The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-03-19
TRAVELLING IN RUSSIA.

En- Route to- Onsk, Aboard British
Military Train, jan 3.-(Cori,es-
pondence of The Associated Press)-
Harbin was crowded to the bursting
point when our train carrying British
troops to Omsk arrived there. 1t was
quite impossible to obtain q room
anywhere, in the town. Prices con-
stantly rising. The. temperature was
10. degrees below zero and: the at
mosphere dry and bracing.
Hundreds of tiny droskies, drawn
by two shaggy coated Mongolian
horses driven by ,bundled-up Man
chus. took passengers only at exor-
bitant rates. The railroad station
was swarming with people OF a score
of nationalities, all hurrying and
jostling, incarnating the fear and
uncertainties OF Russian life of to-
| day
The correspondent visited the
largest grocery store and laid in an
extra: supply of canned goods. The
place was jammed with people. It
! was we'll stocked with goods, and
many people were buying wines, in
cluuing champagne. An American
,ousewife would have found the
.,tore.system unbearable. A single
cashier received the payments from
Hundreds of purchasers who were
forced to stand in line for an hour
before they could pay their checks
and receive their packa ges. Earbin
is Chinese territory but Russia has
I,
ling primary rights.
The great topic. Of discussion was
the future of Russia and everybody
seemed to have n different view. All
were unanimous, however, that the
railroads must be put into better
working shape. One heard pleasant
things about America and Americans,
and the conviction was freely voiced
that America had no territorial de-.
signs on Russia.
Russian Journalists, including Il.
Kliorin. the editor Of The New Life.
said the principles Of Bolshevism
probably were more deeply rooted, in
the hearts Of the Russian people
than was believed by Americans. They
said that allied intervention should
be solely to restore order and not an
terfere with internal politics. Rus
sia. they said. should be left to work
out her own political destiny. Inter
ference from abroad would only
postpone n logical evolution OF Rus
Sia's revolution.
AN American railroad engineer r.
s. Ashby, Of Pocatello, Idaho. one OF
the 200 experts in Siberia under the
direction of John F.. Stevens to help
operate the Siberian and 9th
er railways came aboard our train
At Titsikar, Manchuria. The place
was q wild, uncultivated prairie. with
hillocks extending far away into the
horizon.
7 This place, said Mr. Ashby. "isj
called NO Mans Land" and one|
might we'll believe it. He said the
American engineers were now as
sisting the Russian staff officers who
controlled different sections or the
railway line as far rs Manchuli. He
lived in Il barracks with six other
American engineers They had some
baseball in the summer and skating
in the winter. The temperature was
generally about the same rs that OF
| Canada.
One could hardly help feeling
that the Americans should know and
realize something of what these
! American engineers are doing. often
! under obstacles in fulfillment of the
American spirit of humanity and
he,pfulnesS-
Mrs. David Fraser wife Of the cor
respondent o. the london Times.
came aboard the train to- travel to
Omsk to join her husband. Every
body admired her. She wore o .uni-
form with knickerbockers and car
ried her own provisions and cigarettes
for her husband, FOR there are no
eigacs:::es g es lad .: o:Esh.