The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-01
RUSSO TRA ms
DRY AS POW5DER
And Liquor is No Longer Toler.
ated at the Railway Sta-
lions or in Cafes.
Correspondents q Associated press.,

HARDIN, Dec. 1-Russia's ban
fshment of liquor has driven vodka
from the trains and stations Of the.
Trans-Siberian railway and in con-.
sequence has particularly put much
ofS Mapchuria into the prohibition
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 railway sta
ton 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 rail-
way refreshment stands must con-;
fine their drinking to non-alcoholic
beverages.
At present the railway is used
primarily as q route for war supplies
and troops, and the successful en-
forcement of the no-liqupr regulation
Is Of such vital Importance that Rus
sian officials are very alert. Vodka
is Struggled occasionally into railway
property Notwithstanding all pre-
cautions but railway employees, pas
.sengers and troops in, transit across
Manchuria have little opportunity to
obtain 1t. The military is SO COM
pletely in charge of the railway
property that liquor smugglers soon
come to grief.
Absolute sobriety on the part of
railway employees is vital at this time
when every moments delay Is seri-
GUS to the Russian army. The des-
patching of munition and troop
trains on single tracked line re-
quires the greatest care. Sending
these trains from vladivostok to MOS
COW is much more difficult than 1t /
would be TO send them from Europe
an Russia to Vladivostok. During
the Russo-Japanese war the railway
was equipped for rush service east
ward. Consequently the switches and
s1dings are more convenient for
trains boudnn for the Pacific coast.
Passengers riding on the Trans
Siberian line are. never permitted to-
forget the railways is straight line.
Before a train crosses a bridge SOL
dters enter the cars, throw open the
doors Of compartments, make sure
there is no windows open, and then
signal the train 70 proceed. At the
opposite end of the bridge the SOL
diers leave the train. No opportunity
Is Afforded Russia enemies to throw
dynamite or other explosives which
might wreck one Of the bridges now
80 essential to the Russian army.
Sturdy Russian soldiers, already
equipped with high fur caps and
and sheepskin coats, stand guard at
even the most remote prairie sta
tons. Every mile Of the line is un-
der heavy patrol and there is little
opportunity for persons not supplied
with proper credentials to encroach
upon military property.
Passports of neutrals entering
Russian territory at this time must
bear an oath, certified to before a
diplomat or consular agent Of the
country to which the bearer belongs,
to. the effect that he was born In that
country and not naturalized cit
lien. The certification Is necessary
before a Russian legation or consul
ate will stamp a passport for travel
In Russia. When train enters Rus
sian territory the conductor collects
passports along with tickets and
these are scruttnized carefully and
retained until the Russian officials
are satisfied as to the identity of
the bearer.
Every guest entering a Russian
hotel Is also required to turn over
his passport when he registers. This
is sent by the innkeeper 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 lodg-
ings after midnight and persons
found wandering about after that
hour are subject to arrest.
As troops are in training at many
points along the Trans-Siberian lire
and thousands of new recruits are
constantly moving westward from
V1adivostok. Hardin and other points
in the East, the no-liquor provision
was very essential to proper morale.
Frequently il requires thirty days
for troop train to move the length
of the Trans-Siberian line. Trains
are delayed for hours at sidings.
waiting for passage or rush ship
ments of ammunition. Time hangs
heavily on the hands of recruits
packed into freight cars. Hungry
soldiers besiege the refreshment
places in the Manchurian stations,
and II liquor were available trouble
would doubtless follow.
Under liquor the Russian privates
are extremely brutal. The Associated
Press correspondent saw one group of
five soldiers in their cups. All wore
the gray-green blouses and caps of
the Russian service. One of the
men, who seemed somewhat worse