The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-05
Keilmann of Topeka
Tells of Xmas in France. 4
His Company Gave $500 To En-
terrain With a Tree.
GIVE UP TOBACCO MONEY
Men Willing To Give Up Pleas
ures for Little Orphans.
One Sammy Only Wished for
15-Year.Old- youngsters"

a letter has been received from E
d. keilmann, n first lieutenant of the
Seventh Regiment U. S coast artillery,
who is now serving with the American
expeditionary forces in France. Keil-
mann covered the city hall run for one
of the Topeka newspapers for several
years, and married Miss Blanche
Bates. who was stenographer to the
Topeka mayors during several admin
istrations. Later he enlisted in the U.
S. coast artillery and was stationed
for some time at FIT. Monroe, Virginia.
When his term of service expired.
he returned to Kansas and>settled at
Manhattan, where he was city editor
of the Manhattan Nationalist until the
United States entered the European
war. At the beginning of the war he
secured a commission in the coast ar
tillery and was eventually sent to
France.
The letter quoted below, tells of the
preparations for a Christmas enter
tainment which the members Of Keil-
manp'S brigade were going to give the
French children in that part of the
war zone.
Soldiers Number Letters.
At the top of the first page is writ
ten: NO. 49," and the letter follows:
That number up at the head of this
letter don't mean anything. 1t is
just a sample of the way we soldiers
make sure whether or not the folks
how the scheme works?
Just wanted to tell you that there
are to be about five hundred French
kids who will be about the happiest
kids in France Christmas day. They
are to be the guests of the men of our
| brigade.
! Tonight at retreat, the first ser
geants announced to the men of the
batteries that it had been proposed
that the brigade have a Christmas
/ 50 oh Of fI.a lle,e
| near the camp. The response was
more than had been expected. Not
| battery of our regiment came thru
with less than one hundred francs
The men had been paid just the
day before and still felt rich. Most
of them have made allotments to their
| folks at home, all of them are buying
| liberty bonds, and many of them are.
i addition, laying up with the pay
/ master little money to be available
when they are discharged. So you
see, very few of the men draw more
than SIS or Sc at the pay table. What
they draw is their tobacco money
Consequently it is out of this tobacco
money that these tots are to be given
a real American Christmas.
| Many of the men of this brigade
ere married and have little ones of
their own at home. Practically all the
officers have children in the states
Nearly every child around here
| when asked. 'Ou est votre perez an
swers. 'Au front'-they have brothers
up there. too
1T makes me feel good that have
a chance to give the little kids a
Christmas said one of the old timers
who if he's wore his dress uniform.
wol id show big barber pole of serv-
ice marks. L know the folks at home
are looking after my kids. but there
don't seem to be anyone but us to look
after these
Hope they ring in some of the
16-year-old mam'selles as children.
was the comment of a young college
chap. as he 'rung up two francs.
Nearly two hundred dollars will
be spent by the boys in showing their
neighborS a good time. All plans are
not yet completed, but when the show
is pulled, 1 will write and tell you
of it. AS ever. KEILMANN."