Monty at War

Monty arrived in the US on December 21, 1919. With Christmas only a few days away, it seems unlikely that he stopped anywhere between New York and Marion, SC, a direct trip from New York city by rail. He was saving a lot to tell his family and his later letters contain less reportage of his environment and the job and more detail on the drama of his return, about getting away from Paris, and his constant disappointment—despite conversations and gymnastics—a mental exercise of the sort that Sisyphus would have recognized.

His continual sliding deadline only seems to pique his anxiety to get moving so as not to be the last man to leave town. Each day brings a loss of options—fewer ports to leave from, a diminished schedule of departures and class of travel (luxury liners are off the menu), and reservations of the sort he made for friends earlier are now out of the question. As he approaches his departure the letters are fewer as if we are following a man who feels certain he will arrive at his mother’s doorstep long before any letter he could write, one which would then arrive after him full of cold news. He is all action, breathless in his objective to get home and wound tightly to spring purposefully at a moment’s notice before another bureaucratic portcullis descends.

Monty seems caged in a job that he can’t escape. Nearly a year ago on November 11, the war ended. Now Monty plays the janitor after the performance, cleaning up as the show closes: the curtain goes down, the audience leaves, the actors retire out of sight.

[review]

November 7^th, 1919 to Mother

Had expected to be going to Brest three or four days from now but have again been disappointed and won’t get away until after the 25^th. Thought I was all set to go but when I asked Colonel Winship for my orders yesterday he said he would have to hold me until the 25^th. The reason is that on the 25^th becomes effective a new agreement with the French Government by which they assume most of our claims from that time on and we’ve got a grand finishing job to do before that date. Am rather disappointed as had my plans all made but guess two weeks more doesn’t matter so much as I’ll be home well before Xmas anyhow. Will probably sail about Dec. 1^st from Antwerp as Brest will be discontinued after Nov. 15^th and this will give me the brief look at Belgium that I’ve been wanting for some time. If for any reason they try to hold me after that date will cable you and Horace should know some of our Senators or Representatives who could have my return requested by the War Department. Really Sam Nicholls would be the best one to do it as he is on the Military Affairs Committee of the House and I know him well personally and think he’d be glad to do it. However, the Colonel and I had quite a bit of plain conversation about the matter the other days and I don’t think there’s any chance he’ll refuse to let me go on the 25^th.

Nothing particularly exciting since my last letter. Winter weather has set in much to my disgust. We had a fair bit of snow last Saturday and Sunday and this week it has been raining and cold most of the time. Last night in a little restaurant where I often eat ran into two American businessmen from the Middle West with their wives who were over for the first time. They were struggling with the bill of fare and the waiter when I intervened and helped them out and they were most grateful, thinking it wonderful that an American could understand and make himself understood among “these Frogs” as they called them.

You will probably receive this about the 21^st, just as I’d expected to be landing in New York so will not cable you this time nor until I’m just about to leave.

Love to all,

May 6, 1919 to Mabel.

“Last week we had a day off for the first of May. You probably saw in the papers that everybody stopped work that day. There were no subways, street cars or taxis. All restaurants were closed and most hotel labor quit. I was down town that morning to see Sam Nicholls[1] who was here with the Committee on Military Affairs and Paris looked like a city of the dead. I went down in an army car and ours, English and French army cars were about the only things stirring. ….

“We cut down our crowd in the apartment last week, now being five in one apartment instead of ten in two but are keeping the same good cook. You know on all French leases there is made up when you go in an “état des lieux” or detailed statement of the condition of the premises and furniture and when you leave this is checked up with the actual condition of the place and the lessee pays the difference.

“When we got out of this one apartment I had the job of checking over these damages with the “gerante,” as the manager of the apartment house is known, and the particularity with which she went into everything was interesting and amusing.

“What is the news about John’s trying to fly over here?  Have been interested in the news about our navy’s try at this especially as John thinks he might get over in the bunch. Surely hope he will be one of the crowd as believe they will succeed and would like very much to see him here.”

[1] South Carolina District 4 Congressman whom Monty knows from living and working in the District.

