The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-04
Germans United in
Upholdng the Fatherland
No More Party Classes in the Empire Says Letter From
German Now in the Army Who Defends
Kaser's Course.
THE EARLY BATTLES FOUGHT IN ALSACE

THE Sun Is In receipt OF the following
letter from one of its readers:
To THE EpiroR OF THE SuN-sir.
thought the enclosed letter from n Ger
man friend and client Of mine. who has
large business connections in Germany
and the United States, and indeed all
over the world. might interest THE Sun.
Translation of portions OF n German
letter received from Edwin Welte. writ
ten August 30. 1914. at Fort Istcn:
The indeacribable. deep enthusiasm and
at the same time the wonderfully quiet
and earnest way in which this news 1.-THE
declaration OF warl was received was
splendid and worthy OF admiration Every
Germans face showed a deep determine
ton to uphold with tho last drop of his
blood the Fatnerand for which their fore
-hthers had fought and shed their blood,
immatcrinl OF the enemies numbers.
There were no more party classes.
At the last meeting OF Parliament the
Kaiser and Social Democrats gave their
hands In union 10 protect the Father
land. The leader Of the Badischen Social
Democrats. Frank Joined tho army as a
volunteer. Hardly an hour after the
declaration Of war details OF the land
reserves between tho ages OF 35 and 80
started OF In new uniforms to guard
railroads, bridges. tunnels. &c, singing
'Die Wacht am Rhein." leaving behind
wives and children.
The first division OF our artillery also
left on the first day. The infantry regi-
ment No 1l3. from Freiburg left four
days later, also the last division OF our
ARTILLERY No &c. Both these regiments
few days later were In the battle AT
Muelhausen and fought with great sue
cess. myself ives reported as being
on a trip. having just returned from
America, but Immediately reported for
duty and was assigned to run my Benz
machine, which the State had taken pos
session or and left Immediately for
Istein. n strong fort ten miles north
OF the Swiss boundary on the Rhine
| WAS then detailed TO officers OF the
telegraph who have under them the IN
keep OF telephone and telegraph COM
munication OF the fort with sentries doing
duty on the Rhine and the installation
Of communication in the enemies coun-
try.
The French fort Belfort. supposed "a
Withstand German attnck. is strongly
blilt upon rocks and can he gained by
us only through enormous loss OF blood
An attack upon same on our part WAS
French to cross the Rhine was notice
able. We allowed the French to move
forward as far as Muelhausen and In
stall quarters.
This led Paris TO claim tho wonderful
advance Of 80 French army. the con
quering OF Muelhausen. also Of the Fort
lstein. u was even reported that Fret.
burg was totally burned 20 the ground
We hourly expect an attack upon tn,
fort, but the French have not the cour.
age. and keep out OF range
The Germans then took the offensive
and whipped the French in such bad
way that when German division sent
from the south 10 intercept the French
retreat oven with hurried marches could
ind no enemy. Some Of our regiment,
consisting of picked men suffered very
great loss The loss Of tho French wa'
also enormous.
II was regrettable that n great many
civilians participated I'm this battle, either
hiding the French IN their houses OF
shooting our soldiers from the rear. 4
great many people whom we met carry.
ing arms were instantly shot and AZ a
great majority OF the soldiers Of IN,
Fourteenth Army Corps who fought al
the battle OF Muelhausen are E.saessei
tAlsatlans) they consequently shot upoi
Their own sons
The element friendly toward tho French