The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-03-07

MANKAro' rssnE RRnss
IIETTERSlF From RE
| BOYS IN ARMY CAMPS
The following letters were. receiv.-
ed by Albert Hollnagel from his son.
Arthur.
| Somewhere in France. August 2S,
l1918.-sDear Father and Mother:
First | will let you know that am
we'll and in the finest or health and
am hoping this letter finds you all
the same. We are laying at present
a shore ways in rear OF the line, wait I
ing for our return to- go into the line.
Time hangs heavy on highlands so
thought I'd write few words When
we so in 1t will be- my first time
against the boche. AS soon as we
get out of the line / will write again
and tellNyou about it. Now father /
don't want you to be worried for
Il "
Germans can't>face the ,sAmericans
at ALL They turn and run as soon
as one of the boys show a little fight.
we are going to give them the dick
ems this time and get 'em started well
back toward their own country. /
don't know how long we will be in
but by the time this letter reaches
you we will be out and resting. Don't
worry for this is nothing to worry
about. Am closing with love, to all.
Arthur.
France, September 2, 191S.-Dear
Father: Just a few lines to let you
know | am feeling fine although l
have been slightly wounded in the
left hip. IT is nothing serious so if
you see my name in the paper do not
worry We went over the top on
August 30 and was wounded The same
day. We gave the boche all he was
looking for and more Also took
considerable ground and a valuable
position. Will write soon. With
love to all, yeur son. Arthur
Woldert. Germany January 10,
1919.-Dear Father: Received your
welcome letter of December Is today,
and was indeed glad to hear from
you. ! am well ard feel fine. Am
sorry to hear that you do not feel as
well as you ought to. Take good care
of yourself daddy. Did you ever try
physical exercises? They are good
to keep one in trim, especially the
muscles OF the stomach and dia-
! phragm. | have found that the set
ting up. exercises as they call them in
the>army have helped me very much,
and think they might help you if
you would try them.
Our company is still on outpost
duty. The company we relieved was
out here two weeks. We've been
here almost three weeks now and
don't know when we will be relieved
from outpost duty. Would just soon
stay here though for we are treated
good by the civilian people and the
job of holding this line is not a hard
one. As long as we have to stay
here in Germany / would just as soon
stay here at Woldert, Have been
here longer than l. have been in any
other town and am getting ac-
quainted little bit. We have lots
of paper work to do, especially on
our service records, and besides lots
of correspondence to take care of.
This coming Sunday the German peo-
pie vote for a president Everyone
votes who is over twenty years old.
| guess they wonit hayeeno trouble
about women suffras q like wesde in.
the state. The division / belong to
Is the 32nd. the same one left the
states with. We have been on sew
eral different fronts. From May 6,
1918, to July 81, the division was in
the trene1fes in Alsace. / was not
there though. Then from July 81
to August 8 in the second battle of
the Marne. SThatj operation is known
asf the Aisne Marine offensive Then
from August 26 to September q in
Disc Aisne offensive. Our division
was the only American division in
the Disc Aisne offensive General
Magnin, the French commander, re-
quested our division for this opera
ton. On our right was a division of
the French Morocco troops, on our
left a division of French Chausser
known as Blue Devils. BothS divi-
sions are among Frances best troops.
Our mission was TO drive Fritz off the
low land inffront andNup onto the
plateau of Juvigny Well we did ii
and gained from the French the name
of brigade LeTerrible.'' Next we
were IT, the9Meuse Argonnef offensive
from the first of October to the fin
ish., There our division was the first
to break through the Kiemelde Stel-
lung. 1t is series of hills which af-
forded for Fritz very strong posi-
ton. But the Wisconsin, Michigan
Toys broke through and drove the
boche out of the Baptherville woods
This opening gave our supporting
troops chance to make an envelS
oping move which drove Fritz out of
his good 3osition. From there the
attack was carried on to Sedan.
That's about all except for our march
into Germany. Will write about that
later. Will close for this time with
love to all Your loving son, Arthur.
EDGAR A. HIGGINS DIES