Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-07
MANY THOUSANDS LEAVE
vLAD|vOsT0K FOR FRONT
City With Population OF 100000 Be-
fore War Now Has Less
Than $4,000.
WOMEN TAKING PLACE OF MEN
Koreans and Chinese Doing Virtually
All Work at DockS-Owners of
Large businesses Taken Along
With Their HuInblest Employees.

VLADIVOSTOK. Noyember G.-T3c-
fore the war Vladivostok had moro
than 100000 Inhabitants. To-day it's
population Is less than $4,000. so heavy
nave been the calls of the Russian
army upon the men OF Eastern Siberia.
New recruits are being sent away at
the rate Of 1000 day. Many are
badly needed in Nladivostok to help
take care OF the war supplies which
are Cutting the port.
Many of the American concerns with
Offices here have lost virtually their
entire Russian Office forces to the army.
Retail and wholesale establishments
have such reduced forces that through
"a general agreement all the larger
places of business close at the lunch
hour. Women are being trained for
positions they are fitted for.
Koreans and Chinese arc coming into
Vladivostok to replace dock laborers
called to war. Virtually all the heavy
work on the docks now is being done
by them. The Russian government was
slow TO call out rcscrvists in Siberia.
Men are few aud much needed in this
new country. The government has
expended great sums In encouraging
emigration to Siberia, and hcsitatcs TO
take the cream OF the manhood back
to the battle line. The railroad guard.
numbering over 10000. WAS called
Immediately after the regular army
forces were sent back TO Russia. Then
ported another Is soon to come which
Will claim all men in Siberia up to
forty-lve
Owners OF large businesses have been
taken along with their humblcst en-
ployccs Every night about O'Clock.
n troop train starts for the east Few
OF the new soldiers have uniforms
They carry rolls Of bedding. boxes and
carpet bags.
For many days il has been raining,
but frequently mothers with young
babies sit or stand IN the rain weep
ing as they wait for the train which
is 10 carry their husbands away. There
Is little jubilation among the departing
soldiers. The war has dragged on so
long IL has become nightmare TO the
families OF the men liable to service
ana there are so many women in black
now In Nladivostok that duty at the
front is regarded as almost certain
death.
The rescrv!sts arc transported in
ordinary freigh, cars. Eacn car has
a stove In the center, and board benches
and hunks At the ends. single can
die In lantern lights every car. Tho
russian cars are small! and only forty
men can be crowded into each The
troop trains ordinarily consist OF about
twenty-five freight cars and one pas
sengcr coach for the officers
Enthusiasm Is little greater among
the o'hccrs than among privates, APP
parently Each night officers fam-
lies accompany them to the station.
and silent groups have farewell din
ners at the station cafe.
MEN COMING BACK HECEIvEDF
WITH GREAT SURPRISE
y few officers ana privatcs have re-
turned to Vlndivostok, but the losses
nave been so great that men coming
Dack arc received with great surprise
We used TO send flowers to the
troop trains and give the men a rous-
Ing send-on." Russian woman re-
marked. but one cannot keep that
up forever. They are going constantly
now. SO many OF us have lost rela-
lives and friends that We have not the
heart TO cheer and pretend TO be CAV.
when We are not"
An officers funeral moved through
the main street OF Vladlvostok recently
"A man dressed In high white hat and
a long white ulster walked at the head
or the procession, bearing large
golden cross Next came four blacl.
horses covered with heavy white nets.
drawing q white flower carriage
banked high with elaborate floral de-
signs Then came white hcarsc.
drawn by four black horses also COW
cred with white nets, and led By Ko-
rean grooms in white uniforms The
hearse was without sides or cover and
the great silver plated coffin was partly
covered with a Russian flag. Immed-
i?telv behind the hcarsc walked the
wife and daughters OF the officer Al
ter them were the male relatives and
friends, all walking and with barred
heads.
While the weekly express trains still
make the trip between Petrograd and
Nladivos;ok in nine days, the move
ment OF other trains is very slow.
Troop trains frequently require thirty
days for the trip.