April 28, 1919 to Mother.

Monty reports a cold wave and “a fine little snowstorm.”

“Attended the championship boxing matches of the AEF Saturday night.”  He saw the Crown Prince of Belgium whom he describes as “a rather shy looking youngster of 19,” not as enthralled with the boxing as his companions General Pershing and the general’s Belgian military counterpart.

“Everyone is of course talking about Wilson’s note about Fiume[1] and no one knows what the outcome will be.”  He expects they’ll know the answer by the time his letter gets to them.

Monty’s outings, especially the opera, seem more and more to be blunt observation of his surrounding, especially the notable people. “Was at the opera again last Wednesday night with M. Pellerin. The opera was ‘Castor and Pollux’ which didn’t interest me a lot but the scene in the house was most interesting as it was a gala night in honor of Admiral Beatty and the visiting officers of the British fleet and the costumes and uniforms in the circle of boxes was brilliant. Had quite a good look at Admiral Beatty who appears very young for his position and responsibility.”[2]

[1] Wilson contemplated an independent state and a possible League of Nations headquarters; his intent was to remove it as a bone of contention between Italy and the newly formed Yugoslavia. Fiume was an independent state in 1920 and remained so until 1924 when it was annexed by Italy.

[2] Admiral David Beatty was 48 at the time, having reached the rank of Admiral in 1916 when he became commander in chief of the Grand Fleet. He accepted the surrender of the German navy in November 1918; he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on May 1, 1919, several days after Monty’s sighting. He was apparently the youngest Admiral since Horatio Nelson who died at Trafalgar at the age of 47.

April 21, 1919 to Mother.

Received your letter of April 2^nd with clippings today and enjoyed all the news. Kate seems to be quite “het up” on the suffrage question from all accounts. Rather imagine that Frank, while agreeing with her in principle, would probably enjoy life more if she paid a little less attention to suffrage and more to her husband and house. Which reminds me of a conversation that I had on Saturday with a married lady of mature years at M. Pellerin’s usual luncheon on the subject of the effect on women of the present generation of too much participation in sports and outside matters. She represented the conservative French point of view on the matter saying that she thought the “jeunes filles” of today had lost in grace through too much interest in matters outside their homes and that the young married women were no more the gracious mistresses of their homes that they had been formerly. Needless to say she was not at all in sympathy with suffrage. She is also of the type which is unable to comprehend how our American girls can go out everywhere unchaperoned with young men. That is a topic on which I’ve had many discussions with my French friends and they no more understand our point of view on this than we do theirs with regard to keeping girls very closely and the parents marrying them off without reference or not to whether they love each other.

Nothing of great interest with me this last week. Continue pretty busy and don’t see much likelihood of getting away from my present work before the fall. The A.E.F. is of course going home very fast but our service will have the job of cleaning up claims after they’ve gone and suppose we reserve officers will be held in this work until sufficient regular officers can be broken in on it. All of the officers now on duty with me are quite willing to stay in France several months longer except one and he is the only regular army officer in the bunch and therefore has the least chance of getting home early.

Today is, being Easter Monday, a national holiday in France and I’ve been able to do little business as a consequence for most of my work is with French people. It’s a beautiful spring day and think now the spring has come to stay. My office looks out over the Place de l’Etoile and the Arch de Triomphe and it’s all wonderfully pretty now with all the trees in their first spring dress.

Suppose Gov. Manning must now be in Paris but have no idea how to get in touch with him. Hope however to get hold of him some was and get around to see him and Mrs. Manning. The Congressional Committee on Military Affairs is now touring France and are due to be here next Sunday and Bert France and I want to see Sam Nicholls while here.

Love to all,

Carl

April 14, 1919 Letter to Mabel.

My dear Mabel,

Your letter of March 22^nd reached me several days ago and enjoyed all of your home news very much. Sorry Mr. Herring is so much trouble but think it will be a good idea to get rid of him and lease the farm direct. That will certainly be much less trouble to you and mother.

