Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-02-06


son, Sergeant C. r. Bohn:
Koblenz on the Rhine,
December 90, 1913.
Dear Mother:
Christmas in Germany and on the
Rhine! Ten weeks ago we would not
have dreamed OF such ching but it
has come to pass. We used to joke a
bout the Rhine but today we are here
in reality. When I get to thinking
about things, can hardly realize what
we have been through. 1t seems like
dream. It don't seem that we have been
in the war and you feel as if there is a
space Of time that you cannot account
for. think it is because the tension is
think of things aside from war. l feel
glad to know that Germany was beaten
and that we now have chance to step
on her soil as victors, and I know this
very thing hurts a German and while
he does not show it outwardly, he does
some tall thinking. And it will be a
great day when they begin to squeal
under the debt that they have incur
erd. After seeing France and her fair
cities in ruins and then seeing these
Germans here in their snug homes,
tell you ! think a whole lot. Let them
pay to the very cent all that Justice
demands even if it takes many years.
They can and must and after these
years of war, it must be exacted.
We left SOuilly December 8. We
went to Verdun that night and lay in
the yards over night 1t was some sight
the next day as we went out over the
most terrible battle field of the war.
shall never forget that ride as long as
live. Just east Of Verdun are very high
hills and these were always held by the
French as their best forts were on
them. You can imagine how it looked
as that part Of the line has never
changed in four years. Shells noies
merged into one another so that all the
original things were gone. Trees all
ed wire, human bones, helmets, guns
and all the debris of battle. Then as
you got over to the German side it was
even worse. Their graves were count
less and further back well built GEM
meteries testified that they intended to
retain that part of France. We went
through the Briey basin-the famous
iron fields of France that the Germans
used for their war work. We crossed
the Lorraine border at F'ontoy. This
region is very Industrious on account OF
the iron and is in a very narrow and
deep valley. Then we swung north to-
wards Thionville. This is second Metz
The people here all spoke German but
French flags were flying everywhere
and you could pick out the real French
homes.
We followed the MoselIe river to
Perl where we crossed into Germany.
Justacross the river was also the
Luxembourg border and we went for
Just across the river was also the
for Koblenz but were delayed at a
small city Traen Trarbach on the
Moselle. 1t was very pretty here. The
valley SO very narrow and the Mills so
high. 1t was fine to look down on the
town from the hills. The vineyards
were wonderful. They grow vines on
slopes so steep that you can hardly
climb them and every little spot On
those hills is under cultivation.
KoblenZ is at the junction OF the
MoselIe and the Rhine. There is a
big fort just across the river and the
Stars and Stripes on top OF it. The
city has about so thousand people. The
buildings are very nice and the stores
are very modern. The Rhine is not
much of a river. 1t is about like the
Wisconsin used to be at Merrimack.
We are in an old seminary and have
it fine. But yet I would rather be
home, and hope we wont be here many
weeks. The 32nd is across the
river and I suppose we will get
patients from them soon. Hope to-
see someone that i know. Will write
to you about Christmas later. A
happy New Year although it will be
late when you get it. With love,
SGT.C. r. BONN
Evac. Hosp, A. E. F. A. r. o. 927.