Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-06-04
SRGT. LOVESTUEN
VISITING PARIS
Writes His Parents on Route 6 a
Very Interesting Letter About
His Trip to Paris
ALSO VISITED MANY
PLACES IN GERMANY
Says Germany is Making Use of
Every Foot of Ground Possible
for Human Being to Get
Continued from first page.


most forced to laugh at the whine
or I'VE can't pay our indemnities, TO
sign the peace treaty will be our
ruination. | hope sne will be made
to pay in full and with interest.
There are many interesting things
to see in Coblenz. At the junction of
the Rhine is the statue of VIM. the
lst on horseback, one of the largest
equestrian statues in the world. II
| is of copper and 46 feet in height.
One of the most interesting trips
/ took in Germany was the boat ride
up the Rhine to Stolezenfels Castle
also called the X-Kaiser's castle. 1t
is built 312 feet above the Rhine.
| shall not try to describe the
castle. One thing l will say we had
to put on felt shoes to go through
some of the rooms.
One day went up to Ehren-
breitstein Fortress, one of the
strongest on the Rhine and built
400 feet above the river where the
Moselle runs into the Rhine. 1t look
ed mighty good to see Old Glory
wave from its top. didn't stop to
enquire how the Germans like it. 1t
sure is some stronghold. I will not
take time to tell about all the his
toric places in Coblenz. Will men
| ton "Castor Fountain" that I saw.
1t is monument that was built in
1912 in memory of Napoleon's cam
| paign into Russia, the date and event
engraved on it. AS you know
! Napoleon's Russian Campaign turn
ed out disastrous and he had to re-
treat across the Rhine. The Russians
/ followed and occupied Coblenz. In
stead Of pulling this statue down the
Russian commander had engraved
under the first-'Seen and approved
by u.s." Russian commander of Cob
LEM.
A doughboy one day figured out
that it wasn't complete, so took a
chalk and wrote o. K. by Gen.
| Pershing."
| We stayed in Coblenz four days
and then left for Paris Went back
to Toul. From Toul through Bar lie
Due, along the Marine through Chat
eau Thierry and on to Paris. | am
here staying at the Rochester Hotel,
run by the Y. NJ C. A. 1t is fine
place with good Accommodations. We
came to Paris Friday evening, the
9th, and stay till next Sunday, the
1Sth. l have visited many historic
places here. Notre Dame church, st.
Gervais church that was hit by the
German "Big Bertha" The Pantheon
where lies buried Victor Hugo and
other famous Frenchmen; Luxum-
bourg Gardens, Effel Tower, Tomb of
Napoleon, etc.
The Pantheon de la Guerre,
painting of the war 40 feet high and
$50 feet long is the most wonderful
painting have seen.
One day three of us took ride
in the Large Wheel of Paris We
got up 800 feet and had very good
view of Paris.
The most famous avenue in Paris
is Champ Elyseis. From Concord
Square to 1.-THE Triumphal Arch
distance of little over mile
along Champ Elysis Avenue Ger
man cannon are lined up on both
sides of the avenue. On Concord
Square and around the Triumphal
Arch are also a lot of them. Along
that avenue will march the Peace
Parade when peace is signed.
Yesterday some OF us went 10
Versailles and to the palace ana
gardens of Louis the XIV. 1t is 1907
feet long and the grounds cover
1000 acres Ten acres is set aside
for the German peace delegates.
saw the fence that has been put up
to keep them on their 10 acres
also saw a few of them taking an
afternoon stroll.
Here | saw the famous fountain
that cost 4OO,OO0,OO0 francs. The
whole garden is trees, fountains
fine statues, etc.
The palace was sure a swell
Mace. / thought the gambling casino
tat Monte Carlo was the SWEETEST
Mace yet, but that place isn't in II
for beauty and grandeur compared
with the Palace of Louis the XIV
We went through room after room
where Louis the XIV lived, ate'
slept and performed his duties as
king and host. Imagine rooms OF
marble, and the walls and ceilings
covered with beautiful paintings ana
brass work. The paintings and brass