. The adventures of an American doughboy . feltnow that I was on my way to the big fight—and I was sorry that Scotty had gone to Alsace-Lorraine with the other train-load. There were about five hundred of us and ourdeparture was kept very secret. We were linedup about 2:00 A. M. and escorted to a lonelydepot three miles distant. At 3:30 we wereloaded into box-cars and off we went. The trip was uneventful, but we boys werecertainly happy, for we were really going to afighting front. We tapped all the joy waterkegs we could find on our trip as we went thruthe various villages. Our lives were at
. The adventures of an American doughboy . feltnow that I was on my way to the big fight—and I was sorry that Scotty had gone to Alsace-Lorraine with the other train-load. There were about five hundred of us and ourdeparture was kept very secret. We were linedup about 2:00 A. M. and escorted to a lonelydepot three miles distant. At 3:30 we wereloaded into box-cars and off we went. The trip was uneventful, but we boys werecertainly happy, for we were really going to afighting front. We tapped all the joy waterkegs we could find on our trip as we went thruthe various villages. Our lives were at stake—so we felt that we should worry! Wed behappy for the little while we had left. We passed through some very interestingtowns and villages. Orleans, a city of 70,000is a very large and beautiful town of veryancient origin. It lies on the right bank ofthe Loire and is surrounded by a wonderfulforest. Joan of Arc led the French troopswhen they retook Orleans from the Englishin 1429—and after that she was called TheMaid of AMERICAN DOUGHBOY 23 The next place of interest was Versailleswhere the Peace Treaty has since been palaces here with their wonderful lawnsand gardens made a lasting impression on famous men have met in Versailles andworld-famous treaties have been signed there. Our car passed along the River Seine andthru the outskirts of Paris to the suburb ofSt. Denis and at last we arrived at the veryold city of Meaux, and here our railroad jour-ney ended. Meaux has a cathedral which datesback to the 12th century. There was a largesteel mill there also and I saw a great numberof wrecked aeroplanes, sent there to be repaired. We stayed at Meaux for about three hours,then we were loaded in trucks and sent tothe Front near Chateau Thierry. I was sure that I would see action then, andsay! was I tickled?—Pll say I was! Some happysoldat as the French say. The fun was aboutto commence, and believe me,—I meant to make afew of those Germans
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