TRANSCRIBED FROM THE JONESBORO DAILY TRIBUNE AUGUST 20, 1918, P. 2
OVER HERE, June 29th, 1918.
Dearest Folks:
It has been quite a long time since you have had a regular letter from me so I don’t know just where to begin. Reckon most any kind of news from “Over Here” would be interesting to you all at home as everything is so vastly different from the American ideas.
My first impression of “LaBelle France” was not very flattering. We visited one of the ancient seaport cities and found nothing but excessively narrow, torturous streets, paved with cobble dirty little half hidden shops, slovenly unkempt people, and swarms of street urchins who followed the solders, begging in their few broken English phrases for Cigarettes. If perchance you yielded to their pleading and gave one a cigarette you were a marked man for the remainder of the march, so the recipient of your generosity soon became a pest. Of course they still beg us for cigarettes. The French have all developed a remarkable fondness for our brand, but we have learned our lesson.
Immediately upon debarkation we went into a rest camp—one of the historic Napoleonic fortresses, and remained there for several days. We were here supposed to be given a chance to recuperate from our long sea voyage, wash clothes etc. but the term rest was very figurative. We were compelled to use Pup Tents, and our company occupied a portion of the ascent to the moat of the old fort, which made it rather difficult to remain inside of them without moorings. Aside, however, from these slight discomforts and the difficulty of getting water, we enjoyed a very satisfactory sojourn. These first impressions remind me very strongly of Victor Hugo’s description of the city dwellers of France.
Shortly after we entrained for parts unknown. You no doubt remember some of George Pattulo’s humorous stories of the French railways, and I must say didn’t stretch it one bit. Their cars, called by them waggons, have a calculated capacity of eight horses or forty men. They may hold the horses all right, but when forty men pile into one of them they more nearly resemble a sardine box than anything I can think of at this moment. Of course some discomforts are to be expected under such conditions but they are inconsequential, and serve only as reminders of the experience. For three nights and two days we traveled in this manner passing through several good sized cities and innumberable villages. Everywhere the French greeted us with much hand waving and expressions of good luck.
One of the most pleasing and comforting things about the trip was the service rendered by the Red Cross. They have stations along all railways where coffee, chocolate, sandwiches, etc., are given out and they, the edibles, are a rare treat to a travel worn soldier. The class of women who are engaged in this work over here are wonderful. No words of praise are too high for them, nor can they ever be properly appreciated. Of course we expect the men to be here but it surely must cost them a lot to leave everything that is near and dear to them to work as they are with the American troops. I have positively seen delicate little nurses with corns in their hands as one sees on a laborer, and still they always have a smile for all. Just tell all your friends if they want to give any extra dollars to war activities to give them to the Red Cross. They deserve every dollar they can get.
We had our first layover in the largest base in the advance zone on our third night enroute. Here we enjoyed the usual refreshments of the Red Cross Hut and a good night’s rest. These supply depots are wonderful beyond description. Just think of acre after acre of gigantic warehouses which contain everything from a needle to the largest engines of modern warfare—a perfect labyrinth of tracks and swarms of soldiers. It is from these bases that the supplies for the field troops are distributed, so it will require no unusual flight of the imagination to picture the activity involved. After resting here we went several miles forward to a quaint picturesque little village up in the hills where our first camp was established. We were the first Americans to occupy this area, and it was very flattering to note the manner in which we were received. Another thing that was in our favor was that the villagers had not been spoiled by the prodigality of the American soldier. We expected to operate in this locality but soon received a travel order to proceed to (censored), hence our present location.
Wish you might see our camp. We are very comfortably situated about two miles from a good sized village and within easy traveling distance of a city of about one hundred thousand. We have a standard guage railway and tramroad very close to camp. Another interesting feature is that one of the ancient Roman roads passes right by us. The roads of France are wonderful. Practically all of them are macadam with trees set out at regular intervals on either side. This would be a veritable heaven to the American automobilist. Their excellent character though is no doubt due to the great amount of rainfall, as an ordinary road would soon become useless from this cause alone.
