The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-01-28
LETTER FROM OVERSEAS.
FORMER PRISONER WRITES
DIR. J. A. HIELSCHER
Refers to Conditions In Ger
many; American Soldiers
Were Gentlemen

| While Dr/J. A. Hielscher was To-
Gated with his outfit at the motor
overhaul park, Dijon, France, he had
charge of a German prisoner OF war
labor battalion. These men occupied
stockade within the park and were
used as laborers. After the doctors
arrival he had these prisoners build
for themselves within the stockade
an infirmary for their own use. Upon
its completion he selected an intelli-
gent prisoner to act as hospital ord
1erly. Quite a friendship arose be
tween the doctor and the prisoner
! andsThe Free Press is permitted to
print a letter received from this man
several days ago. A translation oil
lows: "Dortmund, Germany, Decem-
Der 20, 1920. Mr.. Dear Doctor Hiel-
scher: Never in my life did l be-
live that l ever would hear from you.
l was all the more pleased to receive
your letter for it reached me On
Christmas day. AS you understand
German well I will answer you in
my own language. Often since my
return have spoken about you and
wondered what had become OF you, but
now l am glad to know that you also
self. Allow me to state that during
the time while l was prisoner of
war you were very kind to me and
ii became very fond of you. ! will
therefore in the future fulfill any Of
your wishes as far as it lies in my
power. o.. i
"Now l will relate what happened
In June, 1919, the overhaul park was
broken up and the company of war
prisoners were sent to Issur tile
where we remained until September
and then were sent home escorted
by the American soldiers. was
among the first troops to be sent
home. I can state that the American
soldiers at this place were also gen
tlenIen.
my dear doctor, l do not desire to
fiatter when I state that the Ameri.
cans were the only sympathetic ma
ton that I met in the field. 1t pains
Americans were ruined in France.
France is a moral dungheap and it
would have been better or Llany
Americans II they had never seen this
country.
Germany is4a poor land. The
morale Is very low due to lack OF
food, high prices. great death loss
end sickness. To give you an idea
l will quote you some prices which
we are obliged to pay. Fat pork, five
dollars; ham, eight dollars; coffee
seven and half dollars; flour, one
clothing costs from 4 to 900 dollars.
All this of course is due TO the low
value of the mark. There is plenty of
work and the German people are
working as far as their strength will
permit The terms or the treaty at
Versailles is the death knell of co.
009, 900 people. To pay the enormous
indemnity of 267.000, 1000 marks.
gold, is an impossfbility. IL Germany
is ever able to recover it must have
help in the form of credits and food.
Due to insufficient food rs per cent
of all children are suffering from
some form Of tuberculosis. The only
help which Germany is now receiving
is from the American Quakers and IL
there is a God in heaven these peo-
pie will certainly receive their re-
ward.
Germany in its entirety is glad
that the kaiser and militarism is q
thing of the past. Only the Prissiap
conservative party desire a return II
olden times. but this will never hap
Since my return I am employed
by the state as chief tax collector
was recently married and am con-
army and field for hive and a half
years, but during all that time I can
state that was only contented and
well fed while / was a prisoner of
war among the Americans, while a
prisoner among your countrymen
The American flesh pots were always
filed and / returned home well and
strong. (Note-The German prison.
ers received the same food as the
soldiers,) 1 am filed with thankful
ness for the treatment which / re-
ce:ved at the hand Of your country
men.
1.-THE people Of Germany have lost
faith in Wilson. He failed badly in
his mission. Lloyd George and Glen
enceau were too much for him. WEI
believed he could fulfill his fourteen
points, but he has played conf
dence game on the world. About
Harding can say nothing. Time will
tell the story.
~ desire very much if we could
continue our correspondence for it
would be great satisfaction to me
to know how sentiment and ,condi-
lions are in your country.
"The pipe which you gave me when
we parted hold in great honor, but
unfortunately have not the right
kind Of tobacco to smoke in it. Now
before / close / desire to extend to
you and family my best wishes for
the new year. Sincerely Yours. Will
lam Ophoff."