TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS GAZETTE MAY 5, 1919 P. 8
I have returned to my camp and am now in the midst of some strenuous work with the battery. I received your kind note last week. It pleases me to know that you are with me. I am sure you feel the same way as I and every true American does about this fight, and any sacrifices that we make are made for a supreme cause. More than ever now that I have seen his tactics at the front and his depredations, do I feel that the Boche must be suppressed. Never in history has warfare been carried on by more barbarous or more inhumane methods, not only in this dealings with the enemy, but with his own people.
In his recent push on the English, he murdered division after division of his own men to attain an end. The British machine gunners slew Germans until they became so sickened at the sight they had to be relieved. I think they have him pretty well stopped now, and what has he gained? Very little. He has taken some of the poorest land in France, nothing but swamps, and has taken a few villages, no large cities, and believe me, he’s going to have a hell of a time holding them.
What his object is no one knows. Caesar or Napoleon had no such ambitions. The kaiser desires to control the world. After defeating France and England, if such a thing is possible, where would he next turn his energies? Toward our own country, without doubt. Here we have our reason for being here. We must protect our own homes and interests. I do not care to live or have anyone dear to me live under a despotic reign which would please his rottenness the kaiser, and I am sure we never shall; neither shall innocent Germans. The house of Hohenzollern is crumbling and very fast, too.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Lieut. Charles Narkinsky from France to his father, Sam Narkinsky of Little Rock, Arkansas. THERE IS A PHOTO OF NARKINSKY IN THE DECEMBER 14, 1918 ARKANSAS GAZETTE, P. 12.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
I have returned to my camp and am now in the midst of some strenuous work with the battery. I received your kind note last week. It pleases me to know that you are with me. I am sure you feel the same way as I and every true American does about this fight, and any sacrifices that we make are made for a supreme cause. More than ever now that I have seen his tactics at the front and his depredations, do I feel that the Boche must be suppressed. Never in history has warfare been carried on by more barbarous or more inhumane methods, not only in this dealings with the enemy, but with his own people.
In his recent push on the English, he murdered division after division of his own men to attain an end. The British machine gunners slew Germans until they became so sickened at the sight they had to be relieved. I think they have him pretty well stopped now, and what has he gained? Very little. He has taken some of the poorest land in France, nothing but swamps, and has taken a few villages, no large cities, and believe me, he’s going to have a hell of a time holding them.
What his object is no one knows. Caesar or Napoleon had no such ambitions. The kaiser desires to control the world. After defeating France and England, if such a thing is possible, where would he next turn his energies? Toward our own country, without doubt. Here we have our reason for being here. We must protect our own homes and interests. I do not care to live or have anyone dear to me live under a despotic reign which would please his rottenness the kaiser, and I am sure we never shall; neither shall innocent Germans. The house of Hohenzollern is crumbling and very fast, too.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Lieut. Charles Narkinsky from France to his father, Sam Narkinsky of Little Rock, Arkansas. THERE IS A PHOTO OF NARKINSKY IN THE DECEMBER 14, 1918 ARKANSAS GAZETTE, P. 12.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON