The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-18
~ r. q. NcDON

~. m lion square miles, a continent In
SIZE. beside which the United States.
China and Russia are dwarfed, is almost
rs unknown as the interior OF South
america or darkest Africa. The build
,uc of the remarkable trans-Siberian
railroad and the events of the Russo
liparcse war threw the spotlight of
world interest onto this vast region ex-
t,nding from the Pacific Ocean to the
raj Mountains, from China and Turk
c.iin aud the edge of Europe clear
a. ross Asia To- the impossible ice fields
n tho Arctic. Into this vast region OF
Siberia the German and Austrian pris-
onsrs we're transported. The declaration
" war was followed by a roundup of
German and AUSTRIAN subjects living in
Russia Many have been following COM
nercial and professional careers for
wears. and others. while of Teutonic
birth. have spent their lives In Russia.
Their business and property were
promptly confscated and they were
hustled off to Siberia.
The civilian prisoners made IN the
r-s, contingent that followed the well
worn trails Of the cxiles to the great
colony. Rox cars of the railroad re-
teNeu them OF the Necessity VI uldlNuUlE
a.. the old exiles did. Most OF them were
,smoved from their homes so hurriedly
tina, they were not able TO provide them
selves with sufficient clothes or to Sc
cure funds for the purchase or more.
friends could not reach them, as they
simply disappeared into the great un-
known. II was a long time before COM
mun.catlon was established.
Frozen on Lone Journey.
u seems that the roundup Of enemy
civilians was general throughout
northern Russia and Siberia. At Har-
t,n ! was told on excellent authority
that several residents of Nladivostok
and vicinity were loaded on omen freight
cars and shipped west. about 'hirty-sif
hours travel. They were crowded ana
were not allowed to leave the cars dur..
ing the Journey. Bitter weather caused
much suffering. some persons being
frozen as well as famished. AS far as
I could ascertain from reliable sources
s.ver,I Thousand civil prisoners were
sem, to Siberia during the first SIX
mouths of the war. at which time TINS
movement seems to have stopped. prob
sbl, because the dragnct had completed
its work.
The story ~ civil prisoners is pathetic
AND terrible. The range and intensity
~ vars influence are eNemplified IN inc
as. OF these unfortunates. many OF
, nom are not Of military age. Separated
o.. thousands Of miles from their nome
country and the zone of hostiilt'es 'heF
src made to feel the sting OF war as
much II not more than the soldiers u,
e., .r,urbc- And the women and
,.rdr.u arc no, protected as are In"
..l,t,- - .tr h"'relprI fn' they snare
,u, suffering and eNposur" WITH the
ror.
1n TRYING to tell the story with
~.rrupilcus regard for the truth even
b., smallest details, free from eNasSera-
,lor ar feeling The facts are gwen
IN good faith based on personal OBJ
sc,yutiou and ON sources OF infornna-
to- which consider reliable. 7 have
spcut wueh effort in eliminating matter
c-o1c,ruiuc which thcr" was any reason
able doubt.
Russian officials are 50 reticent on
tho whole subject OF Siberian prison
,amps and nave SGT MP such tight bar
'i.rs against attempts at investigation
NAT I believe the real facts are reach
ing the public now for the first tne
some idea of the Russian attitude may
hc obtained from the following state.
NON, made by the Military Governor OF
Vladlyostok at is the concern OF nc
neutral power how Russia treats her
rrisoners OF war and what SHE does witt
them"
sbNbttuUS """'s
Tire civilian prisoners we're in muct
worse circumstances than the mllltaF!
prisoners. The latter were siver
soldiers fare and treated as prisoner:
- war, approximately as well AZ th'
Russian soldiers themselves. The
civilians We're dumped on communities
sometimes quite unable to support nor'
than their own members and were thu'
left practically AT the mercy or th'
none too comfortable peasant.
They were free to hustle for them
selves. but without adequate food OF
shelter In the middle OF a Siberian win
Ter there was very little opportunity u
do wG<k OF any kind or 10 buy supple
even II they had funds, The peasan
communities were not generally hosti'
20 tho prisoners. in fact in many in
stances they wanted to help the unfor
'unate strangers. hut they we're no
~ 2 position To do so without deprlN
'rr themselves OF the necessities o
Ne.
As most OF the detention villages ar
many miles from the railroad sucli prs
o"ers as had no money were marched OF
200, under guard. As 4 rule they "er'
ROY used to exposure TO the severe 81
hsr an climate. The inevitable co''ee
oIru'a was that many prisoners SUI
ior,d from having hands. feet and nose
frozen Several amputa,ions due u
: '1ls have had to he made. sometime
nnde- Iniserably inadequate circum
tdn"cS. Proper surgery Was imposslpl
u those remote places.
Ohicials Incompetent.
II was not infrequent for cases I
he lef for days or abandoned alto
ce'her when expert treatment was VI
go''lv uecessary. 7 do not believe !
was cruelty or Intentional neglect
'hoIgh sometimes 1t In hard to escap
TINS conclusion; but rather the ute
'rompetcnce Of some OF the provincia
"I.r.als and The criminal lack OF pro
Vision hv the Russian central authori
'"s They simply started the civl
if'ouers eastward on the railroad
'i rested them to various refnot
la.'s In tho great exile colony an
promptly forgot about them or took >
I'|" interest In their welfare that
tu"nalod to the same thing.
I'll" Government supplied them wit
"I' '"u kop.ks a day for food. II wa
'a IlpGSly small and though the pore
''iMIu~ aud Nustrians were generousl
'''n'i by their countrymen OF the par
who had money, It was not long he
,''' 'Ins disappeared and the n
lhg "as acute.
many cases the Russian guard
''.''i their meals with the prisoners