The Alaska daily empire., 1918-01-04

marble floor is enough to sicken one forever of war and revolution.
 AS l stood there, holding my breath, l tried to imagine that there were thousand and one scenes repeated in Russia alone, and then l remembered Poland and Ser bia and Belgium
 Winter has already got it's grip on Russia. How many thousands or millions will it starve or freeze, The revolution itself was produced in the last analysis by misery like this. Can it cease? Can order, be restored until it is in measure re- Iieved?
 American Experts Active.
 The American railway cOmmis- sion before the disastrous outbreak of civil war in Petrograd, was ac complaining marvels in restoring or der to the chaos of the Russian railroads. If order can be maintain so that the work they have started will continue there is hope yet that Russian armies can still give an account of themselves.
 I have talked with many Rus sians, including Professor Bordin of the Russian commission in Amer ica, who believe that the efficiency of regeneration of the railroads will determine the course of the revolu tion and the the war.
 It is that immense question which is being discussed over glasses of tea in every home and in every res taurant in Vladivoctok. Can tke forces of order command the situa- tion in Petrograd, which is tie nerve center of the republic? Anarchists All Over.
 to the two capitals. They are here, 6000 miles away. They are n every town and city, where there are men who desire the property Of others and who believe that the revolution has given them the lib erty to take it.
 The majority of intelligent men with whom 1 have talked believe that if Petrograd and Moscow are given up to them this winter Rus sia itself will explode like a bomb. The people who have the interests of Russia at heart seem to feel that they are living on the edge of an abyss and until this winter is over hey cannot breathe freely.
 Even in Vladivostok the well-to on their doors as if they expected to resist a siege.
 The streets are quiet, yet people will not open to your knock until they are certain that a friend is at the door.
 Vladivostok would indeed be a city of nightmares if every riot were let loose. It's population consists for the most part of poverty strick- en Chinese and tall Mongolians in rugged furs. who seemed to have stepped out of some blood and thun- der story.
 Then there are hundreds of sol diers, comrades" one must call them, who are malcontents, perhaps because they have nothing to do but lounge about the Streets; refu- gees driven to desperation, dock la borers and the scum of humanity that exists in any port.
 And the fate of all this antheap of mingled races and of Russia itself depends on the courage and stead fastness of the portion of Russia's army that is loyal and on the few great men who are in command of Russia's destiny. The war does not exist here; only the revolu- tion. Except for a few lines in the brief dispatches concerning To- cal engagements of the Eastern front there is no news of England or France or of the tragedy of the Italian front. Perhaps it is as well, for on the progress of the revolu- tion in Russia the whole balance of ths war may depend.