TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SCOTT COUNTY ADVANCE REPORTER MARCH 6, 1919 P. 3
Lemans, France.
Feb. 8, 1919
Editor Adv. Reporter:
Dear Sir and friend:
It is with great pleasure that I am writing to you to night. I am feeling fine and am getting along all O.K. this is one of the busiest towns in France. In the early days of the war many of the French soldiers were trained here but every thing is occupied by the USA now.
There is a mill here thru which they put from twenty to thirty thousand troops a day and fully equiped them. It is now the embarkation center.
Well it has been snowing here some for the past several days and the snow capped hills are very beautiful. Up until it began snowing, we had rain rain nearly every day and believe me some mud.
If it was as cold here as it is some places I don't see how they would keep from freezing as they do not have but very little wood it being brought from a great distance. The wood that we use is hauled by one of our liberty motors some seventy or eighty miles.
This country as you know is one of the oldest in the world, yet it is far behind the U.S.A. They still use the old fashioned two wheeled wagons, they look like fleet boats on wheels. The donkey is still used as a beast of burden and the push cart and jinrigasea is a familiar sight.
Nothing is thrown away. You can see street pickers eagerly searching for any thing carelessly thrown away. You will find that the mothers who have lost sons in the war always ready to help the boys.
Timber being out of the question all houses are built of brick or stone and nearly all are connected to gather. They seem to live mostly in the upper stories, there are many Cathedrals here some of which are many hundred years old and many dramattic incidents connected with the early history of France have took place with in them. I have been althrough them they contain many interesting things. The architecture on the inside is very beautiful.
It is a wonderflul sight to visit the national museum. As it contains many relics from the prehistoric ages. The old egyption mumies are very funny indeed.
I have traveled many miles in France and have seen some wonderful scenery and some beautiful country. Here you will pass a peaceful village nestled close beside a mountain, next you are passing thru a great tunnel or over some stream of water which has been stained by the blood of many a hero.
Went out to a french saw mill the other day and will say that one of our big mills would cut as much lumber in one day as they would in a monta. They have the logs hauled in on the cars and they come a great distance.
Well I have read the home papers and sure was glad to get them but was sorry to hear of so many deaths.
Roy Ford and Cecil Frazier are still here. we are together very often and have some great times talking over old times. We hope to get home by early spring.
I am glad that no more of the boys had to come across the briny deep but they missed some thing. I have heard of fellows complaining about having to eat cornbread in the training camps over there. Well they ought to think there are many things worse.
Well we hope that we have said good by to corned bill hard tacks and hash. And how long before we can say good by France and hello Broadway.
Over here we nothing but praise for the mothers of America. God bless them every one.
Well had the war lasted two months longer I would have faced the huns. I was in the Infantry you know but some way we did not feat, always trusting God.
We were all anxious to finish the fight early, my company had finished its training and was ready to start for the front but now it is finished and we are all waiting patiently for the co. to entrain for embarkation.
Well will close for this time, so good luck.
Respt.
Pvt. Chas. O. Martin
NOTES: Charles Oscar Martin was born in Benton, Tennessee on July 13, 1888 and died on July 27, 1946. He is buried in the Duncan Cemetery in Scott County, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Pvt. serving in the US Army during World War 1. He enlisted on June 14, 1918 and was discharged on April 30, 1919. He served in the Casual Detachment 11 R. Bn. 162 Depot.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Lemans, France.
Feb. 8, 1919
Editor Adv. Reporter:
Dear Sir and friend:
It is with great pleasure that I am writing to you to night. I am feeling fine and am getting along all O.K. this is one of the busiest towns in France. In the early days of the war many of the French soldiers were trained here but every thing is occupied by the USA now.
There is a mill here thru which they put from twenty to thirty thousand troops a day and fully equiped them. It is now the embarkation center.
Well it has been snowing here some for the past several days and the snow capped hills are very beautiful. Up until it began snowing, we had rain rain nearly every day and believe me some mud.
If it was as cold here as it is some places I don't see how they would keep from freezing as they do not have but very little wood it being brought from a great distance. The wood that we use is hauled by one of our liberty motors some seventy or eighty miles.
This country as you know is one of the oldest in the world, yet it is far behind the U.S.A. They still use the old fashioned two wheeled wagons, they look like fleet boats on wheels. The donkey is still used as a beast of burden and the push cart and jinrigasea is a familiar sight.
Nothing is thrown away. You can see street pickers eagerly searching for any thing carelessly thrown away. You will find that the mothers who have lost sons in the war always ready to help the boys.
Timber being out of the question all houses are built of brick or stone and nearly all are connected to gather. They seem to live mostly in the upper stories, there are many Cathedrals here some of which are many hundred years old and many dramattic incidents connected with the early history of France have took place with in them. I have been althrough them they contain many interesting things. The architecture on the inside is very beautiful.
It is a wonderflul sight to visit the national museum. As it contains many relics from the prehistoric ages. The old egyption mumies are very funny indeed.
I have traveled many miles in France and have seen some wonderful scenery and some beautiful country. Here you will pass a peaceful village nestled close beside a mountain, next you are passing thru a great tunnel or over some stream of water which has been stained by the blood of many a hero.
Went out to a french saw mill the other day and will say that one of our big mills would cut as much lumber in one day as they would in a monta. They have the logs hauled in on the cars and they come a great distance.
Well I have read the home papers and sure was glad to get them but was sorry to hear of so many deaths.
Roy Ford and Cecil Frazier are still here. we are together very often and have some great times talking over old times. We hope to get home by early spring.
I am glad that no more of the boys had to come across the briny deep but they missed some thing. I have heard of fellows complaining about having to eat cornbread in the training camps over there. Well they ought to think there are many things worse.
Well we hope that we have said good by to corned bill hard tacks and hash. And how long before we can say good by France and hello Broadway.
Over here we nothing but praise for the mothers of America. God bless them every one.
Well had the war lasted two months longer I would have faced the huns. I was in the Infantry you know but some way we did not feat, always trusting God.
We were all anxious to finish the fight early, my company had finished its training and was ready to start for the front but now it is finished and we are all waiting patiently for the co. to entrain for embarkation.
Well will close for this time, so good luck.
Respt.
Pvt. Chas. O. Martin
NOTES: Charles Oscar Martin was born in Benton, Tennessee on July 13, 1888 and died on July 27, 1946. He is buried in the Duncan Cemetery in Scott County, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Pvt. serving in the US Army during World War 1. He enlisted on June 14, 1918 and was discharged on April 30, 1919. He served in the Casual Detachment 11 R. Bn. 162 Depot.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD