The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-10-29
LETTER FROM RUSSIA
SAYS PEOPLE DID NOT
WANT TO GO TO WAR
Soldiers Tried to Make Govern
ment Promise to Support
Their Families,

Iripp, S. d., Oct. 24.-Many letters
nave come out from the war zone, Civ
ing personal details in England and
German, but comparatively few have
come from Russia. Joseph Winstock
received a letter from his mother, re-
siding in southern Russia, which fea-
lures the objections of citizens to be
forced out for war service.
A portion of the letter, as translated.
follows:
Arnowtr, South Russia, Aug. 9, 1914
Dear Som: I received your letter of July
10 and was glad to hear from you. 1t
arrived on August 4. ] was never SO glad
that you are In America. You surely
know about cur troubles; it is nothing but
sadness and sorrow. 1t came unexpected
10 US. There was plenty of talk about
war but none believed it. Without our
W 1t a message came from the gov
ernment on July Is telling US that on that
army. Policemen Were sent out into the
country to secure every able bodied man
every store and as high as Is clerks were
taken out and business was suspended in
all lines.
as did also all soldiers from 1897 up to
date. The next week all the reserves who
had served their time had to go even
though they were supposed to be exempt
from military duty. 1t was a sorrowful
sight to see the mothers, wi .es and chill
dren OF these men crying and sobbing to
~ 1AiNAf fNSES pstOS GOilfS ~ W"i ID a4OJiS
expected to ever see them again.
On Sunday the 2ath two ~neighboring
women died OF broken heart as their hus-
bands had to go TO war. Many uncon-
scions men and women had to be carried
away from the station after the train had
left. One woman hung herself when her
little children. and another woman threw
herself under the train which carried her
chung to the cars which carried fathers
and husbands away so desperately hat
the police were unable to stop them.
The second mobilization started July
q, but the soldiers here refused to go, in
sisting that the Russian government pro-
duce money to support their families while
piled ties across the track ahead of the
engine and sat there. Every one who en-
tered a car on the train was seized and
thrown out In spite of the promises the
chief marshal would furnish the required
funds, they refused to go as they had no
faith In his promises; Finally the Cos
on board the train which finally got away
many hours late. On July % notices were
posted to the effect that money would be
paid for the support Of all needy families
and $4,000 We're placed at the disposal of
the authorities in this village alone and
the proceeds from all ~theaters, beer gar
dens and other amusement halls must be
added to the same fund. On the oath,
when the next mobilization began, a cap
soldiers whom he had mistreated. Stones
were torn from the depot platform and
the officer was heated to death. This was
the result Of his abusing tho men with
mortally wounded. The women, children
and grandfathers are all that are permit
friends who worked with you In the foun-
dry and was blind in one eye had to go,
which was q surprise to us all. All bust
ness is at a ~standstill. Cars for moving
farm products cannot be secured as ali
are used for the transportation of soldiers,
AS the men and horses have been sent to
the front there was narNa1v my -oF tbo
grain that can be threshed and it a total
loss. Mrs. Justina Brunset.