The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-02-15
FROM THE
B 0YS IN ARMY CAMPS
From Fridays Daily.

from ffloayS OdtIy.
Somewhere in France, January II,
1850. M. Hatcher: I received your
very welcome letter yesterday, and
am going to say now before / for
get it, never felt better over any
thing in my life, and after reading 1
could picture myself back in old Kato
at work in the shop. And no one
knows how much I wish everything
was over with and l was back.
suppose the shop is very busy
just now getting ready for spring
Well you can just tell the boys l
said to buckle to it there as we are
here and we can help win and soon
l was very sorry / didn't get those
addresses sooner as L could have
used them, but l might get an
other chance later so l am keeping
the names and with what French I
can speak ought to get along fine
l have not seen any Little Giant
tractors yet but I did see one ham,
mer when l first landed. You can
imagine how / felt when l first
looked at it and seen M. B. Mankato,
Mimi. l guess the old town is not so
slow as some might think.
If l remember right it was one
year ago the 9th since we had the
banquet. l have been wondering if
you had another gathering of the
] there were a few of the old ones
missing. Well if they were think
they will all be back by next
Christmas, at least hope so, and
from what news we can gather l
don't think it will last very long be-
fore we will be headed for New York.
| 1t is just five months today since l
left Texas headed for France and I
can say it has been an eventful five
months.
I wish / could tell you of my trip
over as it was very exciting, especi-,
ally at one time, but it is not allowed
SO l will have to do that when / re-
turn. Well it is time to roll in now
as sleep is kind of scarce and we
have to take it when we can. / will
try and write more tomorrow. To-
day is Sunday and it sure is fine
day. The air is soft and the sun is
shining and the only snow is on the
top of the mountains Everybody
seems to think spring is here and
that the war is nearly to an end. 1
only hope they are right This little
piece l am sending will give every
one clear idea when the war is 60
ing to end. (Nit.)
/ Tell all the girls and boys of the
office enjoyed their little notes
very much and just as quick as l can
get little time 1 will write to them
all. Also tell them to write at any
time and give me the news as our
mail is our company in the army.
Well | believe l must close now as it
won't be long till the bugle will blow
chow call and that is one call we
never miss.
i l don't think anv of the BOYS are
lover in France yet that enlisted when
did. At least l have seen none of
them. The last | heard from Chuck
, and Deitz they were somewhere in
!. New York. sure got the drop on
them when it came to getting to
France first. only hope I am the
first to get away. Well the bugle is
blowing, so goodbye for this time.
Very truly yours, Ralph w Fields.
P. S. | forgot to give my address.
Corporal Ralph w. Fields, Seventh
Aviation Instruction Detachment, A.
E. F. France.
= + i =
Jerome Wiedenmann, private in the
twenty third regiment of the high
, way engineers, wagon, Company No
2, at Newport News, has written tc
his sister, Miss Naomi Wiedenmann OF
Mankato, letter dated at that place
last Monday. The receipt of this let
ter shows conclusively that he could
not have been aboard the transpor,
Tuscania, which was torpedoed off the
coast of Ireland. He said he hat
been expecting to sail for two weeks
All the baggage had been checked
and all preparations made for depart
ure He said two of the companie.
lof his regiment had already left. He
said he was right with his captain al
the time, driving his motor cycle. HI
said he thus had the best job in the
company, although he was only pri
e vate, and he was feeling fine.
Mrs. F. A. Peterson of Chicago. wht
! owns some property on East Walnu
street, is in Mankafo Che saws Cbi