Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-04-18
LETTER FROM HOLLAND.


LETTER FROM HOLLAND.
The following letter was sent in to
be published, by one of our subscribe
ers:
Letter translated from Volks
vriend Weekly Newspaper, published
in Orange City, Iowa:
Some one in Sioux county received
letter from the Netherlands which is
published here and which will be in
teresting to the public here in our
country. The party writes:
We and the whole world are exper-
fencing an awful time. War, pow
erty and misery everywhere. Here
is much suffering especially among
the lower class of people from the
.old. Everything is awfully
priced, and almost not to be gotten.
Bread almost UNBEATABLE and rationed;
meat awful high, also butter. Pork
not to be had; lard neither. No tea
on hand any more, coffee very scarce;
eggs, which used to be cents, now
10 to 20 cents each; shoes and cloth
ing three to four times as high as they
used to be; fuel awful scarce. Some
times We have to suffer from cold,
then we can get only small amount
of hard or soft coal. Fire wood we
can buy enough for much money, al
though it does not furnish enough
warmth. Though sooner all that
misery than that the Netherlands
should come into war. o, if begin
about the war, almost cannot stop.
l read much Holland, German, Eng
fish and French papers, therefore /
know the Germans, their character,
ETC., because in India l have always
been with Germans and English. I
have also for ten years, excepting the
last three years, every summer trav-
led through Belgium and Germany.
Therefore it may be interesting for
you to know what l think of those
nations because Germany is so close
to us. From here in little over two
hours travel by train we are in Ger
many. Well, then, that German
tyranny, that Prussian militar.sm and
the German autocracy makes me. dis
gusted. Tis true the German people
are full of energy, but their rulers are
real tyrants. There is no freedom in
Germany; all are under a strict rule
and are ruled by an iron hand, the
younger party, with Kaiser Wilhelm
at the head. Truly the Prussian mill
tarism wants to make the whole world
subject to him. Wilhelm dreampt
he would make the whole world his
subjects and he as ru:er. But may
God give that he does not succeed.
With wonderful energy Germany has
made itself strong for the last Is
years, and has profited by the slow
ness of France and England.
Everything is organized with might
and force, compelling the people to
obey who do not know of the freedom
other people are enjoying. Therefore
l rejoice there are so many nations
who are trying to break the power of
Germany. marvel at Lloyd George,
but especially that great and noble
President Wilson who is doing all in
his power to nullify the power of Ger
many and to save the world from the
dishonor and tyranny. Away with
Prussian militarism and Hohenzol-
lerns! Long live Wilson, the Allies
and all who are helping to crush the
Germans, for as long as the mighty
hand of Wilhelm is not stayed, the
world will have no peace. However,
am sorry that so many young men
must die before Germany is crushed.
Just the same it is for the good of
mankind because peace without the
allies winning the war does not
amount to much and will not prevent
later wars.
Believe me, almost all the people of
Netherlands think the same, and we
must stay neutral for fear that our
German neighbor will ruin us the
same as the poor and innocent Bel
CLANS. 1t is almost no living for a
land that lies next to Germany. With
body and soul l am for the entente
and against Germany, who has con-
troll and makes the rules for Austria.
hungary, Turkey and Bulgary and
mas them wholly under their influence?
GIVE God that this massacre and muir
ger may soon come to an end. and
that humanity may live in freedom
and peace.