Author: Sidney's Grandson

June 13, 1919

Washington

Last night I managed to pry off a few hours’ sleep in a fine American Pullman berth. When I awoke at 7 we were in Washington. After much riding in auto trucks we succeeded in getting rid of our convoy matter. We have been turned loose in Washington until Tuesday at 9, when we leave for a nearby camp. We shall stay not more than 2 or 3 days at camp. From the accounts of several old Paris men who have been there, you have to earn that red discharge chevron. But it doesn’t matter – I’ll be back at the end of next week. It is left to us to quarter and feed ourselves. I am staying at the K of C Service Club. The beds are clean. The price is nothing, and breakfast included. I like this organization, as much as I dislike the Y. It has a right idea of how to treat a soldier.

Next post June 19.

June 1, 1919

Brest

On Wednesday at 8:05 our train pulled out of the Gare Montparnasse, and on Thursday at 8:20 (A.M. this time) it pulled into the Gare at Brest. Just like coming home – I know this town so well. It is mean and picturesque. The people still look Irish enough to make me long for New York. Do you remember my telling you about a year ago how Gaelic they seemed?

The trip down was comfortable. We came to a camp of corrugated iron buildings in what was a sort of Salvage Dump a year ago. It is in a gully formed by the ancient fortifications of this town. Now it houses a lot of soldiers and is important enough to have its own Y. It is called Cap Port Foy. It is on a step high hill between the harbor and the town.

Do you remember how I camped on a hill last year at Brest, guarding the baggage? That is when I slept in a shelter tent between Smithy and Ernie, and also when I met Gaby who lives in Joinville. Our camp in the gully is not more than fifty yards from the spot.

Yesterday I paid a visit to the spot where I slept in that shelter tent between those two giants. The grass is gone. In its place is a flock of more corrugated iron barracks – another camp. Then I made pilgrimage to another shrine – the pump where we drew water. I looked for the old man who, last year, wanted me to do him a sign “AMERICAN LAUNDRY.” He was not there, nor was the sign apparent; but an abundance of government issue clothing drying in the sun bore evidence of the fruitfulness or his commercial foresight. Perhaps the year has brought him a name that transcended the blaze of the sign he wanted.

Camp Pontanezen shall know me not. As you know, Napoleon is credited with the responsibility for it. He may have the credit – also the camp. I’ll not even visit it.

Brest is more interesting now than ever before. Permanent and transient troops to the number of 100,000 live in and around it all the time. There are also a few thousand sailors. It is fuller of Americans than anything else I ever saw.

Only one transport has left since we came. It bore the 4th convoy, which left the lab about 5 days before us. The George Washington and several battleships lie in the harbor, but it is said that they are waiting for the President. One big boat came in Friday and will probably leave Wednesday – the Mount Vernon. The Leviathan, Imperator, Troy, Kaiserin Auguste Victoria and others are due this week. This morning the 5th Photo Convoy came here.

The Major has been ordered to Washington and will come here this week, on his way there. The fellows who came in today tell us that the signs of an immediate break-up multiply daily.

There is little doubt that our convoy will board ship this week. June 5th is the most popular date at the present writing. That means we might sail about Saturday.

Tomorrow we are going to be paid in American money. Finis francs. Though I should mention that it will be ten dollars short for me because the lab. court-martialled me about a week before I got on this convoy, for not going to formations. However I still continue to sleep late. As I said before, they got a mighty poor soldier when they reached out for me.

In this camp there is nothing at all to do. Never a bugle or formation, even for meals. They even have a sergeant to keep the barracks clean. What a treat for some of the privates, to lie on their backs and watch the sergeant in charge of quarters weep the floor. No one cares whether you sleep all day, or not. It’s ideal for me. So far I’ve read a history of Art, and O. Henry’s “Cabbages and Kings.”

Next post June 13.

May 20, 1919

COMING!

Last night I talked to the major and today he came round and said I can go with Banker.

We may leave Monday; possible later – not sooner. Might be back by June 15, 1919.

But, it’s only the army, and lots of things may happen. However, if this should fall through I won’t be much longer, for it is now certain that the lab will close June 15th, and everyone will be sent home.

Next post May 22.

May 19, 1919

Within two weeks from June 15th I shall be on my way home.

Maybe.

I was rather counting on being able to go next week when Lt. Banker and his G-2 men leave. The major bucks. He says you can’t give up the News Dep’t. without the general’s order. The general is coming tomorrow. I’m still trying to talk the Major into getting the General to release me. Perhaps it will work.

