and was again held
I'D. bur fortunately I had supplied
myself with 2 pass from the British
and so after lots OF chewing the
rag" they ler me through. In due
season I got 10 Brussels and then the
. fun began.
This IS q beautiful city OF about
100000. When l got here the Ger
mans had not all left and there was
+ have seen the people. They went
wild. AL the women ard kids want
eG 70 kiss me las in Lille) and shout
+ ed ''Eive rAmerique." It's impossi-
T Die TO describe the scene.
The city Is full OF prisoners Of war,
I French. Russian. English and Ital-
+ ians. and a terrible sight some Of
them are. Well. I proceeded 70 look
up the Chief. OF course, l didn't
expect 70 find him, but much 70 my
surprise. I located him. He got in
g -----5 ahead q ne. BY another route
with similar adventures
/ forgot % tel you. Is ! was 90
--E along / saw q dreadful train
wreck The engine ran OF the track
al killed several and injured hun
G-eis. l-- that was only incidental.
The King OF Belgium : coming
here Friday and We are going TO
wa.- and see him ard then return 70
Lille: We are going TO locate q base
here II tel you the details when
l see you.
As ever.