Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 303, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1918 — Lieut. Spitler Writes From Northern Russia. [ARTICLE]

Lieut. Spitler Writes From Northern Russia.

■ Lieut. Wood Spitler, with the. A. E- F., writes his mother from Archangel, Russia, underdate of November 18. ae follows: American North Russian Expeditionary Forces, Archangel, November 18, 1918. “2* My Dear Mother— Transportation does not close here as early as we were first informed. • The first word given us was that it. was closed from October to June; but here it is the middle of November and the boats , are still * coming and going (One leaves for the States day after tomorrow), and the mail is coming fairly regularly, but slow. So please do not get . the \ idea v that it is. futile to write, for they hope to keep transportation open until January (by the use of Ice breakers) and by which time it may be -possible to get it through from the south. You need not worry about warm clothing for me, for I can draw (in fact, have already done eq.) all I can possibly use. Then I had an inspiration last .June andbought some of the heaviest underwear I’ve ever seen, tWo suits, and I have four suits of fairly heavy; also, if I need more can buy it from quartermaster. I have about two dozen pairs of heavy wool socks. So with the fur caps, fur-lined overcoat, • leather , vests and sweaters I have, I should not suffer. Also Shackleton boots 'Speaking of the weather, this is the most beautiful moonlight night you ever saw (you never saw it) and it is just barely - freezing outside. “They say” that last year at this time-there was ten feet of snow here, but I have my doubts

—that is a lot of snow. Personally, I entertain hopes that the situation here may be cleared up so that we wi, l have to put in*, the whole winter he#e The conditions are very complicated, however, and the benighted people require that we force our good intentions down their throats with the point bayonet. They seem to think we are all socialists; that we are victims of capitalism, who really, want Bolshevikism to live,, and that if they could but talk to us for a minute we would s ® 6 th .® They are very childish In their enthusiasm (those who are enthusiastic) and can’t see why any one would oppose them in spite. oftheir barbaric methods of collecting taxes and dispensing Justice If the movement does not die out in this section soon, one more good blow will finish it. I hope for the former, for it is not fun to shoot them down, And then 1. entertain hopes' and hm planning on getting into business again I have been on duty with the French lately (in fact/ we ye under French command), and have enjoyed it . Immensely, If for no other reason than that they have wonderful cooks at the office™ messes and are very hospitable. They are also wonderful soldiers, withstanding all hardships with a song and a smile. Time goes merrily by with them, but every military precaution imaginable is first taken care of. They are hardened by their four years of war. Their eyes glitter and their expressions are tense wlien they speak of the French soldier invading Germany. If one argues humanity to them they laugh; but not the same laugh as when one Joke® With them. The front is perfectly safe in their hands, for they fight, as they do everything else, to get the most out of it. The soldier himself is the most self-reliant person in the world. He. will enter a new position, in five minutes be safe from bullets, in half an hour protected from the weather, in two /hours' under cover from artillery - fire and Shortly thereafter perfectly comfortable, working incessantly and happily, and caraying such large logs that he reone of an ant dragging a caterpiller, and next day, has himself surrounded with barbed wire and his hand-grenades handy. ,It is not advisable to try to surrender to him, for he doesn’t take prisoners. The American soldier is his great friend, and they fight, work and play together with the best feeling in the world, and the American learns from him rapidly, and patterns himself thereafter In all good as well as some bad features. I think the American is the better disciplined at that, at least my detachment has shown

itself to be. My men have been splendid all through, and can/tab® care of themselves and are so reliable now that all they need for is to sign Indents for their supplies. They think and plan for themselves, especially in the way of defenses, and I seldom have to “bawl a man out,” in fact, I never do, a suggestion is the most they ever" .need. Not one of them has refused or even hesitated at going into danger. I am tremendously proud of them, and the name they Imve made for themselves. At present I am the only officer with the detriment. We work reliefs with the French machine guns, amCxas they have more officers, T-fcave to be on the actual front, line only one-third of the time, then I am in Charge of both French and American guns up there. It is a v very pleasant arrangement, in fact, too easy a time to last’ LT. W. I. SPITLER, 339th Infantry, American North Russian Expeditionary Forces.