The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-12-06
HUGS FOR YANk BOYS
FRENCH LASSIES SHOW JOY
BECAUSE WAR ENDED
Archie Wishnick Says He Was
Not BashfuI When Kisses
We're Passed

! November II, 191S.-Dear Dad:
Hurrah Dad! The war is over or as
the French would say (Fiui La Guer-
rel. There is not a soul in France
and probably the whole world with
the exception of Germany that is not
overf1owing with joy. Talk about a
celebration, Dad, you never heard of
anything like it in your life. We re-
tceived the news at headquarters ear
ly Monday morning and the news was
flashed throughout the country short
ly afterward Immediately the cele-
bration began. The French aviators
in this vicinity began to ascend in
practically every make of plane and
flew all over the district, doing all
kinds of fancy stunts while the artil-
lery camps fired round after round OF
shot.
But the real celebration did not
commence until evening-that is not
for the Americans. Early in the aft
ernoon an order came through forbid
ding the men from visiting the town
until the following day. A few hours
1ater another order came through re-
scinding the first order and granting
leave from p. m. until $50 p. m :.
My "Side kicker" and myself left
camp about AS and arrived in town
a few minutes of five. AS we were a
few of the first American soldiers to
arrive in town we were Immediately
surrounded by an admiring crowd and
would you believe it Dad, the women
ran up to us with tears in their eyes
and Rugged and kissed us. All we
could hear were cries of "Vive La
'Amerique" and "Vive La France"
The streets were just thronged with
kcivilians ard soldiers Mothers and
daughters, fathers and sons alike par
ticipating in the merry making 1t
was frequent sight to see the SOL
'diers grab any girl or woman on the
street and hug and kiss her. This WIS
not considered an offense as some of
the best families were amongst the
icrowd and too happy to even think of
> refusing. Not being one of the bash
full ones I got my share of it. Oc-
casionally one would see a woman
dressed in black standing on one side
watching the mob with tears in their
eyes, probably thinking of lost rel
alive, son or husband.
The cafes were filed to their CO. .
pacity including standing room and
the wine and champagne flowed free
ly. AS the American boys began to
come in numbers they also got the
spirit of it all, and then the fun COM
,meneed in earnest. At $50 p. M
fmet the mayor of the park and he
asked me to notify the rest of the
boys that the passes were extended
throughout the night Oh, boy. Talk
about the feeling / had when | heard
that. They brought a piano out from
the camp and several other musical
instruments and the boys sang and
danced on the tables.
Around midnight the crowd began
to get tired and gradually thinned
out. / caught a bus for camp at 9 a.
m and slept like a log until 7 a. m.
No reveille this morning. Got up feel
ing spick and span and went down to
the office to forget the doings until
tonight wher the celebration will con-
tlnue with renewed frenzy. A large
American band is coming in from
nearby camp and the American bows
are going to show the French how TO
celebrate in real American fashion.
Tomorrow "wednesday has been
declared holiday and we will all be
given half day off. In the afternoon
we are going to participate in gil
gantic parade and then be turned
loose for the balance of the night.
! can imagine how the feeling fs
over there Dad, ard would give any
thing to be home and help to cele-
bratr with YOU all.
/ am enclosing couple of photos |
had taken recently at the photogra-
pliers and will forward them as soon
as they are printed.
With heaps of love and regards to
the family, am your son, Archie.
Soldier From Madison Lake Victim of