LEARNING FRENCH.
During these early days at Camp Hunt, before the training schools began, some
opportunity was given to explore the surrounding country. The pleasant little summer resort of
Arcachon, a few kilometers distant from camp, gave the personnel of the regiment there first
insight to the ways and customs of the French people. There was also Bordeaux, which could be
made upon occasion of a week end. Across the street from the cantonment grew up a row of
French canteens, which congregation the soldiers speedily gave the name ‘parade Rest’. It was
here that most of the soldiers met and learned to know those French friends, ‘Vin Rouge’ and
‘Vin Blanc’. Only a few kilometers distance was Lake Cazeaux, upon the banks of which an
American flying squadron was training, where upon week ends soldiers went to the bay to swim.
Batteries “D” and “F”, as a whole, made week end trips to this Lake, marching down on
Saturday afternoons, taking lunch for three meals and returning on Sunday.
FIELD ARTILLERY AT LAST.
Upon August 23rd, we received six firing batteries complete of 75 millimeter guns, and it
was a proud day when we got these for we began to feel the part of a true fighting unit. From
time to time a few French animals were received, the largest number which we ever had at this
place amounted to about two hundred. To the Texas and Oklahomans used to wild, wiry
Mexican ponies, which could gallop over rocks, bushes, and ditches without trouble, these poor
French animals seemed helpless beasts indeed. Used to being lead as they were and used to the
most careful attention. Raised almost beneath the same roof with the French children they were
certainly not animals which could stand much abuse, but at any rate they were received gladly,
for they were material with which to work. Many good hours were spent in attempting to
condition these animals, but just when it was felt that our pains were being partially rewarded the
heart was taken out of the stable sergeants when orders came down for the One Hundred Sixty-
fourth Field Artillery Brigade to draw from us the few animals we had. The latter brigade had
completed its training at Camp de Souge and was on the way to the front.
THE COURSE BEGINS.
August 6th, the artillery school began, at first there were only a few classes in materiel
but gradually instructors assembled and complete classes in orientation, telegraph, radio,
machine gun, and indoor firing were progressing nicely for both officers and enlisted men.
Ammunition was drawn and our guns hauled out to the field to the firing range by means of
trucks and put in position. The firing began. Gun squads were rapidly initiated to the use of the
French 75s, while the officers were mastering the principals of closed warfare firing.
Ammunition was plentiful and day by day the guns banged away. The old field artillery officers
saw the young lieutenants shoot more ammunition in one afternoon’s problem than the old
allowance use to permit in a year or more.
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