The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-01-24
LETTERS FROM BOYS \
/ /. IN the ARMY CAMPS

Romagne, France. December 10,
|191S.-Mr. p. J. Johnson, Amboy
Mimi, To You and the Boys; | will
write a. few liEes in answer to your
very welcome letter at hand. We are
permitted to write where we are ana
what we are doing, so | will try to tell
you some Of my experiences.
We left Camp Stuart, Va, August
80, sailing via the Italian ship Amer
ica," landing at Brest. France after
twelve days at sea, To my knowl-
edge we had TO encounter with sub
marines. We marched four miles out
of Brest to Rest Camp" and here
let me say that if that was rest
camp" | rever want another rest.
Well we spent two days and nights in
our little terts in mud and water as 1t
rained a great deal then and has
never been clear weather for more
than a couple days at time since.
After we had had our initiation into
outdoor army life at Brest we We're
marched back TO town and loaded in
to match box cars and were after
the usual round about route waiting,
standing, sleeping, walking and lit
tie of everything in general, we land
ed few niles behind the front lines
near Verdur. So on the oath of
September we found ourselves only
five miles from the firing line. Every
night Fritz" would come over with
ore of those flying automobiles and
drop few bombs, sometimes little
too near to be of comfort. After two
weeks the frort had advanced far
enough so we could sleep without be-
ing disturbed SO often. A month ago
we were transported across country
in auto trucks to this place Romagne.
Romagne is located west of the
Meuse river and iE the eastern edge
OF the Argorne forest, and only few
miles from the pretty city of Dun sur
Mouse.
This town Tor what has been 4
towr) was occupied by the Germans
up until the last drive, and We came in
here within less than a week after
they were driven out. We saw all that
could be desired of the front as there
was still gas and quite few bodies
unburied, (Germans).
| had the pleasure to do some re-
pair work on our Majors motorcycle
and drive it with him about eighty
miles last Sunday. The best part of
it all was to hear our band ("third
Piopeer") play a few pieces. 1t re-
minded me of the times we used to
play last spring. And let me say also
that is sounded exceptionally good,
not having heard any music for sew
eral morths-so it seems.
Our company Go. "PO is living in
an old German prison camp at pres
ent We are working on ammunition
dumps, mostly German stuff now. We
seem to have several weeks work yet
so dor't know when they are going to
send US home. ! presume you can
imagine that the most talked of sub
ject is when are We going home"
On having spare moment l put to-
gether few words, that may express
To you how we over here feel about
1.-THE Day of Returning"
THE DAY OF RETURNING.
In far away France they keep me
Waiting my turn to come home;
The days seem to pass Oh! so slow
ly,
And night time is lonely and long.
The battle we fought our bravest,
While Germans were sent to their
doom;
We know they'll have no returning,
We sent them where criminals be-
long.
The Kaiser's in care of a Neutral,
They're shielding him there for
time;
He's fearful now lest the Allies,
May deal with him quick for his
crimes.
III let them take care of the Kaiser,
And others attend to his kin;
But ME- for the day Of returning,
To you folks, and home, our sweet
home.
l have written about all that comes
to my mind at his time that may in
terest you l am hoping you are all
exempt from sickness, and especially
the Spanish influenza. Say Hello to
all the boys for your old friend Ar
thur Broas.