The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-04-04
TRIP into HOLY LAND
f. J. FROGLEY WRITES OF HIS
MANY EXPERIENCES

Visited NumberOf Historic Spots;
Will Be Glad To Return
To Mankato
First Canadian Bridging Camp,
Egyptian Expeditionary Forces, Pal
estine. February 8, 1919 Mr.. 20. NJ.
Hatcher. Mankato. MINI. Dear Sir:
Many thanks for your letter 4 APP
4 rreciated il very much. ] have COW
cred some few miles since leaving
old Mankato, but Il should have
rather continued my service in France
as the hardships have been more
severe here than iD/ France, in re-
CARDS to transportation of supplies
such as water, ammunition, etc. all
| though ones limbs have a better
chance of being ones own than back
!. there. but there are some interesting
points here ] have been to that one
looked upon and felt as If il is the
most sacred spot on earth. Wis
| tied Jerusalem for the second time a
little while before i was returned to
the hospital with malaria again |
had better chance of seeing more
of the Holy shrines than before. We
had military guide. professor OF
research work in civil life and be-
lieve me he had it all at his finger
tips.
The Bible ! have learned is more
interesting than ever. We visited the
tomb Of Christ, or better known as
Solomon's tomb. or the Mosque of
Omar, and such a building too, it
covers about with the Temple area)
thirty-two acres. The temple is
carved out of solid rock and the al
tar or shrine is richly decorated with
| jewels. as we were told, to the enor-
nous sum OF 100000 francs about
one million dollars II was some
| thing beautiful of course ! must
mention that we were only admitted
with special pass and our shoes
taken off and supplemented with y
pair of felt slippers. All together
there are about thirty five different
creeds and scots Of nearly every re :
ligion and nationality. II sure is a
most wonderful place We visited
Calvary. the Wailing walls of the
Jews. The chamber where Judas he
trayod Christ | just can't think of
| the name now. also The tomb of the
| Virgin Mary, the Golden Gates. the
tower that, was erected in honor OF
1.-THE kaiser's visit to the holy city.
The clock has not run since it's oc-
cupation We also visited the Gar
den of Gethsemanee where the olive
trees are supposed to be hundreds Of
years old and they sure look II. We
| then went on the road to Bethlehem
bv camel. some ride believe me. and
there we visited the birth place of
! Christ. OF course, before one ever
/ visits these hoIySpIaces you expect to
/ see them almost the same as they
iwere left centuries ago. did any
way but instead there is church
teither of some creed, or several of
! them, erected over nearly every spot
where Christ made his life's impor
| tant events.
! ] dc not yet know when Y shall get
back home, but we have heard that
I've are to proceed home next month
land our fellows that are scattered in
| hospitals, over the country are TO be
4
! then on to our Headquarters in Eng
Hand which | hope win be very soon.
Meantime, what troops are here now
| just do patrol work over the country
while peace is being settled to keep
the Arabs in content as there are a
| lot of them that fought with the
British troops against the Turks and
! they do need watching. believe me,
| they are the most treacherous people
one could find but they certainly look
pretty in their silk garments flowing
in the breeze and they have some love-
/ " horse flesh go like the wind itself,
(! yes and they need them. They sare
/ useless.as soldiers of course. They are
I just band of outlaws and thieves
! We bow arc always in trouble with
| them through their roDbing our fell
lows, when we bunch together and
give them chase and yes, here are
/ some bad results afterwards, too, but
j they are towards in 2 man to man
scrap. They have taken everything
loft of some of our chaps who have
/ somehow wandered too far from the
camp. and sent them back naked to
The skin with luck to the guy for
We have a fairly large escort at
4 this hospital rs its all under canvas
and the Arabs try to get fairly close
10 try and buy supplies, sugar ETC.,
and of course. our guards are sure
to run uDon them and then we see
4 some exciting times. Our guards
are some times Indian Cavalry and
YOU condn't find any worse enemies
than these. They are both Moham-
Imedans. but of a different sect which
both hate one another.
We are situated by the sea in n
! very open stretch of country known
1 AZ the plains Of the Crusaders. with
/ the Mediterranean on the north OF
us so ii bears Your statement out Mr.
! Hatcher about the sea air being good
i cure for malaria hut oh, | do de-
test the uuinino thew give US three
! times = tlav. don't mind the To-
4 cation bHt those biiters ret nv goat
K ain feeling fine now just like my
old self. ard homo to keep this way
\ now until an demobiliZed.
The SIN now is heginnin~ tn get
i moro and mora ovnr baad and ouaS