The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 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.

Trip, s. D., Oct. 24.-Many letters
have 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 u for war service.
A portion of the letter, as translated,
follows:
Armowir. South Russia, Aug. 9, 1884,
Dear SON.: / received you letter OF July
10 and was glad to hear from you II
that you are In America, o surely
know about our troubles; 1t is nothing but
sadness and sorrow. IT came unexpected
to US. There was plenty OF TAX aoou.
war but none believed II. Without our
knowing 1t a message came from the gov.
eminent on July Is telling us that on that
day they had begun to mobilize their
sGTGrv Policemen % semen Were were sent init O Sod ieso m sne
hat could be found. The proprietors OF
every store and as high as Is clerks were
taken out and business was suspended IN
Three of your old playmates had to go
as did also all soldiers from 1897 up TO
date. The next week all the reserves VINO
bad 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. wires chill
dren OF these men crying and sobbing 10
see their loved ones going to war as mons
expected to ever see them again.
On Sunday the 10Th two neighborfng
women died of broken heart as theiT hus-
bands had to go to war. Many uncon;
scious men and women had to be carried
away from the station after the train had
left. One woman hung herself when her
husband had to go leaving her with five
little children, and another woman threw
1nwaAlN ,~I1 AAA Nrntn r9hl,h m rFtnH haT
husband away, Women n children
chung to the cars which carried fathers
and husbands away so desperately that
the police were unable to stop them.
The second mobilization started July
q, but the soldiers here refused to go, m
sisting that the Russian government pro-
duce money to support their families while
they were away. This being refused they
engine n sat there. Every one who en-
tered q 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
sacks were sent n the men were forced
on board the train which finally got away
many hours late. On July % notices were
posted to the effect that one would be
paid for the support OF all needy families
and SIS, 600 were placed at the disposal OF
the authorities in his 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
tain Of the Cossacks was killed by local
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 the men with
a whip and a dagger, n Of whom was
mortally wounded. The women, children
and g~randfathers are all that are permit
ted to stay at home, One OF your old
friends who worked with you In the foun-
dry n was blind In one eye had to go,
which was a surprise to us all. All busi-
ness Is at a standstill. Cars for moving
are used for the transportation of soldiers.
AS the men and horses ave been sent to
the front. there was scarcely any of the
grain that can be threshed and 1t a total
loss. Mrs. Justina Brunset.