New Britain herald., 1915-12-01
MANCHURIA PUT IN
 PROHIBITION RANKS
By Punishment of Vodka From
 TranS-Siberia Trains

HarD1n, ur1a, Nov. 3O.-RuS- sias punishment of liquor has driven vodka from the trains and stations 1 of the Trans-Siberian railway and in ] consequence has particularly put much of Manchuria into the prohibi- { tion ranks. Being the chief artery of business, the Russian railway Is the center of most activities in Central and Northern Manchuria. In many of the smaller places the rail- I way station, cafe and bar are the only social center. Before the war vodka was sold at all stations and in the dining cars. Now the patrons of the railway refreshment stands must con- fine their drinking to non-alcoholic beverages.
 At present the railway is used prim- arlly as a route for war supplies and troops, and the successful enforce ment of the no-liquor regulation is of such vital importance that Russiai officials are very alert. Vodka is snug gled occasionally into railway proper ty notwithstanding all precautions but railway employees, passengers and troops in transit across Manchuria have little opportunity to obtain it. The military is so completely in charge of the railway property that liquor smugglers soon come to grief
 Absolute Sobriety Vital.
 Absolute sobriety on the part of railway employees is vital at this time when every moments delay is serious to the Russian army. The despatch Ing Of intuition and troop trains on a n a -tyrr< ,1ro Sy
 est care. Sending these trains from Vladivostok to Moscow is much more dlfhcult than it would be to send them | rom European Russia to Vladivostok. During the Russo-Japanese war the railway was equipped for rush service eastward. Consequently the switches ana sldlngs are not convenient for tralns bound for the Pacific coast | messengers riding on the Trans-Si- 1 berlan line are never permitted to for get the railway is a strateeic line BeIore a traln crosses a bridge sol l d1ers enter the cars, throw open the 1 doors of compartments, make sure there are no windows open, and then signal the train to proceed. At the opposite end of the bridge the sol ] diers leave the train. No opportunity is afforded Russia's enemies to throw dynamite or other explosives which might wreck one of the bridges now so essential to the Russian army. Russians Guard Line.
 1 Sturdy Russian soldiers, already equipped with high fur caps and sheepskin coats, stand guard even at the most remote prairie stations Every mile of the line is under heavy patrol and there is little opportunity ! credentials to encroach upon military property.
 Passports of neutrals entering Rus san territory at this time must bear l an oath, certified to before a dipIo- matic or consular agent of the coun- try to which the bearer belongs. to the effect that he was born in that country and is not a naturalized cit izen. This certification is necessary before Russian legation or consulate Will stamp passport for travel in l Russia When a train enters Russian 1 territory the conductor collects pass l ports along with tickets and these are scrutlnized carefully and retained un- l Ill the Russian officials are satisfied as to the identify of the bearer.
 Turn Over Passports.
 Every guest entering a Russian hotel is also required to turn over his passport when he registers. This is sent by the innkecper to the police officials, who hold hotel-keepers re sponsible for their guests The pO- lice stamp satisfactory passports and return them to the hotels where the bearers live. Guests are immediately advised in Russian towns that they must not be away from their lodgings after midnight, and persons found wandering about after that hour are subject to arrest
 As troops are in training at many points along tho Trans Siberian iine 1 and thousands of new recruits arc constantly moving westward from Vladivostok, Harbin and other points in the east the no-liquor provision was very essential to proper morale Frequently it requires thirty days fol a troop train to move the length o1 the Trans-Siberian line. Trains are delayed for hours at sdings, waiting for the passage of rush shipments o1 ammunition. Time hangs heavily or the hands of recruits packed into freight cars. Hungry soldiers besiegt the refreshment places in the Man. churian stations, and if liquor were
 available trouble would doubtless fol
 low
 Brutal Under Liquor.
 Under liquor the Russian private!
 are extremely brutal. The Associated
 Press corresondent saw one group o five soldiers in their cups. All wor.
 the gray-green blouses and caps O