The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-07

some, l don't know what we are
going to have for Thanksgiving, but
we get swell feeds down here.
Last week l saw two jacks and
flock of quail. Say. boy, I
do miss the hunting we would
have had this fall.
II don't think we are going to stay
here long. | see at Camp Dodge they
are moving them to southern camps.
Il was at Lawton today and took
a hot show bath. Our shower baths
are not completed yet
II see by the papers the Germans
are getting the worst of it,
Il see Company c guards are going
to give dances.
"Bill, l am going to see if l can
get ten-day furlough, if it does
cost little money to go home
Christmas. If we stay here, they are
going to grant them.
| There is not much news from
down here. | have had two boils
since / have been down here, but |
| feel good and eat and sleep O. K.
, hope to hear from you soon, Your
friend, Gus"
! A. Didra has received the follow
ing letter from Ellsworth H. Swan
son, formerly employed at the Mad
son laundry, now with Company G
of the sixth regiment at Camp Perry,
j Great Lakes, ILL.,:
| Great Lakes, H., November 26-
/ Dear Friend: l am feeling fine and
haven't got thing to kick about the
navy, as l am surely enjoying my
self. | joined about two weeks after
| left Mankato.
81 am going to have some pictures
taken and will send you one when
get it.
81 got cake and some cookies
and a check for S. from home today.
/ That isn't bad luck, is it?
| Il am going to Chicago to eat
Thanksgiving dinner, l think, as we
signed some cards that different peo-
pie sent out, that they wanted a
jackie to eat with them.
/ Il had letter from Wangen about
two weeks ago. He said he was
going to the commercial college. 1
would like to be in Mankato for
BEST regards. From Ellsworth H
Swanson
Somewhere in France. Dear Mr..
Tompkins: No doubt you will be
somewhat surprised to hear from me
but will write short letter to pass
away the long hours. l am well and
happy and getting along fine with my
work. France is very wet and cold
at the present time. We have rub
Der boots and will keep our feet dry
and we are well fixed for clothes.
would like to tell you where we are
but of course that is quiet impossible.
We hear the continual hammering of
the big guns and no doubt next month
will fin6 us in the trenches and we
are all anxious to get there l know
very well you are sorry that you are
not young enough to be with us. l am
sure this life would agree with you
1 have not seen Wheaton Williams
for a month but I may see him at any
time now We are having many
funny experiences over here The
French are a wonderful loyal race
and certainly love their country ]
am learning some French and van
"oblough" it pretty well now. Now
and then we run across a French
soldier who speaks English and it is
a treat to have them tell us their
stories of the war, and the Huns
should be wiped from the face of the
earth for some of the awful crimes
they have committed l have read
that Company H. has left for Deming,
N. Mex, no doubt they will be COM
ing over before long. / have re-
received one Free Press since arriv-
ing in France. That was dated
September 10 so l am not we'll up
on the news from home. We have
not received very much mail since
beng here, but we will soon get our
/ mail more promptly. Will close
now wishing you very merry holt
day season. Sincerely and frater-
nally yours, George w. Black, Re-
gimental Lithographer, Headquarters
Detachment, Second United States
Engineers, American Expeditionary
Forces.
American Evolutionary Forces
Somewhere in France October q,
1917.-Dear Mr. Tompkins If it is
not too much trouble and the ex-
pense is not too great l certainly
would appreciate it were you to send
me The Free Press 1t has been like
going without a meal not to see it
very day The last time I say
George Black we had received no
mail from the states, so / haven't
seen paper since leaving them.
Whether I'll ever see George again
over here cannot tell. l hope so
but I hardly think l will. 1t would
be nice if we could get together for
! THANKSGIVING or Christmas at least
Naturally l am already craving to
get back to the good old U. S. A. but
it looks now as though the war would
last way into the summer and then it
would be late fall before we returned
to the states. Right now we are
having a lot of rain and the weather
is chilly much like we have in Min