The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-09-28
LETTERS FROM BOYS SERVING IT
COUNTRY AT HOME AND.ABROAD
Some Interesting Stories Told By Young Men
Who Are Doing Duty For Your
Uncle Samuel

Mrs. William Coalter, 22S Poplar
street, is in receipt of the following
letter from her son Floyd:
S. S. Carolyn, U. S. Naval Gun
Crew, Baltimore, Md, September 10,
1917.-A few lines to let you know
that | am well. We arrived in Balt1-
more today. l did not write from
France as we were only there three
DAYS so thought would wait until /
got back to the states before l wrote
home. We had some trip all right, as
we saw plenty of whales and lying
fish. We have two gun crews on this
ship. Five in each crew, chlef,
gunner's mate and a coxswa1n. THESE
belong to the navy. The ships crew is
mostly foreigners. This ship makes
nine knots or about ten miles an hour.
This is slow speed for the war-zone
when you can see pieces of ships and
dead people floating in the water
Bordeaux is place where it never
gets very cold. Since the war people
do not wear leather shoes but instead
wear cloth shoes with rope soles We
saw a great many two wheeled carts
drawn by donkeys. The women have
taken the places of the men as street
car conductors and motormen. The
boys in uniform ride for half fare
one big penny. Full fare is two cents.
Bordeaux is certainly a pretty place
and the girls are more than pretty.
l am certainly proud to be gun can
tain of such gun crew. You should
see them, mother. They are a fine
bunch of fellows and very efficient
gunners. ~-
| I am sending you a few thin~s from
France 1t is not a great deal, but it is
from France. Do not worry if YOU do
not hear from me for a month as |
will be on nv way to France for the
second time. Please write so l will get
your letter before leave. Your loving
son, Floyd. ... o.. ..-.
This letter was written by Elmer
Johnson to his parents. Colonel and
Mrs. G.. E. Johnson of Pleasant street:
Ell Paso, September II, 1917.-Since
my last letter changes have been made
in our company and battalion. Must
tell you this first of all because 1t is
important. Nine non-c commissioned
officers from each of the three COM
panies were sent away Friday to can
torment camps, and Vr"~0 raid in the
afternoon before they left.
Chat and were made corporals
along with five others. | rank second
in the new ones and third in all.
had been recommended so it was not
really a surprise.
Yesterday morning | was ordered
TO go to town mounted and bring back
one of our men who had been arrest
ed the night before. l left camp al
$50. was caught in a rain storm alC
got soaking wet on my way down 60
nv man and was soaked on my way
back. reaching camp at 1890 p. m. Ii
was not a very nice job, but my prls-
oner took it good naturally and we
got along fine Today I am in charge
of quarters. That means no drill, bu
to call roll and check up the men a
ten o'clock.
In a few weeks they will send more
officers to cantonment camps and
hope Chat and will be of the favored
ones.-Elmer. ..-..5
/ Mrs. R. K. Williams of Lake Crysta
received this letter from her sor
Clyde:
France, August 26, 1917-Today is
our second in this strange land. we
are having a holiday, taking life easy
today so | am writing few letters
for pastime. l am feeling just fine
as are all the rest of the boys; plenty
to eat and lots of sleep. The only thing
7 miss is American tobacco. Hard tc
get here at any price. / should say
impossible to get. Outside of that ev-
erything else is o. X. Not much doins
here. The only excitement we have i:
when we see an air raid. They arr
driving the Germans back so fast now
that they are nearly over. For a while
the heavy guns kept us awake nights
but they have made old Fritz loof
for covers.
This is a very old town some OF the
churches were built in the year o.
1900. Napoleon once made his head
quarters here during that great war
Last wear about this time the German;
. held it but later the French drove
: them back. We sure have seen lot:
d of sights since we left Chicago, parad
ed in London before the king ant
queen, saw Paris and lots of othe
great sights.
I wish were there for dinner to-
day. The only thing I miss to eat is
the sweets, they can not be bough
4. here so if you ever have any left ovel
don't forget / eat most any kind. Frui
cake / think would come over 0. K
Also don't forget the papers for W.
get very little news from the states
I have gotten four letters so far since
I left Chicago so you see / am cage
! to read of home doings. Well mus
say good bye for today hoping yo'
are all we'll and happy. Say hello to al
the children and tell them to write
often. With best regards and love tt
all, your son, Clyde.