| Summary: | In the letter John tells of his regiment's arrival in Germany, describing the land, climate, and people. He discusses the prevalent German attitude toward the American victors in the small towns they have visited: "As a conquering army, I think we are a source of much wonder to the Germans. No feathers and flying colors, or anything of the like, and very orderly conduct always. They are all pleased that it is the Americans passing thru here. They seem to have had great fear as to what the French or Belgians might have done to them--which to me seems to indicate a guilty conscience. On this side of the Rhine there seems to have been very little love for the Kaiser or even the local government officials, on account of the rigid food regulations and various taxes which have been imposed on the people." He also mentions his desire to get home and the influenza epidemic in the United States: "I am in the best of health. Hope the influenza situation has improved in the U.S., and am glad the epidemic at home was not so bad. There has not been much of it in the army--in fact very little so far I know."
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