The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-08-16
FROM BOYS
IN The ARMY CAMPS
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
The following letter was received
by Mr.. and Mrs. w. IL. Girvin from
/ their son, Lieutenant c. w. Girvin
now in France.
France, July 6, 1913. Dear Mothel
and Father: Another Fourth hal
come and gone and it was grea
Fourth at that. Everybody decorated
their houses with American ant
French flags and all the cities ant
towns had celebrations consisting o.
Iarades, feasts, dances, etc. In the
evening the mayor of our town in
vited all the officers stationed here
about fifteen in all, to a party OF
good fellowship and it was party
will always remember. The scene was
a gorgeously decorated table witt
flags, flowers and old French wines
ETC., with American army officers OF
varying rank and a few representative
citizens gathered about it, and the old
mayor standing offering toast to
America and her soldiers whom she
is sending SO unselfishly to fight fol
the liberation of his France and the
democracy of the world. He had
nothing but praise for the officers and
men stationed in his town for the way
in which they treated his women and
children and stated that he and his
people would always be ready to do
anything which would contribute to
our comfort.
Our landlady surprised the captain
and myself with large cherry pie
which had the word viva U. S. A. "
printed On by the means of fancy
crust. She and her daughter live
here with us and 1 imagine she is
about fifty years old. The daughters
husband was a French officer and
from what l have been able to grasp
he has been killed. The other day
she got hold of piece of wild boar
and roasted it for us and say but it
was fine. l don't know of anything
/ can compare it with. The people
are willing to go without themselves
in order that we will be well fed and
happy, and so we do all we can to
make things easy for them.
l don't wonder that some people
adopt these French children. They
are the cutest little chunks of human
ity you can imagine and a person
can hardly keep their hands off of
them
We are getting the Paris edition of
The New York Herald here now and
so we get the news from the front
but l would discard that if | could
only get little news from home as
l have had no word since about three
days before leaving Camp Lee which
is nearly month and l suppose you
have heard nothing except my card
stating l had arrived safely. l am
still feeling fine and> enjoying France
to the utmost so please don't worry.
l am your loving son, Cecil. M. c..
145th Infantry; American Expedition
airy Forces, Via N. Y.
The following letters were received
by C. R. Williams from his brother
Arthur J. Williams who is now in
France.
Saumur, France July 5, 1918. Dear
Brother and All: This is the fifth day
of July and beautiful morning.
l spent the Fourth at Saumur and
had a nice time. l went through a
castle built in $50 used by Napoleon
as headquarters. 1t is quite sight.
They had races and other sports of
l got letter from Tom Balch my
old room mate. Mother knows him.
He is in England The letter went
to Fort Leavenworth and back here.
What kind of Fourth did you have?
We did not have any fireworks here.
I have not seen or heard from Archie
Crane. wish you would send me his
correct address SO l can write to
him.
I have not gotten any mail from
you since l landed here. We have
been having fine weather and it is
harvest time here. The incest crops
[ ever saw.
There is a fellow that is travelling
firemen here that used to fire for
me. l have not seen him yet but
expect to before long. There is some
fine scenery along this river Loire.
/ must close hoping this finds you
all well. From your brother, Corporal
Arthur J. Williams.
Saumur, France. July 81, 1918.
Dear Brother: This is Sunday and a
fine day. | saw Archie Crane Thurs
day, stayed all night at the same
barracks. He looks fine and we had
a long visit. / have met several
fellows used to know in Washington
over here. l have seen quite a little
of France and like it quite well. 1t
seems rather funny to see them cut
ting grain by hand also hay but they
have binders and mowers several
places. l have seen them threshing
grain by hand too. They are great to
hang onto the old two wheeled
wagons over here. Have not seen,
but a few wagons like they have in
the states. We go swimming quite
often We are right close to the
River Loire. Their railroad cars are
very far behind time. They have no
couplers on the cars or
engines, but have good system of
handling trains and have some very
good engines over here. have not
received any mail from you since l
landed here and am quite anxious to
hear from you. have not heard from
Rob or Ed. either, in fact from no
Dne / don't know of any news of
interest to write SO will close for
this time. With love to all, From
your brother, Corporal A. J. Williams.