New Ulm review., 1921-11-09

battalion adJutant and company com
mander, being pressed into service
as an officer quite frequently due to
the scarcity of veteran detachment
commanders.
Brother Theology Student.
Mr.. Sallet's parents are Mr.. and
Mrs. Daniel G. Sallet of Osterode,
East Prussia. His only surviving
brother is studying for the clergy at
the University of Koenigsberg. He
has served as a reserve officer Of field
artillery during the World conflict.
One sister is instructor in I.vceum
| School for girls, similar to the German
gymnasium, or school for boys),
another is a governess in a private
! ia mily which owns large estate in
East Prussia, and the youngest sister
is attending an Ober-Lyceum to quail
| fly as teacher.
Dangerously Close.
During the terrific fighting on the
East front the latter part of August,
1914, when the Russian hordes over
ran portions of East Prussia, they sue
ceeded in advancing to within eight
kilometers (4.97 miles) of Osterode
while the battle of Tannenberg was in
progress from August 26 to 81. Dur
ing this battle, the German idol, Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg, and his
staff had their headquarters at Oster-
ode for a few days and it was there that
the plans were made which finally led
to the encircling and defeat of the
eat Russian army and the capturing
of some $4,000 Russian prisoners of
war. Many more were killed.
During the first few days of fighting
many German soldiers retreated and
fled through Osterode. The cannons'
loud roar could be plainly heard and
at night portions of the sky were lit
up by the burning villages and farm
buildings which were fired by the
Russians.
Not All Built Up.
East Prussia, like portions of France
and Belgium, still shows signs of wars
devastation, as not all of the buildings
destroyed by the Russians have been
replaced by new structures. AS a re-
suit of the Treaty 'of Versailles, East
Prussia is isolated from West Prussia
and the rest of Germany by the area
controlled by Poland. A railroad
strike was in progress in this area when
Mr.. Sallet passed through it enroute
to Hamburg, and it was only with
great difficulty that train crew could
be secured to pilot their passenger
train to West Prussia.
Living Cost Very High.
There is really no scarcity of food in
East Prussia, but the prices charged for
it is so excessively high that ordinary
people are unable to purchase it..
This is especially true Of widows and
orphans, as the government has SO
many obligations to meet that those
left behind by soldiers who died in the
war are in great want. The situation
is rendered worse by the great num-
bers of Ge1man-Russian fugitives who
are leaving Russia and overrunning
East Prussia as result of the famine
and suffering in the former country.
Due to the fact that there is no coal
to be had, the railroad locomotives are
compelled to use peat for fuel, and as
they are not provided with spark
arresters, a large number Of fires are
started by sparks along the right-of-
way and many buildings are damaged.
"One-Room" Living.
Another result of the coal famine is
that families are compelled to live in
one room usually the kitchen all
winter, using it as eating, sleeping and
living quarters combined. The coal
famine causes terrible suffering, es-
pecially among the children, as the
winter climate of East Prussia is rather
rigorous.
Glad to Be Here.
| Mr.. Sallet is glad that he decided to
cast his lot in the United States, as the
opportunities offered here far exceed
those in his native country at the
lpresent time. After landing in New
York City and all along the route to
New Ulm he noticed that far better
conditions prevail in America than in
Germany. He is a vigorous young
man, full Of pep, and anxious to forge
ahead in his adopted country.
George Bastian OF Fairfax was a