The Mankato free press., 1919-02-07
LETTERS FROM The
BOYS. IN The CAMP

'tN "ihi' SohipoHs ~ Fii's Ai'ii LII
gineers, eighteenth battalion, writer
to his parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Johr
Farm:
Paris, December "a. 191S.-M,
Dear Mother and Father: Wei
suppose this is little surprise t.
you that | am in the great city o
Paris. | can't hardly believe it my
self. 1t is too good TO be true. ! an
writing this letter at the Red Cros:
hotel and just had my dinner.
want to tell you Mother if you evel
donate ANYTHING. give it to the Rec
Cross as | don't know what the boy,
would do without the Red Cross.
Well l will tell you just little o.
my trip. | left Chateaurous yester.
day noon and got to Paris last nigh
at p. m. We walked around til
10 p. M. and then found the Rec
Cross where we got supper and lodg
ing. This morning after breakfas
we vert to Y M. c. A. and bought
a sightseeing ticket for five francs
We went in cars for that purpose
accompanied with a "Y" man. The!
took us to all the most importan
places. We went through some o
the most historical buildings in hist
DRY, ard the "Y" man explained
everything to us. l saw things tina
never dreamed of | want to tell you
We went in one church that wa!
bombed on Good Friday if you re
member, there is a big hole IN the
building where the bomb struck. The
parks are all full of captured Ger
man guns, areoplanes, tanks, etc. OF
yes, who do you think | saw. thi.
morning and he waved to us. 1t wa!
President Wilson, so ] can say
have seer him anyway. | don't know
exactly what we will do this after
Company G sticking together ant
now We are all going to a place called
st. Malo. There is where we are
going 10 spend our seven days. 1t il
near Brest. If you have a map lool
it up. We can spend seven days or
the road going up and back so W,
nave altogether fourteen or fifteer
days. would like to stay at Pari.
but we are rot allowed more thar
twenty four hours at a time. We are
going to stop again or our way back
wish / could spend my furlough here
but there are too many. Parts is {
beautiful city. 1t is we'll kept up and
the architecture is the most wonder
full l ever saw. l will bring back al
the post card pictures of what l have
seen that | can
Well, dear mother and father,
will have to quit for this time as the
boys are ready to go again and dom
forget that | always think of yo,
dear folks at home and. hope soon tc
be with you ard then l will tell yo,
more about my trip, / am as ever
your loving son, Arvid.
The following letters were writer
by Corporal Al Struss to his cousin
Mrs. Erieda. Jones
Heppiryen, Germany, December L
l91S.-Dear Cousin Freda: / hav
just received your most welcome let
ter and will answer it att once. i an
well ard as happy as | could ever be
am now in Germany and like it @
X. Must say it is beautiful arount
here. We are rear the Rhine rive
and it sure is great country, bi:
mountains ard rivers. We live amoni
the German people and so far the.
all treat us good. They are all YER.
glad the war is oyer and so am |.
talk Dutch all day long and if l sta,
here .ong l might forget my owl
language at last, Well l must g.
now ard eat my supper so l viii
leave you now. Please answer sool
and / will write more. am not 81
busy, now so can do more writing
How are the children and all tn
folks at home? Well l must say soot
bye. Best regards and love from
your loving cousin, AL Struss.
Heppingen, Germany, December 81
191S.-Dear Cousin Frieda: l hav
just received your loving letter O
November II, and as usual was yer,
glad you wrote. | am now in Ger
many and like it here o. K. You sa,
Herb is looking for me, well l don
think he will ever see me over here
The first reason is he is not in tn,
Army OF Occupation and the othe
reason IS that he is in the heav,
artillery and they don't get near a
far up as We do as our artillery j
light ard is EeXt to the infantry
while there are about four or fiv
different grades of guns between m
regiment and his. Herb sure go
himself n good safe job as far a
small shells and machine guns wer
concerned, but light artillery is NOR
excitement ard l am glad | was in j
although it was little more danger
Gus. But it is great sport | am send
ing a post card of one corner of tn
berg l am now ih, have been her
since two weeks ago last Sunday an
am having good time Talk to tn
people all day long. l have oftel
! talked to the man | marked with
cos. He was also soldier in tn
German army and said he worh
never fight for the kaiser agair
They all say that. They are all sic
of war. Well / must close hoping t
hear from you all again soon. | re
main your, loving cousin, AL Struss.
The following letter was write
, by Herbert c. Becker to his brothe
ard sister.
Ambares, France. January 9, 1915
+, Dear Mother and Sister: | am fin
ard dandy, hope you are all til
same. | received letter from A
Struss today, he's ir. Germany. Ho,
is old Mankato? / expect to be hom
| in a month, or so, don't worry.
! traded all my French money for Z. s