Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1919 — LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS

Lieut. Wood Spitler Writes From Russia. Archangel, Ruesla, Jan. 4, 1919. My Dear Mother —Few of your recent letters have reached me. One came the oYher day, written October 7t*. It was strayed into a mail hag at American headquarters, where it did not belong—hut I happened to be there and someone Bald he knew I had iroail 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 mall for me somewhere. I wonder if It can he getting lost by going to the British. The tenm "Elope’’ on/ the. address was to differentiate between British forces at Archangel and those at Murmansk. When we first landed and asked how to have mall addressed they gave us that term, but it 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 Lm the address, which may signify that my other letters may be going into the British mail on that account. I think I’ll iauqulre 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 d’affairs 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 in the commanding general’s j/rivate 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 best I’ve seen yet,

and knocked out most all the twenty buildings that we occupy in that clearing. My quarters were hit but once, a shell passing 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 1 line again. The French major and Major Nichols 'have a combined staff \mess' with French cooks and wond&pfijl food. I have joined that mess since counting back from Archangel, so it is very pleasant to be here. In what was a sidetrack in the marshes when we took this place October 14th, we now have electric lights* moving picture shows and wonderful food, also a skating rink. The Y. M. C. A. have a car and a canteen here, and the men. are quartered in warm cars and block houses, so discomfort is reduced to a minimuimi. The front lines are, of course, not so comfortable. They were until the other day when the Bolsheviki shot up the houses. Now we have to resort to dug outs, but we will soon make them comfortable. Since starting 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 this hitch. However, one thing that will make this winter pass quickly is the fact that you never can tell a day ahead what you will be doing ot 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. Spanish influenza ceased very suddenly with us, as soon the frost came. Even before the frost the men who came to the front seemed im/mvune, but It was serious in Archangel. The American medical corps has done some good work checking its spread in the civil population, and the Russian papers are Binging 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. They will have much to interest them ahd will have as many novel experiences to relate as I.

Woodhull has had rather a cosmopolitan experience in his short life, living under varied conditions and in different places. However, [ think he is quick enough to get 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 mail, expected in on tonight’s train. There has been very little news from home lately, and I wonder .how you are. * * * * I am very much interested in all of you there. This doesn’t mean that you are to write less about the grandchildren, merely write more about the rest of the folks. From some of the miis-statements in articles appearing in American publications, I take it you, in the States, are subject to almost as much misinformation about Russia as we„ are here. I saw the .first article of a series by Frazier Hunt, to appear (or, perhaps, by the 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 “buimk” 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 oni the “inside” so far as exact information is concerned, and couldn’t write it if 1 were.

You ask agaiai about warm clothes. I have more than I can use, in fact I sold two suits of that heavy underwear I bought before leaving the States. It was too good to be worn up here. I paid $9 a suit for it and sold it for $35 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 frotml 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 in. 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. Lt. W. I. Saltier, 339th Inf., American North Russian Expeditionary Forces. A deathhouso for women has just been completed In Sing Sing prison. _ ’ „ »——!-■