The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki

The History of the American
Expedition
by Joel R. Moore
and Harry H. Mead and Lewis E.
Jahns

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The History of the American
Expedition
Fighting the Bolsheviki, by Joel R. Moore and Harry H. Mead and
Lewis E. Jahns This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost
and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it
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Title: The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki
Campaigning in North Russia 1918-1919
Author: Joel R. Moore Harry H. Mead Lewis E. Jahns
Release Date: September 5, 2007 [EBook #22523]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIGHTING
THE BOLSHEVIKI ***

Produced by Don Kostuch

[Transcriber's Notes]
Here are the definitions of several unfamiliar (to me) words.
batmen Soldier assigned to an officer as a servant.
batushka Village priest.
drosky Cart
felcher Second-rate medical student or anyone with some medical
knowledge.
hors de combat Out of the fight; disabled; not able to fight.
junker Aristocratic Prussian landholder devoted to militarism and
authoritarianism, providing the German military forces with many of its
officers.
knout Whip with a lash of leather thongs, formerly used in Russia for
flogging criminals. To flog with the knout.
mashie nib Mashie-Niblick (mah-she nib-lik)--Wood shafted golf club
with about the same loft and length as today's seven iron.
poilus French common soldier, especially in World War I.
verst Russian measure of distance; 3500 feet, 0.6629 mile, 1.067 km.
viand Choice or delicate food.
volplane Glide in an airplane without power.

I (Don Kostuch) am the son of John Kostuch, then from Detroit, who

was a Mechanic in the 339th, Company M. He saw some action in the
fall of 1918 but due to flu, exposure and a dislocated joint, was
evacuated to England on December 1, 1918 before the gruesome winter
described in the book. {sources: "M" Company 339th records and
Golden C. Bahr papers, 1918-1919.}

The following text is copied from a newspaper clipping in the book.
The Declaration of War is on one side and an incomplete local news
item is on the other side.
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, April 9, 1917
U. S. Declaration of War
Sixty-fifth Congress of the United States of America At the First
Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the
second day of April, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen
JOINT RESOLUTION
Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial German
Government and the Government of the people of the United States and
making provision to the same.
Whereas the Imperial German Government has committed repeated
acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States
of America, Therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war
between the United States and the Imperial German Government which
has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared;
and that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to
employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the
resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial
German Government; and to bring the conflict to a successful
termination all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by

the Congress of the United States.
?? Speaker of the House of Representatives
Thomas R. Marshall Vice President of the United States and President
of the Senate
Approved 6 April, 1917 Woodrow Wilson

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, April 9, 1917
COUNTY PLEDGES AID FOR FOOD MOVEMENT
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED, AT COURTHOUSE MEETING.
APPEAL MADE TO PEOPLE
The movement to make the state of Indiana economically and
agriculturally prepared for war, as recommended by Governor James P,
Goodrich, had its beginning in Marion county at a meeting of farmers
and those interested in soil cultivation held Saturday afternoon in the
criminal courtroom.
The necessity for the efficient utilization of all the soil resources of
Indiana were emphasized in addresses at the meeting, which was the
beginning of a plan to create a county-wide interest in the movement.
Another Meeting Monday.
The general idea of the need for greater food production, as outlined at
the meeting, will be crystallized into definite plans for meeting the
situation at a meeting called for Monday night, to be held in the
criminal court room. Representatives of commercial, labor and civic
bodies and organizations of all kinds are invited and requested to attend
the meeting Monday night and assist in the work.
Stirring appeals to the people of Indianapolis and the county to respond

to