Williston graphic., 1918-08-08
ALEC RAW|TSCHER
WRITES FROM FRANCE
"YANKS" HAVEN'T GOT START
ED BUT ARE HANDING 1T
TO THE GERMANS

Mr.. George Rawitscher received a
very interesting letter from his son
Alec who is now in France helping
the boys from U. S. A, in making the
Kaiser and. his pack of Huns do the
roose-step backwards. His letter is
as follows:
France, July 70.
Dear Father and Mother:
81 was talking to some German
prisoners which had been captured
while l was out fixing telephone
line, asked the guard if | could talk
to them, he said, certainly, 60 ahead
The first thing l asked was what they
thought of the war. They said they
had enough and after we got to talk
ing they were more than glad, they
said to be captured. At first they
were afraid to talk for they were told
in Germany that when the Americans
captured them they shoot them. When
l told them that they are perfectly
safe here and are treated like any of
us, only that they are prisoners OF
war, they were so full of joy that
tears came to their eyes.
No Smokes for Germans
gave them each cigarette which
they have not had for days. They also
told me that they had nothing to eat
for twenty-four hours. They did have
a small piece of bread on them which
some American soldier must have
given them as they were passing It
around each taking q bite. also saw
many other prisoners who ! did not
get a chance to talk with. Many OF
them did not seem over IS or is years
old. They all admitted that the Amer
leans were too much for them. They
say we are too strong but guess they
don't savey our way Of fighting. A
certain bunch of soldiers which we
have here which l am unable to men
ton are called the "Black Snakes and
Dare Devils" by the Boche on account
of their way of crawling while in bat
tie. .-.........
"If the soldiers in Germany only
knew the truth the war would soon
end, but they are told so many false
hoods by their leaders. On one oc-
casion they were told that their ad-
vance lines were in Paris. They must
fight hell of a lot before they get
there, or as long as there is breath
of life in any of Uncle Sans men.
Dodging Big Shells
I am doing nothing but telephoning
these days as we are not using the
telegraph instruments. l get it hot
and heavy from Frit at times, when
out on line work, but he has not got
my number for have learned how to
dodge those big shells. We are giving
them all that is coming to them. !
would like to tell you more in detail,
but it would never pass, so what is
the use.
"The Boche usually try to send a
few large shells in our paths while
we are at work. never mind them
in the least for l am used to them,
of course, have knocked on wood,
for we never can tell which one has
our initials on it.
1--WE are certainly doing wonderful
work, that is the Americans, up in
this sector. Naturally we loose some
men but no where in comparison with
what Germany is losing, and we have
not yet got started to get the, (cen-
sored). Just think Of what is going
to happen when the Yanks do get
started"
July 12th-Just got back from tht.
front line, of the most famous and
active American Battle Fields in
France. 1t certainly was some ex-
perience. / was up there five days
and during that time did not wash
or sleep, there is no such words up
there.
Nothing more to write, will close
with regard to all.
~..- With love, Alec.
Alec Rawitscher,
Hdqs. Co. 18th F. A.
A. E. F.