The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-12-13
LFTTERSFROMSOlD|ERS
MEN IN CAMPS ABROAD AND
IN THIS COUNTRY
Those Who We're in the Battles
Clipper and Would Quickly
Fight Again


Mr.. and Mrs. Louis Hauch reviewed
the following letter from their son
Alfred in France.
Somewhere in France, October 20,
191S.-Dear Mother and Father:
Will just drop you a few lines to
send this slip home providing you
want to send me something for
Christmas.
Well, am feeling fine and hope
you are the same. / haven't re-
ceived any mail yet. Well, how are
all those kid brothers of mine? Bet
ter tell Rudolph to write pretty soon
and let me know what he is doing.
How is dad? l suppose he is doing
some hunting, he and George ! sup
pose. Is George as crazy for hunting
as he used to be? Well you can tell
him when he gets old enough he can
come over and take a shot at Ger
man.
wrote to Aunt Martha the other
night. l suppose they will be glad to
hear from me again. l haven't writ
ten since / have been over here, not
that 1 can remember anyway.
Well, l think we will be leaving
the front soon. am not sure but
hope so. l am not doing very much
hard work since / came to the 18th
Field artillery. / have the same old
job back as l had in the states, ord
erly for one of the captains in the
regimental headquarters.
Gee, / sure was little afraid last
night. They sure dropped a lot of
shells in where l am at. The pieces
of shells hit the barn roof. l did not
lay in my bunk, l laid fiat on the
floor, Safety First"
The night before last there was
some outfit lined up for supper and
they dropped a shell in and killed
eight and wounded fifteen l did not
see it but that is what my partner
told me. He was near when it hap
pened. 1t was in town near by,
about one mile from here. l can't tell
you the name, but then that happens
every now and then. We haven't had
any gas tonight, it is funny. The
last two or three nights about this
time we had little sneezing gas,
not bad though.
Well l guess this is all for this
evening. With love, AL.
Mr.. and Mrs. Emil Knutsen are in
receipt of the following letter from
their sor Oscar Knutsen, who is sta
toned at Camp Cody, New Mexico.
Camp Cody, November %, 1915
I for
and also the card and hear you are
all well. l am the same.
Did you have big dinner today?
/ sure did. We had turkey, pie.
cranberry sauce and all kinds of
fruit. 1t was the best dinner l have
had for loEg time.
1t has been awfully cold down here
the last week, showing about every
day. The other morning there was
an inch of ice on the water. We have
stove in our tent and keep it burn
ing all night so it isn't so bad in the
night. We don't do very much drill
ing any more, take long hike two
times a day and the rest of the time
we pack up tents.
You wrote about that sweater and
glad you mentioned it. l don't need
any because / hear the Red Cross
is going to give me one in day or
two. IETd
/ am not sure when l will come
home, some day next week and the
next day it is a different story. But
] guess it will be in couple of
weeks.
l don't remember If / told you
about the mountains that are down
here. They sure are pretty sight
now, all covered with snow. The first
day was out of the hospital and saw
them l thought they were about two
miles away, but they told me l was
wrong. They, are twenty three miles
away, and three miles high.
Well how is everything at home?
/ expect it is the same story every
day. Have you heard from Andrew
yet? / got letter from him when he
got back to Camy Perry and he said
he was going TO leave the last Fri
day for camp down in Georgia.
I haven't been to any of the towrs
around here yet Hope / will soon
get some money from the govern
ment. l have been broke for long
time. Money sure don't last long in
the army.
Did you get my clothes and also
that picture? 1t was an awful poor
one but it is better than nothing. 1
also sent necklace to Lily and
hope she got it.
l can't think of any more to write
about for this time. Tell them all
hello for me. Your son, Oscar.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gustav Boehland Of
Kasota received the following letter
from their son Harry, who is Some
where in France.
Somewhere in France, October 80,
1918.-Dear folks at home: l will
take time tonight and write a few
lines to let you know received your
welcome letters and was very glad to
hear from you.
n Well how are all you folks? / am
fine ard darby and getting along o..
K. | also received the pictures
Grace sent They are fine and it
seems good to see some of the home
folks pictures.
I suppose you folks are all busy
now. We are having damp weather
over here 1t has been raining off
and on for the last two days and
nights, and is still raining. 1t hasn't
been very cold so far.
So they have been showing some
of the war relics at Markato. Well,
/ dor't think they would interest me
very much as / have seen about as