The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-08-09

Russian troops. Officers whom | met
despaired of ever seeing discipline re-
stored; many resigned their commits
sions. Some of them told me that the
situation was unbearable; one, a
lCossack colonel just convalescent
from his wounds, said he had return
ed to his regiment at the front, to the
men with whom he had grown up,
whom he commanded and led in bat
tie, and that they would not recognize
his authority. He said: Il want to go
to America" The American and Eng
lish embassies We're besieged by Off
GERS of like mind. some wishing to vol
unteer as privates in the English
army.
On the other hand, regiments of
soldiers under non commissioned Of
ficers or committees elected by the
men, retained their former officers and
We're instrumental in keeping order in
the cities. 1t was regiments such as
these that upheld the provisional
government during the labor riots in
Petrograd and really prevented anar-
chy. Outside of Petrograd order was
much better maintained. The soldiers
elected committees to take charge of
selected soldiers for policing the
streets. On my trip through Siberia
whenever soldiers tried to force their
way into the cars members of these
committees would have the courage to
order them off and as the habit to
obey was still instructive, they got off.
Some of these soldiers, after being put
off the train, relieved their feelings by
making faces at the passengers, but
as they did not go beyond such facial
exercises we did not mind.
Travelling in Russia at present of
course, is far from pleasant. Trains
are crowded to the utmost capacity
with passengers and in addition SOL
diers endeavor to enter at nearly
every station; sometimes the CORR
doris of the carriages are filled with
them, but on other trains the soldiers
simply take possession of the vesu
bules. This condition obtained on the
train on which travelled, though per-
sonally l suffered no Inconvenience
from it. Most of the soldiers and
sailors with whom l talked, through
my interpreter. proved to be pleasant
and agreeable. Food was scanty.
Anyone who is obliged to travel in ST.
iberia should provide himself with an
ample lunchbasket, which may or may
not be confiscated at the border.
Railroads.
There Is a shortage of locomotives,
but the present rolling stock of the
trans Siberian railroad is not used to
one third of its possible efficiency.
Long lines of empty cars are seen on
switches and on distant sidetracks
Freight cars are sent loaded from
Vladivostok, never to return. Fol-
those sent to the front some excuse
may be made. but under energetic
management more effective service
could be obtained from the present
stock. Lack of repair shops and OF
mechanics is another feature. There
is, strange to say, no assembly shop
for locomotives at Vladivostok, and
any purchased in America must be
first hauled on freight cars to Irkutsk
to be assembled A large plant for
assembling cars was built at Vladivo-
stok. Thousands of cars were pur-
chased in America, most Of them OF
the small cotton type, but a number
of large Cotton cars were built by an
American firm. l was told that this
type was not popular, partly on ac-
count of the necessity for strength
ening bridges and culverts, and partly
because the workmen objected to fill.
ing so far behind the doors. Ions
before an American commission was
mentioned, the imperial Russian gov
eminent engaged an assistant traffic
manager of the Canadian Pacific rail
road. This expert completed his in
! vestigations some weeks after the
, revolution, and was reported to bt
much Disguised with the inefficiency
shown; his report is in the hands Of
; the American railroad commission
To illustrate the improvement posi-.
BILE under efficient management All
!, officer associated with the English
, transport service was engaged by thu
: cars government to handle the Arch
, angel middle. After repeated dis
! enlargement in attempts to secure
cooperation from officials, he was
through the effort of the English am
} bassador, given full control, and HI
} cleared the port in three months
Vladivostok has greater congestion, Il
} much farther from terminals, and ha
much the same difficulties to face. TIL
] ministry of transportation in Apri
expected to clear the congestion IL
! eight months, but from personal OBJ
: servation am in position to CUES
! that this is an optimistic estimate. A
e the time of my visit there were be
s ween 100000 and 100000 tons O
3 freight at Vladivostok awaiting trans
Siberian shipment. Just what tn
: American railroad commission can d
0 do not know. 1t is situation tina