For quarters we have something of a variety, the company, with the exception of the Sargeants, is under canvas. The tents are all floored, have separate bunks, stoves, and in fact everything to make one comfortable. The Sargeants are billeted in a section of a great stone house, and are very comfortable indeed with built in bunks, mess table covered with checkered oilcloth and a fine old tiled fire place. The interior is very cool and has been made sweet and light by a fresh coat of white-wash. The office, kitchen, storeroom, work shop and stable are situated in the house. It seems peculiar to see all these things under the same roof, but we have made them perfectly sanitary and have become accustomed to the idea so we never notice it any more.
Our mess is the best we have ever had. We are abundantly supplied with fresh meat, canned and dried fruits, and an excellent variety of staples. It is well prepared and everyone gets plenty. In fact I have often thought that we are faring much better than the folks back home.
To return to our mess. You may judge it for yourselves when I tell you I am weighing one hundred and seventy pounds and feeling in a first rate condition in every way. The work of which we have been assigned is most excellent to recuperate lost energy and gain strength and vitality on, so I am expecting soon to be in real tip top shape.
While we are here in the advanced zone, we are some distance from the front and perfectly free from the possibilities of hostile demonstrations from the Boches. If it were not for the presence of innumerable soldiers in all the villages, and the occasional rumbling of the big guns, one could never tell that we were in the war area, as the county is intact in its beauty and quietude.
I have confined myself to a sort of generalized narrative of the incidents of our travel so far. Thought you might find something of interest in it, but from now on I shall write as specifically as I may concerning the customs, etc. It is all so different from anything that we are accustomed to so I am sure I can find something interesting to write about.
Just remember now that we are being well cared for and in no danger so if you have been inclined to worry, stop it, it’s useless and besides we’re not.
Lovingly, Veron.
Hq. De’t. Co., C 42nd. Engineers.
NOTES: Lieutenant Veron Eugene Scott of Jonesboro enlisted in the 42nd Engineers and trained at Washington D. C. Scott was tall and slender with brown eyes and dark hair. He was born February 1, 1892 and died January 1970.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.
OVER HERE, June 29th, 1918.
Dearest Folks:
It has been quite a long time since you have had a regular letter from me so I don’t know just where to begin. Reckon most any kind of news from “Over Here” would be interesting to you all at home as everything is so vastly different from the American ideas.
My first impression of “LaBelle France” was not very flattering. We visited one of the ancient seaport cities and found nothing but excessively narrow, torturous streets, paved with cobble dirty little half hidden shops, slovenly unkempt people, and swarms of street urchins who followed the solders, begging in their few broken English phrases for Cigarettes. If perchance you yielded to their pleading and gave one a cigarette you were a marked man for the remainder of the march, so the recipient of your generosity soon became a pest. Of course they still beg us for cigarettes. The French have all developed a remarkable fondness for our brand, but we have learned our lesson.
Immediately upon debarkation we went into a rest camp—one of the historic Napoleonic fortresses, and remained there for several days. We were here supposed to be given a chance to recuperate from our long sea voyage, wash clothes etc. but the term rest was very figurative. We were compelled to use Pup Tents, and our company occupied a portion of the ascent to the moat of the old fort, which made it rather difficult to remain inside of them without moorings. Aside, however, from these slight discomforts and the difficulty of getting water, we enjoyed a very satisfactory sojourn. These first impressions remind me very strongly of Victor Hugo’s description of the city dwellers of France.
Shortly after we entrained for parts unknown. You no doubt remember some of George Pattulo’s humorous stories of the French railways, and I must say didn’t stretch it one bit. Their cars, called by them waggons, have a calculated capacity of eight horses or forty men. They may hold the horses all right, but when forty men pile into one of them they more nearly resemble a sardine box than anything I can think of at this moment. Of course some discomforts are to be expected under such conditions but they are inconsequential, and serve only as reminders of the experience. For three nights and two days we traveled in this manner passing through several good sized cities and innumberable villages. Everywhere the French greeted us with much hand waving and expressions of good luck.