A good many of my American friends here are leaving all at once this week, mostly on the Leviathan[1] which makes me a little homesick as among them are several of my best friends. The Sharpes are going, the Crasley [?] girls—daughters of the Asst. Secy. of the Treasury, the daughter of my friend Madame Borel is also going with her American officer husband and then also a Captain & his wife from Chicago, whom I’ve known awfully well ever since being in Paris, are also going back. However, still have enough friends here to make life pleasant. My old friend, M. Pellerin, continues to be as nice as ever. Was in his box at the opera last Wednesday night to see “Samson & Delilah” and rather enjoyed it. I might develop a taste for the opera after taking it in broken doses but doubt that I’ll ever become a real devotee.

Edward Mullins was in town the early part of last week on his way to rejoin the 42^nd Division and go home with them. Had him over to lunch and enjoyed talking over happenings [three words—with both sun] in the A.E.F. Guess he as well as the other members of the “Rainbow Division” will be in Marion by the last of next month.

Today is a real April day, raining a while and then the sun once in a while. These spring rains have had a wonderful influence on the trees and grass and Paris is beginning to take on its coat of green. It’s the coming of the best season here—wish you could see it as you’d surely enjoy Paris any time but particularly in May & June. Shall be much interested in seeing Paris during these months and in peace time as last year it was a sad city with the Bosche so close and the Gothas coming over every fair night.

No other news at this time.

Love to all,

Carl

[1] Ironically a German built luxury cruise ship (SS Vaterland) seized by the United States government and put in service as a troopship. Nearly 1000 feet long, the ship was configured to carry 14,000 troops.

[newly discovered letter (this and next three)]

April 7, 1919 to Mother.

We’ve had a week of fine spring weather and everybody is feeling much better after the rotten weather all through March. The trees are coming out fast and in a week or two more [?] Paris will have arrived at it’s most beautiful time of year—May and June here make one forget the rotten weather of the winter.

Nothing of particular interest with me except I am afraid our mess is going to break up and I’ll have to go back to hotel life for which don’t care at all. Our rent is now just 80 per cent higher than when we took the apartment and with the added cost of living it’s difficult to get new officers to fill new vacancies because the tenure of most of us on any job over here now is more or less uncertain and a man doesn’t like to tie himself up with the responsibilities of an apartment. However, we may decide to give up one of our two apartments and keep going in the other one with only half the number.

Now that the weather is getting fine expect in the next week or two to take an auto trip up to the Belgian border and [covering/camaing?] Soissons and some of the other parts of the old front which I haven’t seen. My office has some [few???] claims and requisitions up that way to clear up and have been waiting a little until the weather should be decent enough to go.

See from the morning paper that the House Committee on Military Affairs is coming over on an investigation trip so guess I’ll see Sam Nicholls among them.

Haven’t heard anything more of Gov. Manning so guess he hasn’t yet reached Paris.

Hope you are all well

Love to all,

Carl

[on the back in his mother’s hand]  Think you had seen this letter but Bell had not. Mother.

[full transcription underway]

March 30,1919 to Mother.

Handwritten. “never seem to get time during office hours so guess you’ll have to try my handwriting for a change.”

“I put on my third service stripe this week for 18 months in France and it looks as if I’ll have still another before I get back across the water.”

He decries “rotten weather” which must contrast still with his stint along the “Riviera a month ago” and, he writes, “it’s getting a bit tiresome.”  Much like last winter, he anticipates spring, “and then it is really pleasant to be in Paris when the nice weather arrives.”  He wants to get down to Fontainebleau. “We don’t work now on Saturday afternoons and Sundays so that gives one a little more chance to get around.”

“Had lunch as usual on Saturday with my old friend M. Pellerin and took him afterwards to the [AEF championship football] game to show him how American Football looked—he took quite an interest in it and I think enjoyed it thoroughly.”

“Had dinner at the Embassy Thursday night…. The Sharpes are leaving the 12^th of this month and am sorry to see them go as have had some very pleasant times at the Embassy this winter.”

“Bert France had a letter full of Spartanburg news this week. …. Hope also to see Governor Manning when he gets here.”

[full transcription underway]