The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1919-03-13
FROM WILLIAM E. BRYAN


Mrs. James ID. Bryan, of Munford,
has received the following letter from
mat L byifher son, James D.RDETI
her son, William E., written at sea
on January %:
My Dear Mother suppose l shall
have the chance to mail a letter toI
you tomorrow, so will write tonight.
We wer due to arrive in New York
this morning, but ran into a heavy
fog so miles out, so we had to anchor
here 20 or 80 miles out of New York.
But now the fog has cleared away,
so we shall go in tomorrow early,
We had very pleasant trip this
time except for two or three rough
days. We left st. Nazaire, France,
on the 8th stopped at the Bermudas
for coal This time we had the OPP
portunity Of seeing the islands. They
are very pretty, with nice climate
The people there insisted on having
a party for the officers, so we had
very pleasant evening, and met
some nice people. They were nearly
all English, but rather likable.
We have this time about 400 badly
wounded soldiers. They stood the
trip pretty well, and as a rule inn
proved. But one poor fellow died.
They are indeed glad to be back
home. One was heard to say today
that he had not been so happy since
he left home.
Our work has not been so hard
this time, as we had more help,
1t has been a wonderful trip for me.
A party of us went to Paris for four
days, and saw a good part of the
city, and ~assed through many of
the larger towns. One day we went
over to Versailles and went through .
the royal palace. We we're in the
hall of Mirrors, where the peace con-
ference is being held. The old pal
ace and garden are more beautiful
and wonderful than one would con-
clude We also visited Notre Dame
and many other interestino places. I
But the most wonderful was the day
which another fellow and sper
going through the country where ac-
tual fighting took place. We went
to Meaux, Chateau Thierry, up the
famous Marine and to Rheims. All
along the way was devastation, shell
holes, trenches, barbed wire entang-
lements, and other signs of warfare.
But the climax was reached when we
went about Rheims. As you probably
know, it was formerly prosperous
city Of about 100000. 1t was occu-
pied for eight days by the Germans
during the first drive, but was re-
captured by the French. We were
told that at the time there was stored
in the cellars forty million bottles Of
We said to the French
man who told us this that it was no
wonder the French recaptured it and
held it. Now the whole city is in
ruins. The buildings have shell
holes in the walls and roofs through
which Ford could be driven. There
are so few people there now that
we with diffiulty found anything at
all to eat. We went through the
famous cathedral there, which was
built in the 18th century, mean
what is left Of it, for it is only
skeleton nova pathetic sight. For
more than a week, it is said, the
erman artillery was directed upon it.
/ picked up some pieces of shrapnel
and high explosive shells in it; also
picked up some small pieces of stained
glass window-there were some small
pieces left when the Boche guns
stopped.
We went out on the north and east
side of town, where the Germans
occupied trenches. These were very
muddy, but we were told that they
were typical of all trenches. The
dug-outs were clever-al also the COM
munication trenches. But now Mo-
Mans Land is not what it used to
be. The barbed wire entanglements,
however, are still there.
Am afraid | shall not be able to
get leave this time, but before so
many months I hope to have several
days. cannot say that / am fond
Of spending Christmas at sea, but Of
course did not complain.
With best wishes and love for Dad,
all the others, and keep a lot for
yourself, from your boy,