[Bayonetcollector]

This one was never translated, but it was read.

Here's what Big Commander wrote about it:

Concerning the last picture, it is indeed a "traveldescription" of the man: from the "Vosges" (region in the Elzas) trough the Rheinland, Belgium and the north of France. In particular the right wing (from his point of view) of the Somme area.
He must have known that he and his comrades where entering Dante's Inferno.

 

[Big commander]

The transcription:
Den 10.12.16
Lieber Jule!
Komme wieder mal zum schreiben. Vor 4 Wochen sind wir in den Vogezen wieder abgelöst worden, wir sind nach Saarburg im Lo.(?) (Saarburg is in Rheinland-Westphalen, so I don’t understand the “Lo”) marschiert, wo wir einige (Wochen/Tagen??) In Kasernenquartier lagen. Alsdann kamen wir nach Mülhausen im Els(az), wo wir ebenfalls 14 Tagen in einer Kaserne lagen. Alsdann würden wir verladen und fahren wieder durch das Rheinland und Belgien nach Nordfrankreich. Hier haben wir in einer kleinen Stadt Privatquartier bezogen. Dieselbe befindet sich hinter dem rechten Flügel des Sommegebiets in der Nähe von Arras.
Was hier aus uns wird, weiss man nicht. Einstweilen fühlen wir uns hier, wo man zum erstemal in richtige Betten schläft, sauwohl.
Lieber Jule! Für heute wünsche ich Dir noch recht gesunde Feiertage u(nd) verbleibe mit herzlichen Grüsse & Küsse.
Dein tr(euer) Schw(ager) Albert.

 

[Bayonetcollector]

There is a saarburg in lorraine, Big Commander.
http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Saarburg

The 10th of december 1916
Dear Jule!
Once again I get to write. Four weeks ago we were relieved again in the Vogesen, we were marched to Saarburg in Lorraine, where we spent some days quartered in barracks. Thereafter we came to mülhausen in alsasse, where we spent 14 days in a barrack. Thereafter we were loaded (packed into a train or lorry?) and travelled through the Rhineland again and Belgium to northern France. Here we took private quarters. These are are behind the right wing of the Somme area near Arras. What will become of us here one cannot know. For now we feel extremely good as we for the first time sleep in proper beds. Dear Jule! For today I wish that you'll have good holidays and end with heartfelt greetings and kisses.
Your true Brother in law Albert.

They were away from the front a long time. To recuperate after hard battles? Waiting to be built up to strenght with reinforcements?

 

[Big commander]

Ha ha! In Lorraine. Good, it makes me think of an old French song (1873)with the following words: "Vous n'aurez pas l'Alsace et la Lorraine ..." (Never you will have the Elzas and Lorraine ...)
http://bmarcore.club.fr/mil/mil120.html

 

[Bayonetcollector]

btt