(14) Letter: Jack Bentley to Cornelia Bentley, December 11, 1918.

Dec 11 1918 Dearest Mother, It has been some time sinse I last wrote you all and since that time I have walked & walked 260 K. or 200 miles. I have hiked and it just took us 14 days slow gait but we got here O.K and are now over looking the Rhine a truely pretty river and we are in a pretty town just north of Cobling called Andernach. The reception was a quiet one and the people didn't know just what was coming and stood around fearing that Something awful was going to be pulled off. The places I stayed, the women cooked for us and in some cases they didn't want to do it much but the knew that they had to. The Rhine here is about 200 yds. wide and boats of considerable size navigate up & down. I am living in a priests home who spoke English. He is very interesting and I enjoy hearing him talk. This pen is poor & it makes writing ot of the question. I am sorry too for I wanted to make this letter a nice long one. I haven't heard for six weeks from any one and

won't hear for some timeand that to take the pleasure out of writting tho I will soon get going again, I hope. This is a wonderful trip and we have had quite a lot of interesting situations but I will try and remember lots to tell thee when I get home. It ws my lot to be on guard tonight and I have to set ip all night. An old German school teacher told me that Germany had 11,000,000 men at the beginning of the war & 3,000,000 killed. Well Mother this is an awful letter but I am awful tired but will feel better soon as we can't go much further. But Lord, I wish I had a chance too hear from you soon. I will close with love Jack O.K. John N Bentley Lt. US 125th Infantry