The Mankato free press., 1919-02-07

my ioVei and kisses TO you all al
home. remain your loving brother
and son, Private Herbert C. Becker
Vitrey, vemois, France. January 1
1919.-Dear Friend Mr.. Palmer: Re-
ceived your most welcome letter some
time ago but as it has been move
move ever since November 18th (the
eventual day. have had very few
chances to get letters through.
We have done considerable travel
ing in side door Pullmans of late be-
| sides a hike now and then. At one
time we were stranded at Ansonville
a little burg of about 200, just outside
of Toul and I'll admit at times it look
ed as il there were no roads leading
out. Here We stuck for three whole
weeks or better policing up two vii
lagos besides the one in which we bill
leted. This was mighty tedious and
ldisagreeable work, to be sure, but il
must be done and we caught this area
for ours.
The villages included were Man
des and Hammonville. right in the
shell shot area, and one would rea
liZe it for they were completely strip
ped of the French populace. Mandres
was quite place with good streets,
good water system, etc., and in fact
looked better to me than most any of
the shell-sh villages or towns we
ever entered. There is. fascination
or interest in going around these old
French villages and one of the first
things which comes to ones notice is
the cathedral or church. This had us
ually been Fritzie's mark but at Man
dres he made miscue-although he
had two hits on the steeple. but very
little damage. Happened to wander
laround behind the church to an Amer
lean cemetery and to my surprise /
found marker with the inscription,
| Glen Fl. Campbell. 1t struck We as a
familiar name and / just wondered
whether or not this could be the same
! G. III. G. of st. Clair. took down the
entire inscription and sent it to broth
er but haven't heard ffom his since.
Oh; many queer things happen and
we get our new experiences daily
Well. we left Ansonville in real Amer
lean box cars and it was over an
American railroad constructed wholly
| by soldier engineers. Rather remind
ed one of home to go drifting into a
railroad yard with U. IS, A. cars lined
up on all sides and American switch
men running here and there. We were
stalled there for about five hours
awaiting right of way over the Est
and a French pilot. for frankly the
French don't do things with real
American pep" After an all nights
travel we arrived at Vitrey early one
morning and unloaded all our material
horses, etc., at the rail head.
Well, the next day was a Sunday
and We worked right through for four
days on all our equipment getting it
| up in tiptop shape for the Ordnance
department. 1t was passed upon on a
Thursday and Immediately in went
Transportation orders. We are now
Iawaiting transportation and guess
car shortage must be about as bad as
back in the states during the fall and
summer of 1917. From all dope we
get, order reads Transportation for
second battalion =" Proceed to ST. Mo-
Iza z9;f re q. ol Si
Hive on hopes for now that it's prac-
4 ltically all over, one of our happiesl
days will be when we float into New
York harbor, able to say. "Home
|again." 1t will certainly be said with
a true meaning this time for we rea
liZe that the u. S. A. stands for and
lis the best nation in the whole world
It's customs, progressiveness and all
stand out stronger TO us now Tin com
parison with other countries) than
ever before.
| We have been doing all sorts of ia
tigue work, etc, since arriving here
and understand we are to again &C
back into Ga little of what we call)
squads east and west until we leave
Everything has it's purpose and a lit
tie brush up on the drills again and
will certainly be to our advantage.
Have a mighty fine 'Y' here fol
enlisted men and another for officers
this being the French artillery center
of France All French artillery units
must or do pass through here before
going further, so during our stay we
have seen batteries from almost al
ldivisions in and around the center
Plenty of soldiers here and all neigh
boring towns are crowded to the, linn
lit. | can assure you that each anG
everyone thinks they are to be the
first to leave but guess it's a game
of chance and time will have to tell
Had mighty fine Christmas here
and likewise Happy New Years
There is the saying, Life is only what
you make it" and although not one ot
the good old festive seasons of home
everyone made it, day to be remem
bered. "a Christmas in France" The
"Y" put out dandy Christmas boxes
to each and every soldier and all com
panies tried their best to get away
from the Corn wooly." etc., and put
out a real Christmas dinner with the
chicken, real pumpkin pie and all.
! Well, this season has all passed now
and we are on the threshold of 1919
the beginning of peace year. We al
hope TO be home soon-to see things
back in their old places, business good
even better than in previous times
and everyone pulling together with ar
accord as they have done during this
war at home and over here.
Certainly glad to hear that you arr
putting on a new addition to the mill
i imagine. Mr. Palmer. that outside
activities have kept. you pretty much
on the jump for sometime, and know