The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-02
"Comrade Jensen"
Which May Explain Some of The
Numerous Desertions From the
Russian Army.

New York Times: Arkady Sidor-
ovitch Mogrin sat in a trench read
Ing letter which filled him with
amazement. The letter was from his
brother.
Come home, Arkady Sidorovitch"
the important part ran. DO not de-
lay. We are having a glorious time
The land is being divided and / have
already secured 40 desyatins and ex-
pect to get much more. AS a soldier
you are entitled to a hundred desya-
tins and perhaps two hundred, rs
you have been wounded several
times. But you must make haste for
soon all will have been allotted. 1t
is Prince Apraksin's land, the most
fertile in the province. Your wife
and children are we'll and expect
you.
This was news, but it was not the
news that caused Arkady Sidor-
ovitch to be so astonished. 1t was
the handwriting. His brother had
always employed the village pope to
write his infrequent letters, and
Arkady Sidorovitch knew that this
letter was not in the pope's hand.
He looked at his bare feet thought
fully. They were better now, thanks
to favorable weather Some of the
other men were reading letters or
talking together excitedly. A few
had already deserted to go home. OF
the remainder q number seemed GER
tain to follow. but fully half of the
company, having got hold of a sup
ply of brandy, were contented to
drink and frolic from day to day. AS
the commander of the regiment had
been placed under arrest every one
did as he pleased.
There was talk of choosing a new
commander, and everything pointed
to the choice of Comrade Jensen as
colonel Comrade Jensen was a
comparative stranger, but we'll liked
for all that. He had come to the
front from Petrograd, a short, plump,
light skinned man. His strange ac-
cent was due to his having lived q
long while in western Europe.
Friendly and assured, 1t became
evident that he had a fine education.
Moreover, he was liberal. When men
spoke of going home he would smile.
urge them earnestly not to and then
wind up:
But l can't blame you. You have
endured q good DEAL.
Arkady Sidorovitch suddenly rose
and. walking quietly in his bare feet,
Jensen had his abode.
1t was late in the afternoon, a
time when the good natured Jensen
always mapped. Since he was not
yet formally in command of the
regiment there was no guard at the
door. Arkady Sidorovitch knocked
respectfully, but got no answer. The
door was ajar and he iutruded his
head just enough to make sure that
Comrade Jensen was sleeping. A
glimpse and he would go away, to re-
turn later for advice on the subject
of the letter from home.
CTaning his neck he looked at the
cot, but there was no one upon it.
A sheet of paper. written upon, lay
on an upended box. With a glance
about him to make sure that no one
was near Arkady Sidorovitch yielded
to childish curiosity. He stepped in
side and closer to the sheet of paper.
It was a partial roster of the regi-
ment and opposite certain names
were double check marks. These
were the names of men who had
deserted. Other names, including
that Of Arkady Sidcrovitch Mogrin,
had a single check against them. A
note at the bottom OF the sheet ex-
planned by two words unfamiliar 70
the peefing soldier. One check mark
meant "geschrieben", two check
marks meant ''gegangen'. What
ever they were.
But another sheet caught the eye
Of Arkady Sidorovitch. 1t seemed to
be part Of a letter to fellow soldier
"Come home, Pavel Aleksandro-
Witch, Il ran. do not delay. We
are having a glorious time. The land
is being divided and L.
THE handwriting! With a great
growl OF comprehending fury the
peasant turned to see Comrade Jen-