TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SCOTT COUNTY ADVANCE REPORTER APRIL L17, 1919 P. 6
Spasscoe Siberia
My Dear Sister Eva.
As I haven't been writing very often I'll try to tell you something of this country and how I have been spending the cold winter months. When we first landed here last August there wasn't much we could write about on account of the censor being so tight but now since the Armistice was signed the censor has raised a little and we are permitted to describe some things; when first arriving in Vladivostok I was surprised at the warm weather and the beauty of the hills and country, I really expected to land in a place of perpetual snow and ice. I was also surprised at the city. I had heard it was almost as large as San Francisco and of course expected to see something of the same kind of a city as our American cities. The large office buildings with many stories to them, Also the wide and even side walks and paved streets. But instead of all those things I saw a lot of low but pretty nice looking buildings and many little old shacks and sheds. The city is on the side of a hill in sort of a semicircle only a few blocks wide but several miles long, I couldn't say it isn't at all beautiful for in a way it is. The hills in the back ground are pretty and the bay is very beautiful. It was dotted with a number of Japanese destroyers and some Russian vessels. Also one of our own boats (which looks the best to me.) It was the Brooklyn. The streets were paved with with cobble stones and were very rough. The side walks where they were any at all were narrow and very uneven I felt much safer in the middle of the street after dark for there isn't any street lights.
The streets are so terrible (SEVERAL MISSING LINES) that they look so much different Of course most of them were friendly with us but their curiosity was as great as mine. There were more soldiers to be seen on the streets than civilians. There we English, French, Japanese, Russians, Americans and Check, scattered everywhere and and all speaking different languages we couldn't talk to each other so we would just salute and pass on by. The Checks seemed to be the friendliest and would always have a pleasant look on their faces.
The first thing I undertook to master was the Russian money and I believe yet that was the hardest for there are so many denominations of kapicks and rubles. And the old Russian money and the Bolsheviki money kerensky and I don't know how many more kinds besides the bogus money and it all looks alike to me. The old Russian money is good anyplace over here and the Bolsheviki money is good some places yet.
The Russians did'nt know the value of our money and it was eery hard to get it exchanged at times. The rate of exchange has ranged from seven to eleven or twelve roubles pr dollar, we are now getting nine. The first time I sized the town up I decided they were at least two hundred years behind the United States and I have'nt changed my mind about that yet, we did'nt stay in Vladivostok long the for we were to join the infantry which then were supposed to be on the firing line. The hustle and bustle of loading on the “Siberian Door" pullman began early one morning every one was happy then, although we were pretty well crowded in the stinky little cars. The trip over land made a better impression with me than the city for there really was some pretty. Every thing was odd and interesting we passed where some of the fighting had been and saw some of the temporary trenches along the road and there were many railroad bridges blown up by the Bolshevikes. They were being pursued so hotly though they didnt have much time to tarry when we reached the Inf they were camped on the Ilssuri river The Bolshevikies had entrenched but din't make much of a stand for they were soon driven on, and that is where I got my first experience as a field soldier. I will always remember that place to far it rained most of the time we were there. The water would run in under out tents in spite of us for we were on rather low ground and the water would leak through the tents semetimes. I have shook the water off my blankets and crawl in and sleep fine. Eat my meals in the rain and never caught cold or felt any the worse. The river was a fine place to bathe and swim and it was full of soldiers every evening. There were also some English and Japanese troops here. There will be some postal card pictures here of that camp and if I am lucky enough to get any of them I will send you one.
We left that place about nine o'clock one evening and the next place we stopped was Haborosk Here we placed up quarters and moved in. We had just got settled nicely when the first batallion was ordered out again. we were all out on pass that evening looking over the city and I guess we were pretty well scattered when the military police began to round us up but none were left. We were sent further up the line to do railroad guard at that place, we were quarterd in box cars, we were fixed up fine here and had a regular home. At that place we had but duty to do and had plenty of time our own, I went on several fishing trips and my long suit was hunting. There were deer in three miles of Camp and another soldier and myself had the pleasure of bringing in one nice young buck we had wild duck, goose, bear, deer and partridges no not the kind of quail you have back there but larger ones. I like them better than any of the wild meat especially when we would take salt with us and broil them in the woods. An Indian and myself always hunted together we call him Chief.
