The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-03-13
Snappy Letters from Ouerseas>

In a recent letter to his parents,
Carol Pangburn, of the Marines, who
are part of the Army of Occupation
in Germany, tells of some of the in
teresting things he is coming in con-
tact with in the following letter:
Dear Father and Mother: -
I said few days ago that I wasn't
going to write again until I heard
from home. Well, haven't received
a letter yet but did get couple of
papers yesterday. I can't under
stand what is the matter with my
mail. 1 have received only two letters
since Christmas. I know you folks
are still writing regularly and can't
see any reason why they can't get the
mail up here.
1t has showed the last few nights
and we have good two inches now
The young "Heinies" are still sliding
down hill now on homemade skeds.
They don't much resemble American
sleds and they wouldn't slide very
easily. The hills here though are so
steep that anything would have to
slide. l know for we climbed them
the last two mornings to pull off
maneuver.
We went up and took a pretty
tough ridge. There were no casualties
among our forces. Somebody evidently
lost it again for we had to pull the
same stunt over again this morning.
You see they are not letting us get
stale on any of this "over the top"
stuff. I don't much fancy climbing
those hills, they are too darned steep
for any good purpose. They appear
to be almost solid rock and there are
very few places you would care to
try and climb them.
There is a large town right across
the river from us, Andernack. If a
person is looking for scenery he surely
can get some beautiful views from the
top of these hills. From here we can
see the Rhine, the boats and this
town on the other side. 1t certainly
is a pretty picture, but I am always
so near call in" when I get to the top
that don't think much about enjoy
ing the scenery.
All the hillsides are covered with
vineyards. You wouldn't think that
anything could grow there but l un-
aerstand they usually have pretty
good grape crops. They have the
hillsides built up like steps, each step
being a small plot about ten yards
square. I guess that arrangement
makes it possible for them to work the
land.
Conditions are getting considerably
better now on the old Rhine. We are
getting pretty good GRUB" and
plenty of smokes. Our marine who is
taking the place of the "Y" is getting
quite a lot of stuff in lately and ne
gives hot chocolate away quite regu-
larly. I suppose you have read about
Y. M. C. A. workers serving hot
chocolate to the boys on the front.
guess they must have been kind OF
slow in advancing as it is just get
ting here now.
Second relay.
Well I have just been down to the
Y and purchased some cookies.
didn't get any hot chocolate as they
were just making it. I will have to
90 down later, suppose.
By the way, I'll bet you gooo
cigar that you can't guess who l was
lust with. 1 was on guard the other
day and my post happened to be on
a wood pile, the wood that is issued
to the different companies IN this
battalion. was watching the fellows
from headquarters Co., draw thell
ration of wood and a heard voice
that I though sounded mighty
familiar. I looked around and saw