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front could not be better, not one of our soldiers has deserted. I receive letters in which they write that there is desertion from the reserve regiments, but not from the front lines. You need not fear for the front. In my following letters I will write you about the general state of the war, that is I will write my views on the war and its conclusion. For now good bye, give my greetings to your mama Olga Petrovna. I wish you the very, very best.

—Respectfully yours N. Filatov.

3. ACTIVE ARMY

18. VI. 1917

Greatly-respected Olga Valerianovna,

Yesterday I received your books, sent June 5th of this year, probably from Yaroslavl. For kindly remembering me I send you my thanks a million times over. On May 17th I was summoned by a telephoned telegram from the 772nd regiment to our regiment. On that same day our regiment moved from the reserve to replace another regiment in position at the front. I spent on the road, that is marched, for two days, since the distance was seventy-five versts. When I arrived at my detachment, all the crews and machine guns were in position, with the exception of drivers [of horses] and six crew members. I was allowed to rest and I rest until today, but it is not rest, but worse than the front lines during battle. The problem is as follows. Prior to the first of June there was no committee in our command. But I lie! The committee existed, but from the first days when there was work to do they scattered. In our command there are, that is they are divided into two hostile camps. The drivers can’t bear the sight of the crews in the trenches, and the trench soldiers regard the drivers likewise. I should point out that the drivers are few and all from the first mobilization, also the command of the machine gun detachments is benevolently disposed towards them, and there are many more trench soldiers.

In the former regime our kind chief himself settled everything graciously and would put this man on sentry duty for 8 hours, that one for 12 hours, and sometimes he had the charity to order someone put on post for 20 hours. Now he refuses to do this, while enmity has intensified. Everyone has the right to say what he wants, and here it has become my lot to be the go-between between the two warring factions. I’m the advocate of one and the other, and so enjoy the favor of both hostile camps. I took up this job from the first of June. At first this work was slow to progress, and I gave it all my energy. On the 14th the sergeant-major said to me the following: “Filatov, the whole unit is

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starting to come together, the former hostilities are no longer heard. Everyone is counting on you.” He had a lot of other things to say, too. On July 1st we will have more elections. I think I’ll ask to be relieved of this duty and go off to the trenches for a rest, because it’s difficult to feed the wolves and have to answer for the safety of the sheep. Here you need a head as tough as a horse, I figure. The entire distribution of uniforms is my responsibility. All this time I’m up to my neck with things to do. In addition to that, there is often the desire to be at meetings and gatherings. I’d like to take a look with my own eyes at the head of the Minister of War, Kerensky1 and see how he governs Russia in this troubled time. You know, Olga Valerianovna, when I’ve heard all I can of the various stories of the terrible unrest in Russia, I think that Russia can’t take it any longer, if it goes on like this, Russia will not be able to endure, and all will be lost.

All is well at our front. Everyone is prepared to die for freedom. Only we have some deficiencies. The matter is as follows. Some sorts of diseases of malnutrition and heart palpitations from walking uphill have recently appeared along the front. We are fed well and I don’t understand where this malnutrition comes from. These illnesses are thinning our ranks little by little, and there are no reinforcements. Few troops are coming up from the rear. Throughout our entire division, one no longer observes any hostile feelings towards the gentlemen officers, everywhere you can see friendly relations between soldiers and the officers. Twice I managed to be at the regimental deputies’ meeting. I saw and heard how the officers address the soldiers with all sorts of questions, and how they light up papirosy for want of pipe tobacco. From this I can confidently say that for the time being there are no severe conflicts between soldiers and officers in our division. A soldier or an officer who returns late from leave is punished only in the rear. Our citizens are behaving badly. That only delays everything more and more and puts off long-awaited PEACE.

For now, Olga Valerianovna, good bye, be healthy, give my greetings to your mama Olga Petrovna. I wish you the very very best.

—N. Filatov

4. ACTIVE ARMY

25th day of June