The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-06
His Letter.
Zweibruecken, Germany,

j Z,
Dear Brother: 1t has been almost
three months since I wrote you my
first letter on the war. The progress
of the war since then is evidently
known to you, but at any rate you will
be glad to hear from me concerning
same. Our brother Henry is fighting
now in the Argonne forests in France.
I just received a card from him and
he states that everything is still well
with him and at the same time ex-
pressed his thanks for the many
Christmas packages that were sent to
him during the holidays from his
friends and relatives. He also states
that the presents sent to the soldiers
in the field from the civilian popula-
ton of Germany were so enormous
that it was necessary to assign special
trains for their transportation. This
goes to show that the spirit of the cit
liens of the Fatherland is with the
soldiers and everything is being done
by them to show their appreciation
for the valuable services the soldiers
are rendering the Fatherland in fight
ing for the country'S and peoples very
existence.
Under German Control
Since I wrote you my first letter
our troops have again attained great
achievements. Antwerp, Belgium,
one of the best fortified cities of con-
| tinental Europe, has been captured by
our victorious troops after a short
siege. Lille, in France, has been TAX
en-, as also LODI in Russian Poland.
The country of Belgium with the eX-
ception of Flanders is now under Ger
man control The Belgians have real
lied that to depend upon England's
support means nothing but total de-
struction, as they are very good in die
tating but very poor in defending
country. The northern part of
France. and which from an industrial
standpoint is the richest of all their
country, is also under our control and
which comprises about one-SiXth of
the whole of France. Russian Poland
is about two-thirds occupied by our
troops and it is only a question of time
and it will all be occupied by our
troops You can see from this that
the actual war zones are confined to
the enemys territory on both fronts,
with the exception of a space in AL
SAGE where the French are holding
few places of less importance
In Alsace, the French are being
held in check to such an extent that
any further progress for them is prac-
tically impossible. Should they try
to take the offensive there they will
be beaten so bad that it will be a long
time before they will be able to under
take any further offensive movements
towards German territory. OF course,
for months the main fighting has
| been going on in Flanders. There the
Belgians have destroyed most of their
own country by flooding certain dis
tricts and which, of course, also him
dered our troops from making any ex-
tensive progress. This part of the
country is being defended by English
and Indian troops and I think that
when the weather conditions become
more favorable our troops will be able
to disIodge them from their positions
and proceed further.
! ''Timid' John Bull.
If our troops will be able to do this
they will take Dunkirk and Calais,
and then Johnny Bull, The Timid, as
he is here called, will begin to realize
his critical situation and instead of
laughing as he has done heretofore
will shed a few tears.
AS the days roll by, we are begin
ming to realize more and more that it
was England who framed and called
forth this world war, and when the
day of reckoning will come, she will
/ be accused before the whole world as
the disturber of the peace of nations.
What does she care for France, Bel
GUM and Russia as long as her own
country is still intact and free from
our troops? She is only too willing 10