The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-09

no IN health. thank God. You say
for me to state what need. need
underwear. size 40. socks, handker
chfefs soap. towel. comb, sweater,
outside shirt.
Thanking you for helping me-"
Parcels the Mainstay OF Life.
showing the spirit Of the men and
telling OF the German prisoner of
war rations, one writer, whose name
is withheld for obvious reasons, man
aged TO get his letter to this country
without having 1t pass through official
channels. After stating that the
American Red Cross Is sending week
" food parcels to the Americans in
his camp. he says. In part:
AT the present writing we are
all waiting patiently for the Red
Cross parcels. but we have the Y.
Nj. c. A. bacon and oatmeal to fall
back on, which IL much appreciated,
assure you. Should we have to
wait three days more. why then It's
the German half pound OF bread a
day--watery soup-twice day.
Now 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, be-
cause a man can do more work with
fair meal than with otherwise. but
lack OF facilities, such as men, ETC.,
delay these parcels very often; too
often. In fact. to satisfy our peace
of mind.
THE daily routine of the day is
enough to unbalance any ones mind
besides waiting for parcels. The
parcels are the mainstay of our life.
We know we are prisoners of war
and the game Americanism within
us has asserted itself more than
once here.
I'VE are men who look facts
straight in the face unfiinchingly. so
do not think we complain. We do
not know what the word complain
means. That word Is not In the die
tionary we men handle"
The Most Human Letter of All.
Probably the most human letter
OF the batch Is one from a wife who
lives i'm East Boston, Massa chusetts
to her husband in prison camp in
Germany. He asked the Young
Mems Christian Association to find
out why she did not write. Here is
what she wrote and what he for
warded to Mr.. Wilson:
II have been writing to you since
May and can not understand why
you did not receive at least one of
the letters. The letters must be held
up somewhere. hope you will re-
ceive one OF them. at least. this one
for luck. -.
If you have not received tho let
ters i sent before. I will have to
tell you again that beautiful baby
daughter was born 20 us April 26th,
1917. had her baptized the name
OF Mary. had her pose for her
picture especially TO send you. II
don't suppose you have received that
either.
MARY is beautiful baby. could
write a book about all the cute
things she does. and can you be-
iieve. Tom. she is sitting up by her
self and wearing soft shoes and only
four months old at present. She
has black hair and blue eyes like
myself. but 1 can see you sticking
out all over her In her smile and
limbs.
"she has n head shaped like yours
and her hands are the very shape of
yours. She even has a little crooked
toe like you have on your left foot.
I know you would be wild about her
IL you could only see the dear
she is such n comfort to me. I love
her and kiss her for YOU"
My Name on an Envelope-Gee Whiz!
Your letter to me and my name on
the envelope-gee whiz" writes Will
liam NJ Fitzgerald. American prison
er No. 10. held at Bustrow, Germany.
He says:
Some time ago / wrote you a
letter and no doubt the answer is
on the way. Since then have
received a parcel from you. IL was
good sound sensible one at that
and I appreciated 1t very much.
After that bacon in the morning ]
30 out to work feeling At and in q