Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-01-09
LAWRENCE MONTIGEL
WRITES FROM FRANCE
Alma Lad in Europe Relates
Some of His Experiences and
Tells Of Sights.

Lawrence +. Montigel at the base
hospital, Montpont, France, has writ
ten a very interesting letter 70 his
parents, which The Record is glad to
publish as it contains some descrip-
tive matter in regard TO France, and
10 the army, that the readers will
appreciate:
lMontpont, France, Base Hospital
No. 3, Amb. Co. No. 333. Decem-
Der 18th. 1851
Dear Mother, Dad and All:
Wednesday night, with rain, lots
of mud and very cold. have waded
mud all day with only pair of
army hob-nails 50, of course you
know my feet are wet though BY
changing my shoes every other day
II manage to keep my feet warm and
dry for few hours. The weather
here is very unpleasant, with rain
and fog nearly every day. Mud all
the time. Just what would expect
when it continues to rain. Moss
hangs from all the trees and the fol-
iage is very heavy.
Last Monday. December ., We sent
down 70 Bordeaux on train No. 81,
a convoy Of 600 men, among them
Major Roberts, and last Friday on
train 6S, a convoy of 500 men. The
same day we received another train
bringing US about 400 patients from
foul. This train we unloaded in
the night and | got through at $3.50
in the morning You can imagine
from this that it wasn't a pleasant
job hauling wounded men over a road
just as bumpy as our corduroy roads
and only lamps 10 see by. We were
fortunate in securing three extra
trucks and six ambulances from
Libourne and Bordeaux TO help US.
Tomorrow we expect TO send out
another convoy and understand
that Scotty McCreadie is to return
with them so that he can have an
operation in the states. lie is the
second man to return prior 10 the
return of the company.
December llth, | drove a captain
and major around TO few towns on
legal matters. 1t was pretty tight
squeeze as they persisted in riding
in the front seat and as the drivers
seat in an ambulance is only built
for two, you can see why. Barring
plenty of rain and plugged gas line
which / had to fuss with all the alter
noon | had very interesting trip
for il took me 10 Riberae, St. Aulaye,
Coutras, St. Medard and back 20
Montpont. Just trace this trip on
the map and it will show you where
We went and where am now located
We travelled through miles of coun-
try which was not under cultivation.
because of the shallow top
soil and the lack of machinery and
ambitious people. The country at
this time of the year is covered with
the typical fall colors. The homes
Of the peasants are built on the unit
plan, house, barn and sheds as one.
constructed Of stone and tile, with
dirt, tile or wooden floors. Fire
places are scarce and stoves are very
crude. This type Of house is very
common through all of southern
France
The oxen and two-wheeled wagons
are the modes Of conveyance unless
IN better circumstances, then appears
the donkey and cart. Still you do
meet three other classes on the road.
such as, horse and cart, and horse
and more expensive wheeled cart and
the frog automobile. either narrow
gauge or common. The automobiles
arc run by government officials only,
because Of the lack Of gasoline. IL
s very interesting to be on the road
when the people are going to market,
you would swear that the donkeys
sprung up over night. Everyone has
TO sell from bundles Of
irewood to nuts. This market day
or dair, is different in the different |
owns. i have never been down TO
see the fun though I have driven
through or been near by when the
selling was going on.
The railroads I think I have men
.ioned before. One thing sure, they
ook up to and are learning great /
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