The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-05-24

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man / have met over here from home.
He was as surprised as was. He
is stationed with the engineers just
short way from our base and last
night we had long talk. Jimmie
Acres and Thomas Of Lake Crystal,
are with him. | didn't see Jimmie.
Boots has been over here just a
month and so has met none of the
other boys from home. I expect to-
run on to them most any day. Most
of the boys we are working with
around here are from the east and
haven't met anybody l know yet.
Haven't heard from you all now
for about month. Not letter. But
/ know everything is all right at
home as it is with us over here. The
Saturday Evening Post has long since
stopped coming as has The Literary
Digest. The mails are probably very
congested Would suggest that you
use my French address in your cor
respondence as there is less conges-
ton that way.
Somewhere in France. Sunday,
April %, 1875. e. Reynolds: Be-
ing Sunday and not very pleasant
day, the fellows are doing moro or
less writing SO / joined the crowd.
Had the plea sure Of making the big
trip across the briny in one of the
largest boats afloat, but we sure gave
land a welcome when it was sighted.
after spending few days at rest
camp we boarded the famous French
train. To make it short box car
in United States would have been a
treat. 1t was very hard riding, fiat
wheels, crowded, and sure happy
when we got off. But the scenery
sure was great The hills, valleys,
! trees, flowers and etc., beautiful and
sure we'll arranged The people have
fine looking fields and gardens. There
are not many men around and you
see the women doing all the work,
carry loads of wood on their backs,
working out in the fields and labor
ing real hard. They all seem hap
by when an American troop train ar
rives as no doubt they know we will
end the war. Have talked to sever
al German prisoners and they are
happy and contented. Not anxious
to go back home as yet. But they
say the war will be over by Christ
mas, while the French say it will
be over soon. Of course all the fell
lows hope that the French are right.
Without doubt France will be
AmericaniZed after this war. | did
not realize what wonderful work the
United States is doing over here and
of course all for the benefit of rhe
French people. The French people
/ are behind when it comes to con-
structing buildings, ETC., machinery,
tools, etc. Their homes and hui''
ings are all made of stone with tile
roofs and no doubt they last a life
| time. Wood is very seldom seen. At
cur rest camp our company became
separated with the other company
so | do not know where Wallace
! Sterling, Lewis Widell or Bernard
Hennessey are located But when we
left they were all happy and feeling
/ fine. 1 hope / can see all the other
Mankato fellows before long. But
| they of course are all at different
! camps and places, but believe me,
will look for them. The company
got paid last night and of course in
! French money Cooks like wall pa
peri but l hope it will pass. Here
are few prices we have to pay:
Eggs. GO cents per dozen; butter
$1.25 per pound, cheese, 81 rs per
pound; candy, SIZE per pound;
sweet chocolate, Is cents for five
cent bar; sugar, 40 cents per pound
and apples elk cents a piece But ]
guess these prices are for United
States soldiers only. Help pay for
the statue of liberty. The children
all want tobacco for their brothers
and fathers at the front and are real
beggars. The people dress much diff
ferent than we do and | have been
| figuring how they can keep the
wooden shoes on. We get daily pa
pers printed in Paris by The New
York Herald and The Chicago Trib-
une and the official paper, "Stars and
Stripes" SO we can get some news
from the states, sports. etc. The
platoon is getting ready to play base
ball so will close for this time. Give
my best regards, and hoping that you
are enjoying the usual good health
and happiness, am always, Private
Harry w. Zimmerman, Company D,
23rd Engineers, American Expedi-
tionary Forces, Via New York.
Just received a letter from my
father and did enjoy it. First ]
have received in a month.
Mankato, MINI, May p. 1913
To The Free Press: Permit me ia
thank you for the notice you insert
ed in the paper relative to my need
for field glasses. Mr.. o. F. Morrow
loaned me very fine pair and 9TH
er kind friends have rendered me
glasses. These are greatly needed
by officers as it is practically impos-
sible to buy them
| During my short leave at home
was lucky to witness the Red Cross
parade here Saturday, and it certain
ly touches a soldiers heart the way
| the people are carrying on the fight
0ehlnd the lines and backing us III
with everything we need Nothing
puts the look Of determination into
the mems faces like telling them of
the way the folks at home are sac
r1ficing for them and bent on sun
plying every need for their fighting
force. 49, .
| The strong hand with which the
citizens and officials have dealt with
disloyalty is gratifying to the men
al the camps and on the fighting
'front.' That organizations such as