The Mankato free press., 1919-01-31
LETTERS FROM BOYS
IN The ARMY CAMPS

ceived the following letters from
their sor, Sergeant Francis Wiltgen,
who is now stationed at Mailly,
France.
Mailly, France, December %, 1918.
Dear Mother and Father: Here
comes a letter at last. Have been
sick for the last three weeks. Had
the flu, was in the hospital and so
weak could not write or even sit up
in bed. Am feeling fine now except
that | am a little weak yet. Lost
about twenty pounds. Don't know
when I'll get back, it may be two
Most likely it will be six months.
The village where we are located is
thirty five kilometers southeast of
Chalons, between Chalons and
Troyes, you will be able to locate it
on the map. The weather here is
very rainy. Has rained every day for
the past month, but no snow. Our
first snow came Christmas eve last
year. Will send you those boxes,
two number Is shells ard four num-
ber 37's, also ar inkstaEd made out Of
a German shell. My bunk is about
five feet from the stove so sleep
warm and dry. Have had no letter for
two weeks, guess its on account of
the Christmas mail. Priced young
hog yesterday and they orly want
fifty five cents a pound for live hog.
so pork is cheap over here. A small
goose costs forty francs or about $3.50
| that's cheap. Eggs are only 81. 10
a dozen. Chickens are So a piece. We
won't have a fancy dinner Christmas
SO d bunch of us Sergearts are going
to have a big supper Christmas night
going to buy five chickens. Will send
you the menu latter We have turned
in all our surplus clothing so that
means that we may start for home
soon. Received the pictures you sent
from Dakato. Am glad you enjoyed
yourself. Hope father is feeling well
and that the cough is not bothering
him this winter Don't worry about
me fo- / am feeling fine again and
hope to be home and get some good
home now. Will close for now.
With lots Of love, Francis Wiltgen.
Mailly, December 2S, 1918. Dear
Mother and Father: Well Christmas
is over did rot seem like Christmas
to me, rained all day and mud up TO
your knees, MADE it 4 nasty day. We
had dandy supper Christmas night
at seven o'clock. About twenty of us
Clipped in ten francs piece. We had
chicken, tomato soup, asparagus,
peas, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes
gravy, pumpkin pie, peach pie, bread
butter, cherry jam, coffee, cigars and
cigarettes. 1t was some feed, and we
certainly enjoyed it. We get a feed
once year like that, that is when
we pay for it. 1t is still raining and
no sign of letting up. They are dis
charging all the old French soldiers.
Most of them have no homes, their
wives and children have been taker
irto Germany. Old men fifty years
of age have to go and make new
start in life. 1t certainly is pitiful
to see them start from here. most of
them gray haired ard carrying every
thing they own on their backs. But
I they seem cheerful, haven't seen a
Frenchman downhearted since I've
been in France, even when the Ger
mars care as far as Chateau Thier-
ry. Am getting the papers regularly
but no letters for long time.
guess all the Mankato boys who
were in the railroad section are back
in the states by now. Our outfit doesn't
know where they are going. The
rumOrS are that we will go to Russia
OF Germany, but we don't know. One
soldier will start rumor and every
body that hears it improves it lit
tie. Am feeling fine again, picking up
weight and eating like a horse.
guess the flu did me good. Hope you
are all well and fathers cough doesn't
bother him this winter. Will send
you a snapshot l took while in AK
les BaiEes. Viii close. Your son,
Francis Wiltgen.