The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-02-08
LLOYD THOMAS TELLS
OF CROSSING THE RHINE


To the Journal and Friends:
J4st few lines from a soldier far
away. Having so many good friends
| in Welsh it is nearly impossible to
write to all, so through the kindness
of the Journal l will be able to let
all of you hear from me.
1t has been little more than sew
en- months ago that | left Welsh and
in that time my experience has been
great. I have been on land and
, across sea, through France and into
Germany. was one of the one hun
dred and four that were sent from
Camp Martin, New Orleans July IA to
Fort Leavenworth, Kan. There l was
put in the August automatic re-
placement Co. Aug. 18th, we were
sent to Camp Merit and the 18th we
were loaded on boat at New York;
laid in harbor over night and the
next day sailed for over sea; was on
the water fourteen days and landed
at Liverpool, England the morning
of the 31st; loaded on train there
for South Hampton and arrived there
at ten o'clock that night. The next
evening loaded or I; boat and crossed
the English channel and landed at La
Havre, France. F our o'clock next
morning Sept. End, the evening of the
9rd we marched down to the train
that had side door pullmans, which
were marked "eight horses and forty
men," We loaded on and rode two
days and three nights; arrived at St.
Agnoin the next day we marched to a
little village six kilometers "a kilo-
meter is five-eights of a mile) called
st. Roman there I was put in the
10th field battalion where they were
teaching more signal corps work
there | stayed until the night of the
18th and I was called out of bed to
get ready to leave, but did not know
where | was going. Had a sneaking
idea though-a soldier never knows
where he is going or what he is to do |
until the time comes, but we get !
there just the same-and the next |
we got on the train and
started. We rode three days and
nights, and we were held over few
days at Bale Court, which is four
Iilometers from Verdun, there isl
where | heard the first big guns, there
vas two big rail road guns located at
his particular place where they would
shoot the jar would nearly raise up
rom our bed, made in the straw in
he loft of an old barn. Oct 5th we
we're sent over to Cousy. a little vii
age that had been shelled TO the
round There is where I Joined nv
utht which | am still with (the 8th /
eId signal battalion) which belongs
o the fourth division, and they had
zen in action since Sept. 18th and
'e were there and in the Argonne
crest and were under shell fire until
re came out on the 18th of Oct, that
where | got my experience of war
hitch | will not try to explain but
very one knows what war is (h). III
Ould tell better than | can write it,
ut this is where did my bit and |
ever will forget the scene of the
attic field. From there we moxed
ack to what they call rest camp at 4
lgnot, located by Gommercy City,
ut camps of that kind are not like
he camps in the states, we simply
cate in town and live in the build
gs; we were there until Nov. 5tb
was moved to Blercourt for SUM-
'rt of another division on the Yer
IN front, the 9th we started toward
. MIhiel where the big drive was
|. The morning of the 18th we
opped at the road side at Void for
rest, we were there quite a while
I'd they began following from the
ont OF the column. Our officer
me back and told US that the ar =
stiee was signed; as we were wait :
9 Tor orders, were different feel
9 punch, and much happier than an
ur before. From there we were I
srchea TO some French dugouts at |
aTootte we stayed there until Nov !
Tn; one evening our lieutenant said
US i have good news for YOU" OF
urse the first thing we though was
at ne would tell us we would be ono 9
the first divisions to go home No %
was just the reverse, he said I'VE
: one of the chosen divisions to 90 ?"
o Germany" We thought as we :.
re one of the hardest fighting ones ..
would rather have the honor Of
ng back to the U. S. A. first, wa
ne over to finish it up, so ! guess
are going to see it. We have
H. SO why should We WORRY From
-, uug9 GU we marched into Ger q;
ny. The first city in the Alsaca- -
frame sector we came to and stav. e..
over night was Marslatorist y L.
mining sector. From there ~
an time have seen some beautifuI ~
merry OF mountains and valleys. old =
Ties and cities. We have had ID
IS OF marching not COUNTING o ~
Is and at present we are located
ilies on the Marine. 1t is not q
cry large city and is in a valley ~
n hills all around it too steen 0
walk up. p
90 not know how long we will a
here or where we will 90 from \ \
{. you know more about the a
op movements by the papers p
n we Go who are doing the "
wing. Here is hoping we cross i, II
pond soon. Of course we are d
ms alahs alright over here, m
. would rather be al home. :,
;. would tell you just how ! 10
living today, you will saw ON, 81