Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-26
OUR VS.
-. in :.
OUR COUNTRy'S SERVICE

c. Bryce Little, an Augusta boy is
member Of Co. L, seth Pioneer In
faEtry in some letters to his mother
tells of some interesting personal en-
periences. Mr.. Little is a former en-
pioyec Of the Central Maine Power
Co. and is we'll known in musical cir
cieS in the state. Before entering the
service ne was a member of the choi,
at the Penney Memorial church, and
while attending Cony high always
took an active part in the annual
Chizz!e Wizzle Fair, as we'll as the
~" MINISTRIES. In one of his letters
he states that he does not expect to
return to this country until next fall
as the regiment is a part of the arm;
OF occupation. Extracts from his let
tiers follow:
Nov. %. 1919.
Dear NJ:
We occupied the fine dusout 1 wrote
You about. and worked on the roads
until Nov. 18th, then came the order
to move. How we hated to leave our
warm, roomy and altogether just o.
X. dug out: We named it POS:
Sack" from sign we found on a
great post in the center of the room,
and we concluded it meant mail bag.
On the 18th. however. we had to pull
up stakes and were marched into
Donibasle and found the whole regi-
ment there.
Nov. 18th after being equipped with
clothing and pay. we started on the
long hike, back through Avercourt We
Travelled and made Montfaucon that
night. My squad found a small and
dry dugout, and we succeeded in get
ting a good nights rest in spite of the
cold.
Some of the men walked to Mont
faucon and brought back candy. Gig
arettes and cake. 1t tasted good, after
being deprived of sweets for some
weeks. Camel cigarettes are a luxury
after the black stuff the French
smoke. 81.
The next morning. Nov. 18th. we
liked on, and arrived that afternoon
at Dunn. While T. chopped WOOD.
built tiny stove inside the pup
tent. We were much more comfor-
table on account Of it. The 18th
found us at Faunetz. A cold wind
swept over us all night, but our little
stove made from three large "corned
willy" cans, burned all the brighter
for it. The Goth of Nov, we went
into Colmey. small town. with
wide gage railroad. Some one found
barn full of straw and talk of your
football rushes. In less than no time
half of the regiment was in that barn
struggling for straw. I got warmed
up both physically and mentally. but
succeeded in getting my share of
straw for a bed.
Nov. 21st we went through Songuay
and we sure were hitting the high
spots" The reason we travelled SO
fast was in order to beat another reg
iment to it, and SO obtain billets, in
stead Of sleeping in pup tents again.
Well we won out and they marched
us into Petange and billited us in the
houses. Our squad has a parlor in
the house of a retired engineer on
Rue de Ia Post Petange Luxembourg.
These people, Huet by name, treat us
very finely indeed. OF course they
receive payment but they do for us
much more than they need to. All
We expect is shelter. but thy get up
feeds, clean our rooms after we go out
and in many ways show their friend
illness. Last night coming in at
twelve from guard duty we found the
mother up making hot coffee for US.
Perhaps that did not 60 good after
two hours in the wet and cold. All
can say to her is a couple of words
that sound like danke sein, which
means thank you. One of our squad
speaks good German and T has some
French. so we get by after fashion.
The Luxembourgers speak both Ian
guages fluently. I have just got word
that Co. D is leaving for Coblenz on
the Rhine. We will all go there even
eually. the sooner the better, as we
believe it is a step nearer home. On
my birthday hope to be at Rue de la
Winthrop. Augusta Maine, L. S. A.
Dec. S, 1918.
We have crossed the Mosel river