Sometimes some other soldier would go out with us and they would always say they were tired when we got back to camp and there was'nt many of them that could have found their way
Or at least they didn't know which way to start. The woods are confusing all right for they were separated by swamps which were frozen over at that time and the woods all look alike.
I enjoyed my stay at that place more than any other since I landed in Siberia we got orders to leave there and fixed up winter quarters about the time the Armistice was signed and this is we were sent Spasskoe we poiced up the old Russian Cossaks barracks and are fixed up pretty comfortable now. This is rather a small town and nothing very interesting but I don't have much to do. Just a kitchen police and guard to do about every 20 days. The winter has been pretty severe but has to break somewhat now. I haven't suffered from the cold any though for we have the warmest of clothes my eyes are playing so I'll finish tomorrow.
This is Sunday and I haven't been out of quarters today. I just had a fine dinner that is our specialty's good eats. The officers in our company are fine and about the only thing we could wish for now would be an early voyage home but I have no idea of how soon that may be I have learned to speak a good deal of this Russian language and can read it a little. It sure isn't easy though. I sometimes think I'll take it up in earnest for there is liable to be a demand for Americans who can read and write Russian when the country is settled and a trade is established here. Then again I think when I get back home I will never want to see another country again.
Dear Sister I am glad to know you have all escaped the flu and hope it will not break out again Matties folks have all had it but were all right the last letter I had from them I have enjoyed the best of health and weigh nearly 180 pounds now. If this letter passes the censor O.K. and I don't see why it should'nt you will be dead tired before you get it all read. I can't write to all my friends and relatives back there. But if you care to you can let the Reporter print this. Then they all would know. I still remember them and long to see them all again. Love to George and the boys. Write as often as you can.
Your loving brother, Tom
Pvt. L.D. Marlow,
Co. B. 27 Infantry
A.E.F. Siberia
via San Francisco Cal.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Spasscoe Siberia
My Dear Sister Eva.
As I haven't been writing very often I'll try to tell you something of this country and how I have been spending the cold winter months. When we first landed here last August there wasn't much we could write about on account of the censor being so tight but now since the Armistice was signed the censor has raised a little and we are permitted to describe some things; when first arriving in Vladivostok I was surprised at the warm weather and the beauty of the hills and country, I really expected to land in a place of perpetual snow and ice. I was also surprised at the city. I had heard it was almost as large as San Francisco and of course expected to see something of the same kind of a city as our American cities. The large office buildings with many stories to them, Also the wide and even side walks and paved streets. But instead of all those things I saw a lot of low but pretty nice looking buildings and many little old shacks and sheds. The city is on the side of a hill in sort of a semicircle only a few blocks wide but several miles long, I couldn't say it isn't at all beautiful for in a way it is. The hills in the back ground are pretty and the bay is very beautiful. It was dotted with a number of Japanese destroyers and some Russian vessels. Also one of our own boats (which looks the best to me.) It was the Brooklyn. The streets were paved with with cobble stones and were very rough. The side walks where they were any at all were narrow and very uneven I felt much safer in the middle of the street after dark for there isn't any street lights.
The streets are so terrible (SEVERAL MISSING LINES) that they look so much different Of course most of them were friendly with us but their curiosity was as great as mine. There were more soldiers to be seen on the streets than civilians. There we English, French, Japanese, Russians, Americans and Check, scattered everywhere and and all speaking different languages we couldn't talk to each other so we would just salute and pass on by. The Checks seemed to be the friendliest and would always have a pleasant look on their faces.
The first thing I undertook to master was the Russian money and I believe yet that was the hardest for there are so many denominations of kapicks and rubles. And the old Russian money and the Bolsheviki money kerensky and I don't know how many more kinds besides the bogus money and it all looks alike to me. The old Russian money is good anyplace over here and the Bolsheviki money is good some places yet.
