Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-05-07
WAS IN THE KAISER'S CASTLE AND HAD
RIDE DOWN THE RIVER RHINE ON
M.

WAS IN THE KAIsER's CASTLE AND HAD
RIDE DOWN THE RIVER RHINE ON
AN EXCURSION BOAT
by Adolph Wolfgram. Statistical Section,
Headquarters SOD Division, Rengdorf. Ger
many, February 1871
Dear Brother: / received your most well
come letter about week ago. How is the
old veteran2 l have been feeling well
lately since ! got out Of the hospital You
know | over to divisional headquarters
as clerk in the statistical Office now. Came
over here couple of days before Christmas.
have made couple of trips to C0blenz on
short leaves. That is a wonderful old
place. Both sides Of the river entirely
lined with old forts and Notifications with
big guns mounted on concrete foundations
and also disappearing coast artillery. We were
IN the Ex-kaiser's castle in COblenz and also
TO his castle near of the forts toward the
Lorelie docks. was to Neweid on a three
days leave, and / sure had one good time.
You know the third army corps recreation
centre is there and they have a football field,
tennis courts and golf courses. l took a trip
down the Rhine one of the excursion boats.
There was band on the boat, and they had
Went down beyoS the famous Lorelie rock.
beautiful.
Well, old top, guess tFfeTe will be no Brew
ers bali this year for us. Ell? Maybe we can
get chance TO 20 to a Sunday school picnic
or W. G. T. u. banquet the like.
They sure are hitting the Y. NJ. G. A. pretty
hard, they not? Wen every bit of it Is
true as l never of the outfits near
the front lines yet know Of couple of
times when the boys we're paid and had plenty
of money and were so hungry that they paid
three francs for a package of cookies and
two francs for a very small piece of chocolate
that had no taste at all. It's good out
fit and all the fellows that have seen service
are of the same opinion and prove the
instances where they have proved themselves
as yellow hearted grafters. The Red Cross
and Salvation Army have done wonderful
work and all the boys admire them. The X.
c. did good work. Never again will laugh
thn Aal.4 ill.,. 81
semble on Fourth and Grand. Hereafter they
will get half of my last cent. They never
charged for stuff neag the lines. and in the
back areas they sold stuff very always treated
soldier with all the respect in the world.
Gosh guess | am forgetting myself and writ
ing entirely about the service outfits:
How does Fred like the change from sol
der TO civilian. Imagine fellow will have
TO sort of break into il gradually, won't he
Col. Schneider left for the states about Jan
uary is. You know he led the regiment when
We were with the fifth division before went
into Ecurey | sure have seen some country
and had a heap Of experience in the last year.
my own. | got hold of n camera a short while
ago and a fellow who leave brought
some films back with him, so | will soon be
sending some pictures. as this country around
here is the most picturesque and beautiful l
have ever seen. The Rhine river sure is a
beautiful river but l would a darned sight
rather be standing on bridge and watch one
OF the sewers empty into the river at Lacrosse
or Milwaukee.
told you had a chance to go to the last
officers school, didn't L? | passed Il up to be
on the last front. and sure am glad that /
did, as | was on the front when cease firing
was ordered i sure y4sS funny sensation.
Thing eH %ss 50 Saet a. rsht Many
is the time were lined Up for mess and
shell dropped close to the kitchen and knocked
a hole in our coffee kettle. Then is when a
man begins TO curse little. Must stop. |
Write soon.
SOME EXPERIENCE FOR THE LAD.
SURE ENOUGH
lin a letter to his sisters. Private t. Oscar !
Fodnes of Readstown. a member of Base Hos
pitai Unit No. II, gives vivid description of
trench life and a splendid word picture of the |
last active days before the signing Of the
dated at Beaune, France. January 23.I
Dear Sisters; Last night received bunch /
Of letters: twelve in all, rather old, but OH
great to hear from you all but best of all was /
10 secure your address. ! lost il on the hast
ar 1 but know you viii forgive me; when /
bath they took all my clothes away so you see
lost every bit of paper | had in my pockets.
Wen, l guess can write and tell you little
IF what | have tried and seen but, of course
Foa will have 10 wait until get back TO hear
everything in detail. On the last night of
August We landed in the front line trenches
member reading in history about Germany
aking IL from France in 1879. Now in this
var tneN were driven oLt OF a&atu. As
Ong as the French held the lines II was quiet
sector but when the yanks took it over there
'ure was H. to pay. The night We went IN
vas night | shall forget. Marching
along a path through the woods, the rain
pouring and dark! Oh boy! We had TO go IN
Jingle file. holding onto each others packs
With the Bosehe sending over his six inca
helis continuously. None got me, fortunately.
The place under fire one they always
heiied when troops went in. II was
allied thirty minutes of h.. and u sure was.
Ne landed in the trenehs and l stood all
light long in mud and rain on post fer four
cen nights. My t,Odl what hfel One might
he Huns came eDve the top trying 20 make
aid. Things get mighty lively for while
'ut We didn't suit them fer they returned
sster than they came over.
Girls, that boy On the picture vita me u
sl2rence Haake Of Winena. Minnesota my
cry best friend. He killed that night
NO machine bullets through his head. II
are hurt me but that's the gar.e. That night
hey picked and two ether privates and
ent US into Ne Mans Land. | was 20 Be
hear captain. We went into shell hole
'repared TO give Fritz warm welcome we're
le 10 try and come through. We were armed
Q she teeth With rifle and hand grenades and
'teniy Of extra clips for car rides. They didnt
ONE ever. l spent six nights out there when
We were relieved BY another company and
rdered to fan back eight miles 60 q rest camp
las they called IL. But the Germans would
he'll It continually and lots Of eur hoys got