Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1918 — LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS

Lieut. Spitler Writes From Far Off Russia. ' 1■ Mrs. W. I. Spitler received a couple of letters this week from her husband, is with the American expeditionary forces now in • Russia, and The Democrat is per- i Imitted to publish the more inter-[ I esting portions. Lieutenant Spitler is the only Jasper county boy, so far as we know, among* the U. S. forces in Russia, and this, of 1 course, is the first soldier’s letter Jrom that country to be published lin a Jasper county paper. The 1 first letter was not dated, but I from references made of a private nature Mrs. Spitler knows that it was written on September 10. The North Russia, Expeditionary Forces. ' I begin this letter with but slight hope that it will ever reach you. Now I no longer have the satisfaction of thinking that you hear from me. As you have probably gleaned from my 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. I This is closer to a frontier and also closer to a front than I have ever been before. In many ways it is very intresting, t'houg-. it is dreadfully uncomfortable to feel . winter closing in. I Fighting is going on not very I far away from us, and we hope to be permitted to partake in it I 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, the ' owner of a fleet of boats before the Bolshevics looted him. It is . quite a sizable affair, wi-a eleven 1 foot ceilings 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. i It is heated by great built-in stoves in the corners of the rooms, jit contains a wofiderful range j (built-in) in the kitchen, which is in charge of a cook who used to be at the Belvedere hotel in Balti- | more; so, in spite of the fact that | rations are necessarilly shorter than ' in the L States, we are well fed. s This is a swampy country, covered with willow growths in j clumps, ’jtoo wet to operate over very much with troops in the summer and too cold in the winter, so the fighting is more or legs confined to lines of communication, j We do not know just how, when or where we will operate as yet. j I Firman and Cleve would enjoy it here for wild ducks are plenti- , ful, being much cheaper than chick- ' ens. Anything as edible as a ' caicken, however. is priceless. Speaking of prices, the price of . everything is high. There is plenty of money—everybody has it, all paper, and put out by some three different governments, none of which can ever redeem it. It is printed in bulk, without security ! behind it, and a million rubles of I it would not save one person from starvation unless Ibe could find someone credulous enough to trade I food for it. It circulates only 'locally and it takes a hat full to ride on a street car. 1 We are having Novemlw’ weath[er now and expect winKr in a

couple of weeks. I do not antici- ' pate 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 tne snow comes, they do not expect to see the ground again for six mouths. Many of the people here speak English. They are very talkative and ceremonious, and rather sensitive. They must be credulous, too, from the things they publish in then - pamphlets. They have no newspapers, but publish their news by word of mouth and their editorials by printing on pamphlets, and posting them bn buildings and telegraph poles. They have no idea of public improvements, building many elaborate churches, and public buildings, which are not kept in repair; and building no drainage, sewerage, water or payement systems. There are mud-holes everywhere and most all the water for drinking and washing is taken from the ritfer, and the river is an extensive harbor. Address American Expeditionary | Forces, Northern Russia, Elope. ■ The last word is to differentiate 1 our expedition from others, so you I had bettet put it on though it does sound like extraneous matter. WOOD. / Archangel, September 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 about here tonight (just having received our orders), and my men are all ,delighted. So am I, for I should dislike not seeing action after going this far. Of course we do not know exactly what we 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 horseback ride this hfternoon 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 sll the people. I would write mother but I’ll have to get some sleep, as 1 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 in billets. WOOD.