MANNING, Frank

Letter from Frank Manning -- On a Quiet, Front, Nov 11

Dear Folks : Well, my dears, the war is over as you will know by the time you get this. I am on the front yet, a front that 48 hours ago was the hottest and bloodiest front of the war and has been since August 1914. Now it is as quiet as a funeral. In fact it seems appropriate to call it a funeral: a funeral service for the thousands of brave men who have fallen here, in the last four years, in order that the rest of the world might live to see and realize this wonderful day. In this ruined French village where we are billeted tonight, there are, perhaps 200 civilian refugees. They have been under the German yoke for four years, and they look more like hunted animals than human beings. They were delivered but a few days ago and then to have peace, blessed peace, brought to them in so short a time, is more than their tortured souls can stand. I can't help but think how much it means to them when I think of how much at peace I feel. I must close this letter as I only meant it to let you know that the end of the war finds me sound of body and I hope of mind and that the next few months, three at the most I hope, will find my feet under George's table. I close hoping this finds you all as happy and healthy as it does your loving and wayward son and brother -- Frank