The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-04
Men Sent to Work on Trans
Siberian Railway Find Des-
tination Is Changed
HELD UP In JAPAN
CHANGE In ORDERS
LOOKS SIGNIFICANT
City for Which They Are Now
Bound 10 In Position TO Cut
Communications Betwee n
Vladivostok and Petrograd

TOXIC, MArCn 6s~-lHlpcEtAuL CON
terences were had by high govern
r,ent officials here today looking t.
the finaleadoption of an allied polio,
In Siberia particularly the part la
pan Will play In any military or dip
lomatic action which may be taken
No agreement vas reached. but nego'
tiations with the entente powers and
the nations associated with them ir
the prosecution OF the war against tbs
central allies are being fsverishiy
rrshed to q conclusion under spur o:
the tense situation at vtadivostok and
other Siberian ports, IL was safu in
official circles.
Two hundred American engineers
r7en,sers of a transportation division
which left the United States few
months ago to ala In the rehibtlita-
tion of the trans Siberian railway. and
were held in japan because OF the
governmental upheavai In Russia, left
&aEasaki Wednesday for Hardin.
The ultimate destination of the par
= was not made known. but IN view
oe the history making events which
are expected IN Siberia rs n result OF
TIE looked for allied change In policy.
the departure of The American enrt-
necrs IL deemed significant
Harbin Strategic Point
Diplomats. both foreign and ia
raeese, point To the fact that Hardin
81 the one strategic center from which
il would be possible To control all the
transportation systems in Siberia.
Also from Harbia il would Zoe pos
sible to cut of ViaGivostok from COM
rrunication with petrograd and make
possible the solution Of the problems
which confront - g files In saving
tho enormous supplies of munitions
s,rd other war mate.sls stored at
Aiadivostck by practically isolatin q
the big Siberian seaport
II is said in so@1s quarters tfMs she
slspstch of the American engineers
- step toward preparing the rail-
ways Of Eastern Siberia for allied In
PREVENTION and thus make possible the
raEsportation Of troops and supplies
stonId Japanese. Chinese and Arneri-
can troops actually occupy the Stber-
ian Pacific ports "a has been limited
81 the Toirio press. Some military
critics even go so far as to suCges st
'hAt the now q the enclnesrs Is also
designed as an aid TO the Far East
against German aggression eastward.
Relations with RUSSIA.
Foreign Minister Monoto In the i'm :
petal diet Yesterday reviewed Russo
japanese relations, He stated that
diplomatic relations had not beer
severed. The allied envoys were dc.
parting from Petrograd, the Japanes
ambassador said IN his last cable. the
fcreign minister told the diet.
Tho japanese ambassador will take
st his station - Hardin to await fur
Tier orders, The allied representa-
fivcs according To the foreign minis
ie" wee i'm personal danger IN Petro.
grad
/. II make this report for the infor-
nation OF the diet" said NJ Monovo.
as these DEVELOPMENTS will have seri-
OTIS effects on the future action of the
government. which is awake 20 the
possibility ~ the extension of German
rover in Siberia. we are planning a
course Of action for ally eventuality. =
The foreign minister confirmed re-
i'prts Of the appointment, OF Baron
t>ht' as ambassador to the United
s. stes.
China Solves Problem.
Washington. March 3-China has
probably solved The viadsvostok prob.
hien1 which has been. rerplexing the
allied cbanceries for n week.
This suggestion was made In high
Official quarters here tonight 1t fol-
lowed the receipt by the state de-
partmcnt or an unconfrmed rumor
from Toxic ana Shanghai, to the eff
sect that the Rolshevikf in vladivos.
tok had seized $50. coo. 900 worth OF
war supplies on the docks and were
preparing to commander allied and
neutral merchant vessels in the har-
hor. Japanese ana allied warships
at Vladivostok the departments re-
port said. had cleared for action.
The state department was not the
least disturbed over the rumor.
Neither were Japanese officials.
: None of these supplies. 1t Is pointed
out can he moved into Siberia or
Russia without passing Hardin. north
china. China. has powerful military
forces At this point. prepared to act
IN fullest concert with the Occidental
allies,