Bisbee daily review., 1916-02-02
RUSSIANS HOPE FOR
 NORTH MANCHUR!A
 PART OF WAR BOOTY
All of the Russians in Harbin Are Anxiously Waiting End of Conflict, Hoping for Con- trol of Part of China.

KAREN, Manchuria.-Ru de sire to control that portion of northern Manchuria through which the Trans Siberian Railway runs is uppermost in the minds of all Russians in this section, and they are constantly ex- pressing the hope that the European war will result in such a readjustment in the affairs of the Far East that Rus sia may gain actual possession of the territory through which it's railway passes.
 Although Harbin has an immense Chinese population, it is almost as Russian in it's architecture and in the manners and customs of its people as a city in the very heart of Russia. The other cities and towns along the Trans Siberian line in Manchuria are also practically Russian in everything but name. The Russian assumption of au- thority, in fact is such that the German. prisoners who may have escaped from Siberia are frequently seized in Chi
 
 bitter complaints from Germans in Manchuria.
 Conditions in Mongolia, south of the trans-Siberian Railway, are much the same as in that part of Manchuria through which the railway actually runs. Russians have practically all the trade in Monoglia, especially the northern part, and it is in effect Rus sian dependency rather than Chinese territory.
 The Kutuktu, the head of the Bud dhists in Mongolia, who is resident at Urga and who is the most powerful leader in Central Asia, negotiated an agreement last June by which China's nominal control of Outer Mongolia was to be recognized, but he has recently refused to carry out the terms of the agreement Although Russia, as well as China. was a party to the agree ment, it is charged by some Chinese officials that the Kutuktu has been in fluenced in some way by the Russians who desired to create friction. The Mongolian people, themselves, have frequently endeavored to get Russia to recognize them as an independent state and defend them against China and Japan. Chinese officials are en- deavoring to pursuade the Kutuktu tC carry out his agreement, but it is re ported that Chen-lo, the Chinese diplo- mat who is at Urga conducting the ne gotiations, is held practically a prison CT by the Buddhist leader.
 Outer Mongolia is now also in state of ferment Bandit companies are op- erating all along the border of China proper, and apparently have recently gained much strength. With an inter nal struggle on hand, the Chinese ar my is not in a position to do much in Mongolia. Japanese arms and ammu hilton have reached the bandits in large quantities. Representations con corning this traffic have been made to the Japanese government whose reply has been that Japan has no control of private shipments of arms.
 Manchuria has made very slow prog ress in an agricultural way and is far less prosperous than portions of Sibe- ria where the Russians have colonized. The Chinese farm with little idea of developing the country permanently. Manchuria. however, offers far better opportunities to the Russians than Si- beria, as the climate is more favorable and markets are better. It is com paratively short haul from any poini , of Manchuria to tidewater.