One of the most pleasing and comforting things about the trip was the service rendered by the Red Cross. They have stations along all railways where coffee, chocolate, sandwiches, etc., are given out and they, the edibles, are a rare treat to a travel worn soldier. The class of women who are engaged in this work over here are wonderful. No words of praise are too high for them, nor can they ever be properly appreciated. Of course we expect the men to be here but it surely must cost them a lot to leave everything that is near and dear to them to work as they are with the American troops. I have positively seen delicate little nurses with corns in their hands as one sees on a laborer, and still they always have a smile for all. Just tell all your friends if they want to give any extra dollars to war activities to give them to the Red Cross. They deserve every dollar they can get.
We had our first layover in the largest base in the advance zone on our third night enroute. Here we enjoyed the usual refreshments of the Red Cross Hut and a good night’s rest. These supply depots are wonderful beyond description. Just think of acre after acre of gigantic warehouses which contain everything from a needle to the largest engines of modern warfare—a perfect labyrinth of tracks and swarms of soldiers. It is from these bases that the supplies for the field troops are distributed, so it will require no unusual flight of the imagination to picture the activity involved. After resting here we went several miles forward to a quaint picturesque little village up in the hills where our first camp was established. We were the first Americans to occupy this area, and it was very flattering to note the manner in which we were received. Another thing that was in our favor was that the villagers had not been spoiled by the prodigality of the American soldier. We expected to operate in this locality but soon received a travel order to proceed to (censored), hence our present location.
Wish you might see our camp. We are very comfortably situated about two miles from a good sized village and within easy traveling distance of a city of about one hundred thousand. We have a standard guage railway and tramroad very close to camp. Another interesting feature is that one of the ancient Roman roads passes right by us. The roads of France are wonderful. Practically all of them are macadam with trees set out at regular intervals on either side. This would be a veritable heaven to the American automobilist. Their excellent character though is no doubt due to the great amount of rainfall, as an ordinary road would soon become useless from this cause alone.
For quarters we have something of a variety, the company, with the exception of the Sargeants, is under canvas. The tents are all floored, have separate bunks, stoves, and in fact everything to make one comfortable. The Sargeants are billeted in a section of a great stone house, and are very comfortable indeed with built in bunks, mess table covered with checkered oilcloth and a fine old tiled fire place. The interior is very cool and has been made sweet and light by a fresh coat of white-wash. The office, kitchen, storeroom, work shop and stable are situated in the house. It seems peculiar to see all these things under the same roof, but we have made them perfectly sanitary and have become accustomed to the idea so we never notice it any more.
Our mess is the best we have ever had. We are abundantly supplied with fresh meat, canned and dried fruits, and an excellent variety of staples. It is well prepared and everyone gets plenty. In fact I have often thought that we are faring much better than the folks back home.
To return to our mess. You may judge it for yourselves when I tell you I am weighing one hundred and seventy pounds and feeling in a first rate condition in every way. The work of which we have been assigned is most excellent to recuperate lost energy and gain strength and vitality on, so I am expecting soon to be in real tip top shape.
While we are here in the advanced zone, we are some distance from the front and perfectly free from the possibilities of hostile demonstrations from the Boches. If it were not for the presence of innumerable soldiers in all the villages, and the occasional rumbling of the big guns, one could never tell that we were in the war area, as the county is intact in its beauty and quietude.
I have confined myself to a sort of generalized narrative of the incidents of our travel so far. Thought you might find something of interest in it, but from now on I shall write as specifically as I may concerning the customs, etc. It is all so different from anything that we are accustomed to so I am sure I can find something interesting to write about.
Just remember now that we are being well cared for and in no danger so if you have been inclined to worry, stop it, it’s useless and besides we’re not.
Lovingly, Veron.
Hq. De’t. Co., C 42nd. Engineers.
NOTES: Lieutenant Veron Eugene Scott of Jonesboro enlisted in the 42nd Engineers and trained at Washington D. C. Scott was tall and slender with brown eyes and dark hair. He was born February 1, 1892 and died January 1970.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.