The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-11-16

always been carefully sheltered hither-
to, are subjected. Something of this
latter condition, also an inkling as to
the great need for men in the army, as
indicated by the drafting of very young
boys, may be CLEANED from compara-
tiyely recent letters now in the pos
session of a Fargo resident, Mrs. H. NJ.
Rudd, whose native country is Russia,
although she is of both Russian and
German descent.
Both of the letters referred to we're
| written last March, one reaching it's
destination, (reIatives elsewhere in this
| state), in April, and the other in Aug
ust. Needless to state, both had been
| opened by the Censors. One of these
from an aunt of Mrs, Rudd, living in
| Odessa, Russia, the latter's old home.
This aunt has two sons, besides her
| husband, at the front, the fate of the
not heard from for several months.
| then. Translated into the English as
| closely as possible, excerpts from this
letter are given as follows:
| You cannot realize what kind of
times we are having. We pray day and
night for peace and for an end to. this
terrible and unnecessary sacrifice of
| lives. But it seems as if our Heavenly
| Father had turned from us. So many
have left from here, that it is impossi-
| bic to name them all" (Thirteen cous-
| ins and four uncles OF Mrs. Rudd are
serving in the Russian army. Among
1
of field hospital, being the wife of
one of the army officers serving on the
| Caucasian front)
1--WE will have food, etc, as long as
we can remain here. God help US, that
we may not be driven forth If we
have to flee, there will be no one to help
us. The men and boys are all gone,
| but the heaviest cross OF all is that
| they now take our daughters from us,
to dig trenches and cook for the SOL
| diers. Our daughter should have gone
| too but her grandfather, SIS years of
age, went for her. When l picture to
| fields, digging trenches, then only can
/ realize in full the terrible fate that
| has overtaken Russia. The drawing
into service of our daughters will COM
| pletely break the hearts of the German
mothers in Russia" (The women of
German descent are drawn into service
before those of pure Russian blood are
called forth.)
Many other old men have left for
such service, who would not give their
daughters. Many of the girls and old
men went to or were sent to Bjelzy, in
Researcher, on the Turkish frontier.
My uncle, who went in place of his
granddaughter, is IL years old.
I'VE feel as if there is positively no
comfort left for us in this world"
Compared to Children Of Israel.
The other letter, written in Russian,
from a suburb of Odessa, was from a
dear friend of Mrs. Rudd, with whom
SHe went TO SCnOOl Tor TWO years In
Odessa, and who was also a neighbor
OF hers there. Excerpts of this letter,
translated, give the following insight
into conditions there:
I'VE are well provided for in food,
etc. AS to brother Jacob we cannot
say, as he is in the Caucasus, on the
Turkish front. We have not heard from
him for two months, and from brother
Phillip, no word in six months, though
we know he is a prisoner in Austria"
tHefe the writer breaks down, and ex-
claims: O! o! God have mercy on us,
as here they take our daughters from
US to dig trenches. We Germans are
like the children of Israel in Egypt")
received Feb, 27, 1915, with gladness
and sadness, as so much was black, for
the truth must not arrive, etc." (This
refers to the way in which Russia cen
sors news which it does not wish it's
subjects to receive, blotting the same
out with an irremovable black ink This
censoring extends even to newspapers,
and Mrs. Rudd states that she does not
ever remember receiving a newspaper
from this country, while living in her
native country, Russia, that was not
thus censored.)
Cousin Jack (aiso a schoolmate OF
Mrs. Rudd) is still at home, but is all
ready drafted" CThe Jacob mentioned
above is about 80 years old. but has
already two brothers In the army,
which should exempt him entirely from
duty, as ordinarily only every other son
is required to do army duty) deaths
are many, how many is not to be told,
as the censors would not pass It any
way
Our friend Gottlieb Ga good friend