The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-08-30

LETTERS FROM THE
BOYS IN ARMY CAMPS

MISS Ruth Kuepler received the
following letter from her, cousin, Ben
jamin Book Somewhere sin France. !"
France, July 81, 191S-Dear Cou-
sin Ruth: Well / guess / will answer
your letter which you wrote me the
twenty eighth OF April Ii is a hard
job to write a letter from here, one
don't hardly know what he can write
so don't care about writing.
81 am out of the trenches for a
while now to rest camp and miss
the shells and the wisbangs and all
that noise and the looking for a shell
hole or some dugout to crawl in and
hide from the kaiser's airplanes so
that he can't see us. We have at this
rest camp Y. M. C. A. movies, it
makes it nice for the boys here. The
y. M. C. A. and Salvation army and
Red Cross are sure doing good work
for us boys.
at is raining today. We had good
weather until about a week ago when
it started raining. The nights are
cold here. We need plenty of cover
ing at night but we are out most of
the time at nights and sleep at day
times. Only once in awhile we are at
this rest camp and then we sleep at
night.
"They don't raise very much wheat
or any kind of small grain here, no
corn. And the fruit they raise is ap-
Piles and grapes for wine and cider.
Well guess I will close hoping that
oil %
am feeling fine. With love to you all,
Your cousin, Ben"
William Mayer received the follow
ing letter from Harry Peterson, now in
France.
Dear Friend Mr. Mayer: Received
your welcome letter and sure was
very glad to hea rfrom you l arrived
Somewhere in France" safely about
six weeks ago. We first landed
somewhere in England and travelled all
through England by train. Talk about
England isn't pretty country They
keep their farm lands just like we
keep our parks in the states. Our
company was invited out one Sunday
to see a lords place. The land he
ilNCu vi WdO lnC plCtlICoI L CfCE saw
in my life. We stayed in England
several days before coming to France.
1t shows though that these countries
have suffered terrible in this war.
When we eat our meals, which is out
in the open, the French women and
children are around us all the time
waiting for us to give them the leav-
ings of our food. They do all our
laundry work. The French are very
nice people. / hope / will learn the
language soon.
l am feeling fine Mr.. Mayer and
like the army fine.. II had one3mis
fortune and that was l. took my
violin the whole way across and when
l left England it was lost there at
the docks. That was my hundred dol
lar violin. 1 will have to buy one here
in France. 1t seems pretty lonesome
without it for there Is guitar player
in our company who always played
with me. They sure are giving the
Huns hell now aren't they?a 1t sure
won't last if this keeps ups5Well Mr..
Mayer this is all for this time, hoping
you will write when ever you have
time. Best regards to all iyC1r folks.
Tell Chris Jensen hello and to write
once in a while and also Mr.. HUI
wick and Fred Powell. Your friend,
Harry Peterson. My address is
Harry Peterson, 2856126, Bakery Co.
336, G. M. G.. N. A, American Expedi-
tionary Forces. m rf.4c
Good Thunder Herald: Word was
received here Tuesday by Mr.. and
Mrs. G. Bartsch that their son, Her
man Bartsch, was severely wounded
in action on the battlefields of France.
He is at hospital receiving treat
ment, and has not been able to write
, to his home folks himself. Though
| it is not known how serious his in
juries are, all his friends at this
place are sincerely hoping for the
best, that he may ultimately return
safe and sound. Herman was one of
the first selected men to leave this
vicinity, going to Camp Dodge last
September and from there soon aft
err to Deming, New Mexico, where he
spent the winter About two months
ago he crossed to France and has
since taken part in the big allied
drive. Needless to say, he did his
duty for his country bravely and
| though his deeds are unknown to us
| now we hope he will soon return
and receive the honor due him for his
valiant services
!nlnPoraavr naaAp aaaN nsa1r,