The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-05
Americans Held in Germany
Write Plucky Letters
to Y. M. c.
l6-YEAR-OLD HERO
THINKS OF MOTHER
Man Learns After Worried
Wait That Daughter
Is Born.

This is the story of hundred
or more Americans held prisoners
ol-war In Germany. II Is n graphic
picture of their brave attempt tn
meet the situation like men, ns
they themselves have drawn 1t In
series OF letters to Il, q, Wilson
association secretary Of the Prison
crs Of War Aid Department of the
Young Mems Christian association.
He has just returned To this coun-
try after spending Two years In
Europe In this work.
with unbrokeu spirit these men
are facing depressing conditions
couragcousiy. As one of them puts
1t, There IN no such word us com
plain IN our dictionary"
New York. Feb. 4,
l'nconuucrcd ana unafraid tho Amer
ican soldiers aud sailors who are held
prisoners Of war in Germany ARE fac
ing their captivity like men aud are
making the best of ii. Their chief
thought is Of the folks back home and
how to assure them that they are safe
and cheerful.
The drab picture of life IN tho pris e
on camp as drawn by the prisoners Ia
their letters to the Young Mems Chris
tian association is splotched with color
AZ they tell OF their fight against dis
courasemont aud Of their anxious
thought for the folks al home.
Thinks OF His Mother.
Thinking chiefly of his mother
Henry Il. liendren. IA lg- year old lad II
Norfolk, Virginia. probably the young
est American held HI IA prisoner ui
war. writes to Mr.. Wilson as follows
from Lubbock, Germany:
II was certainly glad To hear
from you. ] am In need OF your as-
sistnnce very much. | have writ
ten to the British Rcd Cross sew
cral times for bread, but have not
received "A reply.
Il wish you would kindly notify
my mother Of my whereabouts.
have written To her several times,
but have not received a reply. The
address in 2l0 Maple avenue. Bcrk-
eloy. Norfolk. Virginia"
Like Robinson crusoe.
Robinson Crusoe. when he found hi,
man Friday. had nothing on Joseph W
Morgan, prisoner of war No. 3, whaf
he received his firsi letter from ths
Young Mems Christian association. Iis
was taken from the steamer Esmcr,
aldas and held at GustroW, Germany
In his letter he says:
II received the surprise the par-
Gel. Words are inadequate In try
Ing to express my gratitude. Rob
insOn Crusoe must have been lone.
Some until he met man Friday. |
don't think he had anything on me
Wrtil I got your letter, and that
letter and also other letters I cx
pect from you will be my man Fri
day.
Il am feeling good. experiencing
no III health. thank God"
| Parcels the Msinstay Of Life.
Showing the spirit of the men au'
telling Of the German prisoner Of wa
| rations. one writer, whose nam. il
| withheld for obvious reasons. manage
to get his letter to this country ~ithou
having 1t pass through official chan
nels. After stating that the Americal
Red Cross is sending weekly food par
GELS TO the Americans in his camp, h.
| says, In part:
AT the present writing we are
| all waiting patiently for the Ecd
| Cross parcels but VIC have the !.
| NJ. &. 4. bacon and oatmeal To fall
| back on. which is much appreciat-
ed, l. assure you. Should We have
| to wait three days more. why. then
its the German half pound of bread
| a day-watery soup-tgice a day.
'SoW We know that the British
! Red Cross is sending the parcels
| regularly and we are quite sure
that the German postal officials
are doing what they can to let us
have the parcels as regularly as
| possible. because d man can do
more work with fair meal than
with otherwise, but lack Of faciii-
ties, such as men, etc. delay these
parcels very often, to often, in fact,
to satisfy our peace Of mind.