The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-16
KETT|G RECEIVES
TOUCHING LETTER
FROM OLD TEACHER
Writing From Coblenz Herr
Wendroth Tells of Spirit
Shown Toward
the War

When a small boy w. II. Kettig accom-
panied his father to Germany and spent
two years at school there. His teacher
was Herr Wendroth, veteran of the
Franco-Prussian war, to whom he felt
strongly attached and warm friend
ship between them has continued to this
time. Herr Wendroth and Mr.. Kettig
keep up a correspondence, and few
days ago the latter received a letter
which The Age-Herald is permitted to
publish:
"Coblenz on Rhein. October "a.
MY Dear Friend: On yesterday I re-
ceived your welcome letter of Septem-
Der 20. 1t gave me great joy, and doubly
SO as you have not forgotten your old
friend during these difficult times. Your
letter reached me rather late, as l had
removed from Brunswick.
II retired from active duties on July
| l, after having taught for As years, and
/ was hopeful to be in position to spend
the last years of my life in well earned
rest with my children. However, fate
had ordered differently. Until August IS
we lived with our daughter in Iserlohn.
On August had to travel from Iser-
lohn to Coblenz to say goodby to our
dear son. Ernst. My dear friend. this
was a difficult journey for an old man,
as 1t took Is hours to travel to Coblenz
and 10 hours for the return trip; no
sleep, no comforts, and part of the jour
ney in military trains with more or less
excitement, but at last reached my des-
~ CHI no 1
sent him with his fathers blessing into
the fight. He is an officer in the Fourth
army corps now in France. Up to this
writing he is well and God no doubt,
will take care of him. Two of my
nephews are fighting against the Rus
SLAMS. The younger one was wounded on
September 9. Thus far We have not heard
in which hospital he has been placed.
ION August Is we removed from Iser-
lohn to Coblenz and are now living at
No. 8, Moltke street. To add to our
sorrows my son Ernst's wife is seriously
Ill with pneumonia and our burden of
sorrows is a heavy one.
my dear friend, you are quite right
our dear fatherland has entered into
| troublous times. Jealous ones have put
| the sword into our hands, but with God S
| help we will not put it back into the
scabbard until we have fought for and
won an honorable peace. Our enemies
are many. Superhuman efforts are de.
! manded of the German nation, but we
will be equal to 1t. The Germans cour-
| age grows with danger.
Must Preserve German Culture
'My dear friend, the people of ouI
kultur. the people that still have to solve
great problems, cannot and must not be
destroyed. or all past history of peoples
is wrong. We had grown too powerful
too great for our enemies; therefore
| the jealousy. But where does this great
ness, this power, originate? Have we
not earned both simply because of our
diligence and energy? Now our enemies
wish US to lose this well earned position
in the world, wish to throw us from the
heights we have reached and want tc
| reduce us again to a dependent state
| which will have no right or counsel ir
| the worlds affairs Therefore, the sword
| must decide. In all points We have beer
underestimate by the enemies. 1t was
their opinion they could play with Ger
many as a cat plays with a mouse,
Treacherous England expected to destroy
our sea power within eight days; but have
| they succeeded? No. But what did real
| ly happen? Our navy boys have sue
ceeded in creating a great respect fol
| themselves amongst the English, and my
dear friend, our German naval guns have
| not as yet spoken their last word. 1t i.
| England that must be thrown from it,
| heights and Inundated If world peac,
is to be secured for many years to come
| 1.-The neutral states should not forget
| how at all times England has simply uset
them to enlarge it's world power ant
possessions. 1t would have been bette
had Belgium never learned to know it,
friend. Also France will regret having
done vassal duty to selfish, graspinl
| England.
Troops Eager for Fight
MY dear friend, you should have beer
here to see the Joy and determination
with which our hero sons Joined TIL
troops. You would have been astounde
and would have asked, Where does sucl
! devoted patriotfsm oririnate?' Ea CHI an