The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-10-12
From Tuesdays Daily.

Camp Cody, October 5.-Dear
Cousin Phil: We arrived here about
noon last Tuesday all o. K. The trip
down here got rather tiresome the
last two days as it was nearly all
Texas. This is real desert country.
There is no farming in this vicinity,
except small patches watered from
wells.
"We have a good camp here. There
is big roomy mess hall for each
company, a sleeping tent for each
squad, which will have a floor and
side walls, as soon as they are COM
pleted; shower baths and toilet for
each company, and electric lights
wherever lights are needed.
"The board is very good. We drill
one hour in the morning and one in
the afternoon. They don't intend to
work us very hard until we get used
to this southern climate. 1t is pretty
hot yet. The sun shines bright all
day long, but the nights are real cool.
"Our camp is right close to Deming,
but l haven't seen much of the town
yet. We can't go to town without
permission from the captain. think
it's real neat little place though, for
desert town.
81 haven't been lonesome yet, but
this surely is quite different from
army life in 'Kato.
1--WE killed a rattlesnake while we
were drilling yesterday. He struck at
Frank Anderson and nearly got him.
nrt f,ry,
nishes us with plenty of good music
They have large Y. M. G. A. build
ing, free to us at all times. There is
some kind Of a program there every
night.
"Give my regards to all the folks
and write when you can. Address:
Camp Cody, 136th infantry, Deming,
New Mexico-Bert.'
The following is a letter received
by Mrs. George F. Kimble from her
son Merroll, who is in England.
REST Camp" Southampton, Eng
land, September %, 1917.-Dear
Mother and All: AS you will see we
are still at the rest camp. AS yet
have received no mail from the states
because our mail has all been for
warded to France and we will get it
as soon as we leave this place. This
is fine city and l have seen many
beautiful things and also some very
old buildings. There are several walls
and towers which were erected as
early as the thirteenth century still
standing. Of course such things are
| only worth seeing because of their
historic value. This city is one of
England's sea ports and has popu-
lation of close to 100000. I stated in
the letter l wrote last week that we
landed at another seaport and the
name of it was Liverpool. The ride
from Liverpool to here was very
pretty and left the impression on my
mind as it does on every one who
comes here, that England is just a
big beautiful picture. A person only
has to walk two or three miles and
he will strike a city, in fact it seems
| as though it. is all city and the open
places just parks. 1t took nine or
ten hours to come from Liverpool to
Southampton and on the way we
passed through Crewe, Stafford and
Birmingham, the greatest manufac-
turing city in the world, Oxford and
numerous other cities and small
towns. We have not been paid for
August as yet but will receive two
months pay in few days. AS you
will notice the Y. M. c. A. is active
here and l am writing in the Y. hut
across the road from our camp.
Mother, you cannot realize what war
is until you have gone through what
we have so far, and have seen the
things which we see here every day
Every town and city of England has
hospitals and there are several a
few blocks from here so we can see
and talk to the fellows who have
| done their bit at the cost of a wound
Or sickness. But with all this there
is not fellow in our bunch but what
would be glad to get a few Germans
The streets are dark here at night
and all blinds are down in stores and
houses. We are allowed to leave
camp any time after 4:30 p. m. and
go to town till II p. m. and then we
must be in bed. We expect to leave
here soon and / wish it were today
as we are getting rather hungry.
Sugar is very scarce and all other
person with no variety at all but
when we get in our own camp we
will be well fed. The English soldier
receives 1 shilling per day GA cents);
the Canadian $1.10 per day; the Aus
tralian $3.50; and we get SLIP, so
naturally the "Tommies" are jealous
but we get along fine. How is every
one at home? Sure would like to get
my mail but then l will pretty soon.
Tell the folks all Hello for me- l
am feeling tip-top.
With love to everyone of you,
Your "Sammie", Merroll. Battalion 1,
Eighth Regiment, C. A. Brigade,
American Expeditionary Forces.
Mr.. and Mrs. l. N. Griffiths are in
receipt of the following letter from
their son Owen:
Fort Grant, Canal Zone, Company
Five, September Is, 1917.-Dear
Folks: Got your letter of the 3rd to-
day, and you cannot say that do not
answer your letters promptly. Too bad
mother is sick but l hope she is bet
ter by this time. She should be down
here, as it is warm or rather hot the
year round. Well I hope you get
| letter from me every week, and think
you will for l write to some of you
at least every week, but it sure keeps
a fellow busy writing to all of his