Whether it does or not, the lab closes on June 1st. They are figuring on a month for packing up. That means we pull out on July 1st. It’s bad enough, but not so bad.

I saw the second part of “J’accuse” Saturday night. It is a bit long winded, but good.

On Sunday I had planned to see some of Paris, but it would so have grieved Ninette Streiff (There were tears in her eyes when I said I wouldn’t go.) that in the end I consented to go visit them on the Marne on Sunday morning. They and Mme. Streiff’s brother have a little shack right on the river at a place called Chennevieres about 10 kilometers from here.

The Marne is about as wide as the Passaic, but very swift. They have a sort of long canoe, propelled by double paddles. We had knock-down meals in their slap-to house and a splendid time.

Next post May 20

May 15, 1919

Your protest against the powers that be must have been heard in higher circles. It is pretty well certain now that the blooming old lab will stop work on the first of June. That’s about two weeks from today. Then we shall begin to pack and clean up. When that is completed, which should be between the 15th and 30th of June, we will go home. We ought to be home not later than the middle of July.

None of this has been announced though most of it has been said. I hope you understand the difference; I don’t. But I believe it now. Some pretty reliable people have told me. Naturally they’re not likely to announce the thing ahead. I have confidence this time.

It is hard to be glad about it. I can’t with any sincerity go to the government and say: “Thank you so much for letting me go home 8 months after the war’s over.” It isn’t being done. It is less than a year that I’m here and many have been here two years. They’re welcome to their extra service stripes.

Like all things man meddles with, there is an end. Let us then rejoice that it is at last in sight. Discreetly, for it isn’t official yet. But it’s only two months from today! Think of it!

Next post May 19.

May 12, 1919

Saturday night Bill and I saw the first of the three episodes of “J’accuse.” It is a remarkable picture in the Griffith style and done in a fashion more American than French. Afterwards we were hungry and went to the Donjon Hotel around the corner for some bread and butter, fried eggs and a glass of beer. It was really quite a celebration.

Yesterday I went to Bellamy’s. First, I was sent to meet him and his father in the café, where we sat and drank wine and played backgammon until 12:30. Then back for dinner. After dinner we went down to the Place de la Nation through the Fair and we all went to on the merry-go-round and the airship, and had a beautiful time.

Afterwards, dinner, and then talked till ten. They are very nice.

Today nothing notable. The major asked me to translate a letter into French for him. It was to Pathe, asking for renewal of our privilege to the plant for a period of three months from date. I don’t quite reconcile this with other stories and facts. But it isn’t worrying me, because when we do move the word will come from higher up, and he won’t have much to do with it.

Next post May 15.

May 7, 1919

This week has turned out to be a wonderful, warm, sunny affair. It is almost too fine to stay indoors and most of the bunch, accordingly, goes out. Not so little Willie. He has begun to do movie titles now, on the order of the Intelligence Department. Does he cavil and cuss, object and obstreparate about it? Nope. He wants to get on to this movie stuff. It’s just one more field of work, one more possibility stowed away for future reference. Is he right, do you think?

Within two months from this date the Photo Lab. at Vincennes will pass into the state of “Do You Remember?” This announcement, repeated twice in the last 5 days is as definite and reliable as anything in the army can be. So you may calculate that about five weeks after you get this letter I shall be packing my barracks bag. I don’t want to be glad too soon or I’d jump around and spoil something. But it does seem true.

As the time approaches so do the reproaches. It is rather painful to think of the dead now. It hurts, too, to realize that we have been pampered in Paris while thousands suffered in the field. When you stop to think of it, I’ve been unusually fortunate for a soldier. And when I stop to think of it, this Vincennes guerre has been pretty enjoyable. If anyone ever pats my head and says: “My poor lad, this must have been a terrible war for you,” I’ll never again be able to hold up my head, for shame.

Since the last letter I have done nothing. Monday night Frank and I wandered around in Paris from sunset till about 10:30. The boulevards are marvelous in the spring. There is something vernal about the cold iron lampposts and something verdant in the ancient gray sidewalks. We sat down at a café and had a glass of beer. The tables are out in front of the café, on the sidewalk, so one may sit and watch the passer-by. We did. That was all.

Last night I went to Bellamys’ where I am invited to spend the day Sunday. They accuse me of declining all their all-day invitations, so I guess I’ll have to accept this one.

Tonight I’m going to movies. There is a Pathe picture called “J’accuse” which, M. and Mme. B. tell, is the best thing Pathe ever did. The first episode is shown near here tonight, so Bill, Frank and I are going.

Next post May 10.