The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-12-06
GREAT day IN HISTORY
SIGNING ARMiSTlCE CAUSED
JOY IN FRANCE
Letter From Walter VogeI; Says
Germany's Downfall Was
Expected Soon

Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Vogel are ii
receipt of the following letter from
their son, Walter Vogel, who is in
France:
France, November II, 191S.-Deal
Folk: Today is one of the most i'm
por.ant days in the history of the
world! Germany has signed the
armistice and for the first time in
the history Of the great world wal
fighting has ceased. In a short time
the terms of peace will be given
and the boys cen get back to ''home
sweet home" once more. The news
did not cause much surprise here as
all had becn expecting Germany
downfall for several weeks, but new
ertheiess everybody is glad. The big
question now is when do we GO
homer" Some say in about three
months, but others say eight months
one or two years, Get. have no idea
when We'll return, but it can't be toe
soon to suit me.
l received two letters from Emma
Today and must say she had some
hard luck. Imagine her studying all
summer to prepare herself for over
seas duty and then have the war
called off. Her appointment came but
she was unable to accept, due to an
infection on her face. l wonder
whether she will 60 lack to her work
as supervisor of nurses or whether
she will remain with the clinic.
From tn, letters the boys get from
the states and what we read in the
papers, l imagine the Spanish flu
is simply raging all over. Many are
dying in the east, but l hope the dis
ease doesn't spread any more and
that it will be checked. Tell the
children to be very careful about
This camp is quite free from influenza
but nevertheless we are taking pre-
cautions to prevent any possible
chance of the disease.
No, we are not at the front nor
near it either. There are many miles
between this camp and the fighting
lines ard l don't expect to ever see
the front although l have been want
ing to get in action for long time
It seems that when fellow wants to
so to the front be can't and when he'd
rather be in place like this he is
sent to the front.
l noticel in the paper that Joe
Bauer and a Wagner boy had been
killed. They are the first Kato boys
/ had noticed in the list and if no
mere have been killed the old city
was pretty lucky.
l sert my Christmas package label
home lorg ago and TO doubt you
have received it by this time. All
want is candy-three pounds Of good
home made candy. With the excep-
ton of a chocolate bar that we buy at
the "Y" occasionally, we have no
candy at all and l sure could eat a
bunch.
l enjoyed the jokes immensely and
after I finished l passed them on to
the other boys to read.
Well, l have great confidence in
Secretary Baker and his plans for
know he will do his best. No doubt
some of us will be left here TO help
rebuild France and help straighten
things up bit.
You can't imagine how glad the
French people are after hearing the
good news. Tours is decorated with
American, French and British flags,
and everybody is showing how glad
they are that the war is over and
&c aoaip liberated
Hoping this finds everybody well
and no influenza, I am, your loving
son, Walter Vogel.