Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-09
RUSSIAN RAILWAY
TRAVEL DIFFICULT
Members Of American Red Cross
Mission to Roumania Suf-
fered From Cold.
BUILD FlREPLACES IN CARS
Local Authorities at Every Sta
ton Source of Perpetual An
noyance to Travellers.
IBy ASSOCIATED PrcEs

ORGANIZATION III ltuSSli were
home repeatedly to the members OF the
American Red Cross Mission to Rou-
mania on their journey from Jassy TO
MurmanSk. The distance Is about $500
miles, but the mission was nearly
month on the way. averaging less than
100 miles a day. Even after reaching
Murmansk the Americans lived on their
railway trains for two weeks while
waiting for boat.
Murmansk is $50 miles north OF the
Arctic Circle. and the cold during parts
OF the journey was severe. None OF the
railway cars had any heating arrange
mcnts. During the coldes, weather
many OF the doctors and nurses re-
manned in bed all day TO keep warm.
American ingenuity made brave ef-
fort TO remedy the lack of heating ar
rangcments by. building small stoves
Of brick. stones and pieces Of sheet
iron. These stoves were built in the
corridors or aisles of the cars and
were fed with wood and charcoal
picked up along the line. They were
not very successful as heating appli-
ances, but were occasionally useful for
making hot coffee or tea.
The new order OF things which the
BolsheYiki have Introduce into Rus
STA was pcrpetually in evidence. Every
where along tho line the officers In
charge OF the train had to deal with
Russians who thought they had aa
good right as anybody else TO travel
OH 1t. tnbiddcn guests were always
coming on board. AT night they would
often enter by way OF the windows
some merely looking for a ride. others
In search OF plumber. The Americans
all slept with their revolvers under
their pillows. ready 10 repel board.rs.
ARGUMENTS AND FIGHTS
OCCUR At EVERY STATION
AT almost every railway station
there were prolonged arguments and
alterations. Excursion parties OF Rus
sian soldiers would express desire
to travel a few hundred versts with the
mission, and the French soldiers swho
accompanied the mission would ex
plain that IL was impossible.
The disorganization OF the railway
system was well-n:gh complete. There
was no semblancc OF train dlspatching.
Once twice day train going in
the opposite direction would be en-
coun'rrcd. In this case both trains
would stop. pnurparlers would cnsue.
and one train or the other Would go
back 10 the nearest siding.
The stations were badly kept and
had generally become the headquarters
OF sor, OF local Soviet. which was
anxious 10 impress its Importance upon
the passengers Of every train. Wait.
ing-rooms and platforms were filed
with soldiers, eN-soldicrs. coolies and
nondescripts.
ROUBLEs AND CoGNhC
HELP TO APPEASE SOyIETs
each station were "A perpetual nuis-
ancc. Every station Soviet had to
have the whole business of the mis-
sion explained To it. and the. Difficult
ties which Immediately arose could
only be solved by plentiful distribu-
ton OF roubles and cognac. The total
amount OF money distributed by the
French officers in charge OF the train
during the four weeks trip would
easily have paid for the train twice
oyer. The Americans wished to share
this expense proportionately, but the
French insisted on paying it all. The
French also insisted on supplementing
the Americans food supplies.
The Bolsheviki everywhere showed q
remarkable friendliness for the little
group Of Americans on board the train
Tho French belong to the bourgeoisie
but the Americans are just as good
Bolsheyik as we are" said one Soviet
leader in an address of welcome at a
tiny village station north of Moscow
Occasionally a Russian who had been
in America was encountered.
During the severe weather one Of
the French officers. Colonel Odone,, fell
i'll with pneumonia. and died in his
berth a few days later. HIS body was
taken off the train near Murmask and
buried beside the track. All the Amer-
can and French officers. and deputa-
tions of British. Italian and Serbian
military men from trains which I'M
mediately preceded the Franco Ameri-
can train attended the funeral servic
on the snow-covered field. The grave
was marked with cross made from
fir tree boughs by members Of the
American delegation. over the coffin
at Colonel Odonc's request. were
draped the flags of France. the United
states and the other allies.
AMERICAN EMBASSY IN
THREE RAILWAY CARS
At Vologda tho train halted for
nearly a day. and the Americans paid
visit to the American embassy, which
I consisted OF three railway cars drawn
up on siding near the station The
American ambassador had a private
car OF the Pullman type. dining car
and q frst-class sleeper.
From Vologda to Murmansk the train
dragged its way warily and hesitat-
ingly. This line is a new war rail-
way, every mile constructed OF Ameri-
can material. but laid rather hastily
and over frozen ground. For miles 1t
skirts the White Sea. a vast expanse
OF solid Ice as far as the eye can see
1t was unpleasant to see, at fire.
quent points along the line. vast guam
titles of American rolling stock and
railway material lying useless Il and
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