The World War I Diary of José de la Luz Sáenz

In Zeltingen, Alemania, by the Moselle

Saturday, January 4 I started packing early in the day. After lunch, I went to the station where orders are posted and was able to determine the whereabouts of my buddies. I went up the river alone until I reached Erden and then Rachtig. This is where Machine Gun Battalion 345 is located. I could not help but notice all the clean, burnished instruments of war that seem to be waiting for the orders to once again make the forests and the valleys tremble under their threatening rain of death. The mules that pull them also rest. The soldiers that lord over everything are moving slowly, as if half asleep. I visited the small but strikingly beautiful church at Rachtig. I still wonder why I have not seen a single protestant church, neither in France nor in Germany. I thought that protestants dominated the area, but this is not so. I rode a truck from Rachtig to Zeltingen and reported to Lieutenant klebold. Sergeants kelleher and Schwarz and my old buddies Gersbach and Massenburg were in the office. I also saw Gómez and Barrera and spoke to them at length. I had to write and censor some letters and prepare the report for the R.I.O. I slept in Massenburg’s room that night. Sunday, January 5 We had a beautiful sunny day. General Headquarters ordered that anyone attending religious services was exempt from reporting for formation and informed the cooks to place food aside for us. The mass was solemn. The Moselle continues to rise. Its waters have already entered some cellars In Zeltingen, Alemania, by the Moselle 339 My Personal Diary 340 at the river’s banks. My work is easy. I wrote home a great deal and visited Gómez and Barrera. We had a good time with malilla and other card games that our ancestors played in America. We were assigned to sleep on the top floor of the house where we have our office. We really welcomed this. Gersbach and I promptly went to sleep. Our work is getting interesting. Monday, January 6 We did not hear the bugle and woke up late. We fear some disciplinary action for not responding to reveille. Lieutenant George is heading out, but we do not know if he is going to America or a university in Europe. Lieutenant klebold seems to be a good person who wants to do right. He does not know the work and this gives us a say about what gets done. We are ready to do all his work but he has to treat us like office mates. It can now be said that we carry out the work of an officer with the pay of a foot soldier. This is our duty, Onward! We have left our position hoping that someone else fills it. Even though others have asked for this assignment, we remain in place and are kept in rank. We joined the kapp family after submitting our report. The family includes the father, the mother, and two girls, one seven and another nine. As my interpreter, Gersbach has helped me understand the German customs. We have learned the customs by critically observing others. We must take into account the provincial forms of life in this country’s different regions. We are most pleased to see that the parents raise their children in a tolerant manner and take care to educate them. They seem to have reached a point when they do not have to tell their children they need to attend elementary school, the secondary grades, and college. The children make their plans at an early age and make an effort that is second nature to them. Obeying mentors is another one of their important virtues. Our gathering ended when the family served us waffles and wine, offerings we appreciated. Tuesday, January 7 I received an issue of the El Latino-Americano with news about our town. It is worth noting that the Spanish influenza is creating much hardship and taking the lives of many friends who decided not to come to the war for fear of dying. The day has turned sad with such bad news. I was issued a strange-looking uniform. 341 In Zeltingen The day ended quietly as we continued to project our silhouettes against the buildings by the streets. Wednesday, January 8 A large number of officers left for America. Some...