Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1919 — LIEUT. SPITLER WELL AND HAPPY [ARTICLE]

LIEUT. SPITLER WELL AND HAPPY

SON OF MAYOR AND MRS. C. G. SPITLER WRITES INTERESTINGLY OF RUSSIA. Lieutenant Woodhull I. Spitler writes the following letter to his mother: Archangel, Russia, January 4, 1919. My Dear M other:— Few of your recent letters have reached me. One came the other day, written October 7th. It was strayed into a mail bag at American Headquarters, where it did not belong—but I happened to be there and-eomeone said he knew .1 had mail for he had seen a letter —so we went through all the bags and found your letter and Edna’s Christmas package. I thought it strange that I should be so completely overlooked when the large Christmas mail came in. At that, I think there must be a lot of mail for me somewhere. I wonder if it can be getting lost by going to the British. The term “Elope” on the address was to differentiate between the British forces at Archangel and those at Murmansk. When we first landed and asked how to have mail addressed they gave us but St was soon done away .with for American troops, as there is but one American Force. The few letters I get still have that “Elope” written in the address, which may signify that my other letters may be going into the British mail on that account. I think I’ll inquire the next time I get to Archangel. I had a twelve day vacation there, which finished on Christmas day. DeWitt C. Poole, Jr., who is American Charge de Affaires in Russia, is situated there, and I spent much of my time with him. He graduated before I entered college, but lived in Madison, where I knew him well. I had a splendid time, and we came to the front together Christmas eve m the Commanding General’s private car, the same having been put at Poole’s disposal. We had a good Christmas day.

Next day I went into front lines for duty for six days, two of which days we were treated to heavy shell fire just like that delivered on the western front, so the French and Canadian officers said. Anyway, it was the besrtnFve seen yet, and knocked out most all the twenty buildings that we occupy in that clearing. My quarters’ were hit but once, a shell passink through the roof, but doing no great damage. I have been back at Headquarters for four days and will be here for about ten days more before going on the line again. The French Major and Major Nichols have a combined staff mess, with French cooks and wonderful f ood. I have jdined that mess since coming back from Archangel, so it is very pleasant to be here. In what was a side track m the marshes when we took this place October 14th, we now have electric lights, moving picture shows ana wonderful food, also a skating nnk. The Y M. C. A. .have a car and a canteen here, and the men are quartered jn warm cars and block houses, so discomfort is reduced to a minimum. The front lines are, of course, not so comfortable. • They until the other day when the Bolsheviki shot up the houses. Now we have to re sort to dug-outs, but we will soon make them comfortable. Since storting this letter I have been ordered back to the front with the next relief. It has become perfectly quiet there again, and my quarters,which are perfectly comfortable, are still inhabitable—so I look for'no trouble or even discomfort Jill hitch. However, one thing that will make this winter pass quickly is the fact that you. never can tell a day ahead whalt you will be doing or what conditions will be. So far this climate is wonderful. It is comfortably cool with a temperature that varies slightly, and little, or no wind in the woods. SpanishAinfluenza ceased very su - men who came to the front immune, but it was serious in Archangel. The American Medical Corps has done some good work in its spread into the civil population, and the Russian papers are singing their praises. I suppose Edna is at Daytona Beach by this time, where the boy is enjoying himself in the sand. I think it good for them to go• Tjjjj will have much to inter ® s * will have as many novel experiences t 0 Woodhull has had rather a nolitan experience in his short hie, living under varied conditions and different places. However, I “® is quick enough to gat the advantages of each, and the experiences ought to help his understanding and become a part of his character. He seems awfully young for me to be considering such things, but his character whatever it proves to ■ be, is pretty definitely formed already. I am anxiously awaiting a maH, expected in on tonight’s tram. There has been very little news from home lately, and I wonder how you are. *,*•«** lam very much inter- : ested in rill of you there. Tfcife doesn’t mean that you are to write

less about the grandchildren either, merely write more about the rest of the folks. J From some of the mis-statements in articles appearing in American publications, I take it you in the States are subject to almost as much mis-information about Russia as we are here. I saw the first article of a series by Frazier Hunt, to appear (or perhaps by the time you get this will have appeared in the Chicago Tribune. It told the truth about this particular expedition, and you might do well to read it. Of course, I saw it in abbreviated form for the telegraph, and it may appear in complete form in the paper so filled up with “bunk” as to be valueless, but as it left-here it stated the facts as they are. Needless to say, this is not so much of a war as it is a political situation and a difficult one, upon which ultimate peace depends. Of course, I am not on the “inside” so far as exact information is concerned, and couldn’t write it if I were. You ask again about warm clothes. I have more than I Can use, in fact, I sold two suits of thht heavy underwear I bought before leaving the States. It was too good to be worn up here. I paid $9.00 a suit for it and sold it for $35.00 a suit. I _wish I had a ship load of it to sell. * I still have plenty, and if anything should happen to that, I can buy good underwear cheaply from the quartermaster. When we sail for home I’ll sell anything I have, as long as the prices hold UP I hope to receive several letters from you tonight, if the mail gets m. If you are all as well and happy as I. I congratulate you. My love to all the folks and much to you and father. Your loving son, WOOD. Lieut. W. I. Spitler, 339th Inf., American North Russian Expeditionary Forces.