Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 239, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1918 — EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS FROM LIEUT. W. I. SPITLER [ARTICLE]

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS FROM LIEUT. W. I. SPITLER

,1 begin this letter with but slight hope that it will ever reach you. Now I no longer have tihe satisfaction of thinking that you hear from me. As you have probably gleaned from mv previous letters —we are of the Russian Expeditionary Forces, and landed here two days ago. No arrangements have been made for the sending of mail as yet, but I hope that it may ultimately go. This is closer to, a frontier-and also closer to a front than I have ever been before. In many ways it is very interesting, though It is dreadfully uncomfortable to feel winter closing in: Fighting is going on not very far away from us, and we hope to be permitted to partake in it soon. We are close enough that we meet the parties coming, back from the front and hear of their experiences first hand; not so reliable a source of information as one would be inclined to think. However, it is arousing our enthusiasm. At present we are quartered in an old mansion, reputed to be the property of a sea captain, tlhe,owner of a fleet of boats before the Bolshevics looted him. It is quite a sizable affair, with elevenfoot ceiling on the first floor and about seven-foot ceilings on the second floor. Many of the floors are of inlaid oak, in a horrible condition now, but priceless in the States. It is heated by great builtin stoves in the corners of the rooms. It contains a wonderful range (built in) in the kitchen, winch is in charge of a cook who used to be at the Bellvedere Hotel in Baltimore; so in spite of the fact that rations are necessarily shorter than in the States we are well fed. This is a swampy country, covered •vith willow growths in clumps, too wet to operate over very much with troops in the summer and too cold in the winter, so the fighting is mere Or less confined to lines of communicatlofis. We do not know just how, when or where we will operate % as yet. Firman and Cleve would enjoy it here for wild ducks are plentiful, being much dheaper than chickens. Anything as edible as chicken, however, is priceless. Speaking of prices,-: the price of everything is high: There is plenty of money. Everybody has it.’ All paper and putout by some three different governments, none of which can ever redeem it. Z It Is printed in bulk, without security behind it, and a million rubles of it would not save one person from starvation, unless he could find some one credulous enougt to trade food for flit circulates only locally and it takes a hat full to ride on a street car. We are having November weather now and expect winter in a couple of weeks. I do not anticipate that with a great degree of pleasure—not that I dislike snow and cold weather so much, but that the winter lasts so long. Once the snow comes, they do not expect to see the ground again for six months. Many of the people here speak English. They are very talkative and cere-

monious, and rather sensitive. They must be credulous, too, from the things they publish in their papuphlets. They have no newspapers, but publish their news by word of mouth and their editorials by printing on pamphlets and posting them on buildings and telegraph poles. They have no idea of public improvements, building many elaborate churches and public buildings, which are not kept and building no drainage, sewerage, water or pavement systems. There are mud holes everywhere and most all the water for drinking and wasihing is taken from the river, and the river is an etxensive Ijarbor. * * • * * Address me American Expeditionary, Forces, Northern Russia, Elope. The last word is to differentiate our expedition from others, so you had better put it on though it does sound like extraneous matter. • • • • » WOOD. Archangel, Sept 14, 1918. Just a line. A mail is promised for tomorrow so shall get this in. My platoon is all set to go into action, not very much of an action, but better than drill. We are the most envied people 'Sbout here tonight (just having received our orders), and my men are all delighted. So am I, for I should dislike not seeing' action after golqg this far. Of course, we do not know exactly what iwe are going into, but things have been pretty quiet and we may not get to fire a shot. We feel mighty complimented at being the first selection. More than ever I hope that everything is going well with you and the boy. , I took a horse-back ride this afternoon' and went to the hospital to see some of my men who are sick. They have the most comfortable building in this country and are well provided. Can you imagine a country where you dare not ride a horse off the cobbled streets, though I did and almost lost my mount in the mire. * • * * * Give my love to all the people. T would write mother but I’ll have to get some sleep, as I expect some hardships from now on. Give her my love, as well as father. I’m taking writing paper along and will write from there as soon as I can. By the time you get this I shall be back among the billets. * * • • WOOD.