New Britain herald., 1916-01-07
RUSSIA SEEKS 10
 SECURE MANCHURIA
Car Has Eyes on Territory Through Which His Railroad Runs

Harbin, Manchuria, Dec. 29-Rus- sias desire to control that portion of northern Manchuria through which the Tran Siberian railway runs is up- permost in the minds of all Russians in this section, and they are con- stantly expressing the hope that the European war will result in such a readjustnlent in the affairs of the Far East that Russia may gain actual pos session 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 hte manners and customs of it's people as @ city in the very heart of Russia. The other cities and towns along tho Tran-Siberian line in Manchuria are also practically Russian in everything but name. The Russian aSSum mptiOn of authority, in fact. in such that the German prisoners who may have es- caped from Siberia are frequently seized in Chinese territory by Rus sian soldiers. The Russians have even taken the escaped German pris- oncrs away from Chinese soldiers who were protecting them in Chinese ter ritory. This has called forth bitter complaints from Germans in Man. chura.
 Russian Dependency.
 Conditions in Mongolia, south of the Trans Siberian railway are much the same as in that part of Man. chura through which the railway ac- tually runs. Russians have practically all the trade in Mongolia, especially the northern part, and it is in ef- feet a Russian dependency rather than Q Chinese territory
 The kutuktu. the head of the Buddhsts in Mongolia, who is resi- dent at Urga and who is the most powerful leader ia Central Asia, neg otiated an agreement last June by which China's nominal control of Ou- ter Mongolia was to be recognized but he has recently refused to carry out terms of the agreement. Although Russia, as well as China. was a party to the agreement, it is charged by some Chinese officials that the Kutuk- tn has been influenced in some way by the Russians who desired to create friction. The Mongolian peo- pie, themselves. have frequently en- deavored to get Russia to recognize them as an independent state and defend them against China and Ja- pan. Chinese officials arc endeavoring to persuade the kutul<tu to carry out ! his agreement, but it is reported that Chen-lo, the Chinese diplomat who , is at Urga conducting the negotia- tions is held practically a prisoner by i the Buddhist leader.
 State of Torment.
 Outer Mongolia is now also in a i state of ferment. Bandit companies ] are operating all along the border of 1 China proper, and apparently have i recently gained much strength. With an internal struggle on hand, the Chinese army is not in a position to l do much in Mongolia Japanese i arms and ammunition have reached the bandits in large quantities. ReD- resentations concerning this traffic have been made to the Japanese gov crnment whose reply has been that Japan has no control of private shiD- ments of arms.
 Manchuria has made very slow pro- gress in an agricultural way and is far less prosperous than portions of Siberia where the Russians have col ' onized. The Chinese farm with little t idea of developing the country per- manently. Manchuria, however, 0f- fers far better opportunities to the Russians than Siberia, as the eli mate Is more favorable and markets are better It is a comparatively short haul from any point of Manchuria 70