The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-04-11
LETTERS FROM BOYS
IN The ARMY CAMPS

following very interesting letter
from his nephew, Charles H. Hamm
who is located at Engers, Germany
Mr.. Hamm's home is in Seattle
Wash.
Fingers, Germany. February 20
1919.-Dear Uncle: The length OF
time between letters is so lang that
/ forgot when last wrote, also what
| wrote. ! do however remember
sending cards to you more than six
weeks ago from Sinzig. Did you re-
ceive them? The mail has been
very irregular of late. sometimes
weeks passing with scarcely any
You see since | was made mail or
derby" last November ] have been
keeping tab on it closely. ! went
into the post office while we We're
in Luxembourg as an interpreter and
later they turned the mail over to
me as the captain had reduced the
bugler who was then handling lit
OF course like it better than straight
duty, not because it is easier but
because one has many privileges and
better quarters. We are situated ten
kilometers from CoblenZ. the Amer
lean bridgehead, and six kilOmeters
down the river from Niewied the
residence of the Prince of WED, Car
mon, Sylvas' family. Our division
headquarters are at the last named
place as well az our corps, third
corps. third army headquarters. IL
is very fine little town. | have been
to CoblenZ once. il is also good
town, the newer part having many
fine edifices. They both have nice
stores, theatres. etc. While there
went through Burg Stolzenfels on the
heights overlooking the grand old
valley There are numerous statues
old churches, castles ruins OF rob-
Der knights castles, bridges and
Notifications. The vineyards must
be a wonderful sight in springtime
and I am confident that We shall be
able to view them this season as
well as drink some of the 1913
vintage" hence do not stop writing
because YOU read that the second di-
vision. General Foch's crack divi
sion of storm troops is about to sail
No such luck. though I'm not COM
planning as we are very cmfortable
here on enemy soil. We never had
such fresh and good bread as we now
have. The bread is baked in the
next town and is delicious. While
in France. during the war we were
on the move continually and as we
were in the advance and the
bakeries in the s. o. s.. our "staff of
life" was generally about one month
old and during damp weather often
mouldv. A fellow can't kick much
when he's getting belly full three
times per, good warm comfortable
clothes, good billets, some work and
some recreation and thirty three
bucks per month. OF course we want
to get home after more than a year
away from all that makes life worth
living. One thing that helps to drive
away inconsistencies and break mon
otony is mail from the u. s. fet-
tiers. magazines, ETC., and lately we
haven't been getting them. ! am go
ing to have nv photograph taken as
soon as my "boche" tailor finishes
altering my Sunday go to meeting
ture. | shall be anxious to hear
whether you notice any change in the
last year or so. Enclosed in this let
ter you will find fifty centimes
note especially made to pay off the
allied army with. We received marks
in November and December but last
pay day got francs. Notice the wife
and children welcoming home the
poilus returning from the trenches
Tige is there too. The French carry
grace and beauty into every detail
Of their daily life. One sees this
love for beauty cropping out when
least expected. They are wonder
full people. Their patience and faith
in the Justice of the great cause fol
which they have sacrificed so much
is remarkable. Talk about comarade-
ship. sympathy and desire to be
helpful TO those carving the burden
of the fighting. Why the horizon
blue clad noilus. the madames and
madamoiselles We're models. The
pOilus taught the Americans great
deal about how to make oneself com
Portable with almost nothing in tho
field They surely know how to make
themselves comfortable in fox hole
and how to make very good tastins
meal out of few articles in thu
field of rations and joke and sins
through it all. The boys are JUS
leaving for Coblenz to see the sec
Ond and fourth divisions scrap fol-
the third army football champion
ship. II is too bad the weather ism
better. The dav is dark and cloudy
and the ground | imagine must bt
watersoaked. making sloppy field
! could not go as only thirty -fouI
men were nermitted to attend from
Co. B, but I saw the End win thu
CORDS championship from the 32nt
National guard troops at Niewiet
February II. II was fast and won
derful game. Fortunately they hat
n dry field. i must close this poorly
written letter and take care of my
mornings mail. Lots of love Il
Aunt Sedaie, Frances and George
and good share for yourself.
am closing with great hopes of Wis
iting you and renewing the good ole
comradeship before next fall 7 re.
main your affectionate nephew
Charles H. Hamm.
Corporal Mic Kiffe. who is station.
ed at Aursbacn. GERMANY, has sem
the following speech delivered to the
First division. of which Corpora
Kiffe is member, by General Per
shing on March IA:
General Pershing addressed the Of.