Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-01-29

16Sth Infantry. His family had NJ
heard from him since early last sun
mer. and was much concerned abot
his whereabouts and safety. Thi
| weeks mail brought letter from hil
written to his aunt, Miss Clara Child.
in which he tells of some of his ea
periences.. Following is the letter.
.Burgbrohl, Germany, Dec. II, 1911
Dear Aunt:
I'VE have reached the objective tn
allied armies have been fighting TO
for the past four years, and Americ
for the past year, and am in the com
pany office and have more time t
write so am trying to catch up lit
tie with my correspondence that is S.
far behind.
"A year ago today was in the hos
pital at LeHavre, France. Was in al
English Convalescent camp for Christ
mas. l left for the company on New
Years day, which was then located a
Langras, France. 1t is quite an his
toric place in the early years of this
great war. have been in Paris over
night but didn't get chance to lool
around much and see the historical
part and / don't think there Is much
chance of seeing 1t now as I don't
think we will see much of France
a onjo 7 fh{nk uyo oro nAra lSohlo m
sail from Ostend, Belgium, or some
German port, as that would be much
closer and quicker, so may be we have
bidden France goodbye. Let's hope
it isn't long before we say goodbye
Germany, and hello Broadway. Some
think We won't be here long but it is
hard to tell. We may stay some time.
1t Just depends upon Germany; how
long 1t will take her to get new gov
ernment and sign the peace terms.
We'll, Christmas is almost here and
I am farther from home than I was
last year at this time and I thought
then would be home for this Christ
mas. But now sometimes think it
will be another year besides the COM
ing one If we don't start soon; but
that Is just when get the blues or
want to find fault about something. l
didn't get one of those cards for a
Christmas package so you won't be
able to send me anything for this
Christmas but there is good chance
Of my being home soon. and then a
good feed and nice warm bed will
be Christmas good enough haven't
any kick coming, although some Of the
places we have had to sleep in were
not very fancy. For instance, hole
IN the ground about two feet deep. four
feet wide and long enough to stretch
out in; then all covered with dirt but
a little hole big enough to crawl In.
At night you couldn't have q light II
the least spark showed through. The
food question was hard to figure out
| never missed meal but l surely
have postponed good many and had
lots Of miss meals, the kind where
you think 1t over, and then go on and
lream about roast chicken, mashed
potatoes, with lots Of nice chicken
gravy, and some of mammals good
bread with some real dairy butter,
md nice big apple pie waiting to top
t off with. That Is soldiers dream.
The dream have been waiting to come
rue for the past twenty and half
anI 7 cfiI1 uroifSno hnf
lere's hoping it isn't much longer.
'or whileI was cooking for the Of
cers. then when we could get the stuff
We had some pretty good feeds, but
he question was to get the stuff
Now | will tell you what think
# Germany in comparison with Eng
and, France and Belgium. The best
We have travelled through is
Belgium, in the southern part, but /
,uess the north is in ruin as result |
f the war, but the southern towns |
re all clean and neat Our greatest |
eception by the people while marching
through was in these towns. The flags
t all the Allied Nations were hang
ng at nearly every door, Christmas |
rees on each side of the road were
ecorated up and supporting an arch
1ith the inscription-'Ho Wilson
nd Americans The children would
ell, Hip, hip, Hurray!' The scenery
) of the best we have seen. The Bel
ian people told us that if they had
ad to go through another winter a
reat many would starve. The Ger
ian people are in need of great
lany things, but they have plenty of
otatoes, bread, sugar, oatmeal and
air supply of meat. Germany lacked
ian power, and heavy guns, because
on is scarce.
"The German towns are good and the
ouses are neater than in France, that
! they are cleaner inside. The Ger
ian people treat us very well, but
laybe that is because they think they
ave to. We are supposed to treat
lem as enemies but we treat them
Ike white people and don't try to
hove them off the sidewalk or kick
lem out of their homes like the Ger
ian soldiers did the French and Bel
ian people in the early part of the
ar when things were going their
ay | will have to close for this
me. l will send birdseye view of
Continued on page 81 /
II