The Russians did'nt know the value of our money and it was eery hard to get it exchanged at times. The rate of exchange has ranged from seven to eleven or twelve roubles pr dollar, we are now getting nine. The first time I sized the town up I decided they were at least two hundred years behind the United States and I have'nt changed my mind about that yet, we did'nt stay in Vladivostok long the for we were to join the infantry which then were supposed to be on the firing line. The hustle and bustle of loading on the “Siberian Door" pullman began early one morning every one was happy then, although we were pretty well crowded in the stinky little cars. The trip over land made a better impression with me than the city for there really was some pretty. Every thing was odd and interesting we passed where some of the fighting had been and saw some of the temporary trenches along the road and there were many railroad bridges blown up by the Bolshevikes. They were being pursued so hotly though they didnt have much time to tarry when we reached the Inf they were camped on the Ilssuri river The Bolshevikies had entrenched but din't make much of a stand for they were soon driven on, and that is where I got my first experience as a field soldier. I will always remember that place to far it rained most of the time we were there. The water would run in under out tents in spite of us for we were on rather low ground and the water would leak through the tents semetimes. I have shook the water off my blankets and crawl in and sleep fine. Eat my meals in the rain and never caught cold or felt any the worse. The river was a fine place to bathe and swim and it was full of soldiers every evening. There were also some English and Japanese troops here. There will be some postal card pictures here of that camp and if I am lucky enough to get any of them I will send you one.
We left that place about nine o'clock one evening and the next place we stopped was Haborosk Here we placed up quarters and moved in. We had just got settled nicely when the first batallion was ordered out again. we were all out on pass that evening looking over the city and I guess we were pretty well scattered when the military police began to round us up but none were left. We were sent further up the line to do railroad guard at that place, we were quarterd in box cars, we were fixed up fine here and had a regular home. At that place we had but duty to do and had plenty of time our own, I went on several fishing trips and my long suit was hunting. There were deer in three miles of Camp and another soldier and myself had the pleasure of bringing in one nice young buck we had wild duck, goose, bear, deer and partridges no not the kind of quail you have back there but larger ones. I like them better than any of the wild meat especially when we would take salt with us and broil them in the woods. An Indian and myself always hunted together we call him Chief.
Sometimes some other soldier would go out with us and they would always say they were tired when we got back to camp and there was'nt many of them that could have found their way
Or at least they didn't know which way to start. The woods are confusing all right for they were separated by swamps which were frozen over at that time and the woods all look alike.
I enjoyed my stay at that place more than any other since I landed in Siberia we got orders to leave there and fixed up winter quarters about the time the Armistice was signed and this is we were sent Spasskoe we poiced up the old Russian Cossaks barracks and are fixed up pretty comfortable now. This is rather a small town and nothing very interesting but I don't have much to do. Just a kitchen police and guard to do about every 20 days. The winter has been pretty severe but has to break somewhat now. I haven't suffered from the cold any though for we have the warmest of clothes my eyes are playing so I'll finish tomorrow.
This is Sunday and I haven't been out of quarters today. I just had a fine dinner that is our specialty's good eats. The officers in our company are fine and about the only thing we could wish for now would be an early voyage home but I have no idea of how soon that may be I have learned to speak a good deal of this Russian language and can read it a little. It sure isn't easy though. I sometimes think I'll take it up in earnest for there is liable to be a demand for Americans who can read and write Russian when the country is settled and a trade is established here. Then again I think when I get back home I will never want to see another country again.
Dear Sister I am glad to know you have all escaped the flu and hope it will not break out again Matties folks have all had it but were all right the last letter I had from them I have enjoyed the best of health and weigh nearly 180 pounds now. If this letter passes the censor O.K. and I don't see why it should'nt you will be dead tired before you get it all read. I can't write to all my friends and relatives back there. But if you care to you can let the Reporter print this. Then they all would know. I still remember them and long to see them all again. Love to George and the boys. Write as often as you can.
Your loving brother, Tom
Pvt. L.D. Marlow,
Co. B. 27 Infantry
A.E.F. Siberia
via San Francisco Cal.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD