The Mankato free press., 1918-10-18
LETTERS FROM THE
BOYS IN ARMY CAMPS

-
Henry Theissen received the fol-
lowing letter from Private August G.
Krummel,
September 8, 191S.-Dear Friends ::
| am writing this letter to let you
know how / am getting along. l know
l owe several letters so this will have
to do for answers. l am we'll and in
the best of condition, enjoying life
in the best of manner although the
old world is much different then the
new world. 1t is beautiful country.
The people of France use us just as
if we belonged here. They do every
thing they can to make us happy. Of
course we are all looking and hoping
for peace SO we can come back to
good old U. S. Germany has asked
for peace and all such things that
resemble peace, the kind of peace
that would bear burden on the
country We and our allies are fight
ing for. Germany wishes to have
peace and remain the same as she
was before the war. But this cannot
be done. 1t would only be but a short
build itself up to war strength again
and try it over The only way there
can by any peace is to crush the Ger
man government and see the ruler
which is called the kaiser and his
assistants six feet under the sod or
put into hands where they can do no
more damage or harm. The reason
for this is simple. We have come
over here to fight for our rights and
liberty of the world. We have spent
millions and millions of dollars, a
total of fifty two million dollars a
day, and have sacrificed many lives
in this battle, the battle for world
wide liberty. And why should we
give Germany peace without we
knowing we will have liberty? We
have come here to help in this lib
erty will not stand for peace unless
she Will take the burden on her should
ders. She must make good or all she
has done and be ruled by different
authorities first We do not intend to
come back here and fight them again
later, nor do we wish the next gener-
alton to come over here and fight
them. So we are going to finish them
up now while we are here. They
admit they are licked. That's why
they are asking for peace, peace
that would only benefit themselves.
So we will stay here a few short
months longer and see it finished up
right. 1t will not take us long any
more to do it. / will not explain
where | am located or tell you any
more about the battles as it may
give information to the enemy. You
can all see what we are up against
and what we have before us. We hope
that you all feel the same about it
as we do. We do not have any hard
feelings against any of the Germans;
but it is our duty to secure liberty.
And the only way to secure liberty
is to crush the German government.
have written this letter for the
benefit of my friends and the people
of my home town. So if you will all
give us a little hope and send a
prayer to God it will help us On our
way. l will close for this time, hoping
nothing / have written in the pre-
ceding pages will be understood as a
plea for pacificism. We are whole
heartedly in favor of prosecuting
this war until the aims of the Ger,
man militaristic parties have been
crushed and broken forever. The
armies of England, France, Italy and
America are fighting for the liberty
of the world. The God of Justice and
righteousness the God of mercy and
love will g-ort uS 4 speedy victory
av-~ ol cruelty and Unjust
L regards to all hoping to see
you all again someday which | think
will be before long, remain as ever
your home town friend with lost time
and eternity, Somei OF you please write
to me soon. Private August G..
Krummel, 9Th Division Ammunition
train, Company E, American Expedi-
tionary Forces.