The Coconino sun., 1919-06-20
Ne,us of Soldiers and Sailors

cents; but now it is worth only 6 pence or 12 cents U. s. money. ! We are we'll supplied with special Arctic clothing outfits - fur-lined overcoats, fur capes, sweaters, fur ! gloves, scarfs, heavy socks, heavy un- dearwear, goggles, special shoebutton boots, fur-lined sleeping bags. So, ' you see, we are fixed for all kinds of zero weather; but probably we will not need lot of this outfit for spring IS coming and we hope to be out of here before the next winter set in. According to present plans, we are to get out of here by June or July. don't know which way we'll get out, but l hope that we go out by way ot Petrograd or Vladivostok.
 The experience of going through these ice fields wouldn't have missed for anything. To see and feel the Canada cutting it's way through solid ice to feet thick, tearing up huge cakes of ice and snow 12 to l5 feet square, was mighty interesting. We have seen lots of seals waddling away from the ship. The weather has been fine with clear, brilliant sunshine, and i S. 1 While in Murmansk we visited q Russian peasants house. It was the Russian Christmas day (April 13) and he invited us in, served us tea, jam and bread, played the photograph for us and gave us cigarettes. It was I simple home, but clean and homelike, and hospitable. He had learned few English words and we had learned a few Russian words, so we carried on an excited conversation. Americans are very popular with the Russians i They seem to be very friendly peo- pie, and we learned to like them.
 Around Archangel there are very extensive pine and fir forests and be- fore the war numbering was a very important industry there, there being at least 40 sawmills at Archangel alone. The allies have good-sized sawmill about 300 miles south of Mur- mansk, at Seroka, and the lumber that comes to Murmansk from there IS good-looking stuff-all clear stuff. The pine found in Russia is the same kind we found in France-Scotch or Sylvester pine-and while not so large as our Western pine, is of good quail ity as rule, and more nearly resem- bles our white pine when sawed into lumber.
 l am going to Archangel to report to the 3l0th Engineers-a pioneer en- ! gineer regiment-and l am to be for ester on the staff. The 310th Engi- neers have been in Archangel since last September, and are largely from the Lake States. The American en- gineers seem to have splendid repu- tation in northern Russia.
 was sorry to leave France after my IS months there, and left, I be- lieve, many good friends among the French people and officers.
 had the good fortune to spend some 3 weeks in Paris-on special work for the peace commission, and about the same length of time in Lon don, where had the pleasure of sec ing sights and scenes about which had heard and read all my life. Lon don is not the beautiful city that Paris is, but is wonderful city and l sure wouldn't have missed the chance to see it for anything. If we do go back to England after finishing here l plan ! to take some leave in Scotland, in Far fordshire, where my fathers people came from, to Virginia, in about 1700. My old company sailed from Brest about January 15 and landed at New port News, and are now all demob- ilized, l suppose.
 Wohlenberg, formerly in charge of the Greenlaw sale on the Coconino, and who left the service to become a second lieutenant, went back as c. O. of my old company as a captain. Sew eral of my old Coconino bunch got promotions and about 9 or 10 of my sergeants and men received promo tions to second lieutenants-which they richly deserved.
 We'll, good luck to you all and hop ing to see you this summer
 Yours truly,
 JOHN D. GUTHRIE, Captain Engineers, 310th Engineers,
 North Russian Expedition, care of
 Base Section 3, A. E. F., London,
 England.
 P. S.-April IS, 1919 = Landed in
 Archangel yesterday, safe and
 sound. Enclosed is 50 kopecks,
 equal to 5c in U. s. money!