Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-05
s,sgR,A oooo PLACE TO AVOID.
OiHicultlVs 81 Campaign In Far on
Land hazardous.

Correspondence Associated Press,
I'm Route 10 Omsk, Siberia, Dec. 20.
People have talked lightly of sending
an army Of half a million men or more
to western Siberia to battle bolsbe-
vism or for any other reason connect
ed with this stupcndous Russian prob
lem, The Japanese learned by bitter
experience In the war with Russia OF
the difficulties Of Siberian campaign
and would ponder long before dis
patching mighty army to the far
Ural mountains. The correspondent Of
Tho Associated Press. as passenger
on a special British military train
bound for Omsk, the seat OF the ALI
Russian government. Is having a close
opportunity 10 study the difficulties OF
transporting great army.
We have on board company OF
splendid British troops recently ar
rived from India-men OF the famous
Hampshire regiment-the territoriais
or militia Of England who offered TO
10 to India TO replace tho regulars VINO
served for two years. Now the FOR
tunes of war find them riding across
the barren lands Of Manchurla on their
way to the heart of the Siberian step
pes where the thermometer IL forty
degrees below zero. Anxious as they
are to return to their homes In Eng
land they fulfill this new task giadly
and light heartedly. They are traVei.
ing In plain, rude box cars, groupeu
about stoves with all the discomtorts
that a journey Of two or three WEEKS
and perhaps more, involves.
For the officers commanding the
contingent, there is q third class Rus-
sian sleeping car with bare wooden
shelves to hold their sleeping bags ana
blankets, In another British military
train which precedes us there Is no
sleeping car and the officers are camp
ing with their men In the poN cars.
We are fortunate in one respect. Lac"
of Russian equipment and facilities TOT
cooking oblige the officers to eat the
some rations as the men which Il
plain, is wholesome and nourishing.
Lack of cars is the most STRIKING
feature of life in Siberia today. Ihere
10 deploorable DISCRIMINATION. Tnere
is urgent need of central management.
.nd peoople who have the welfare o.
siberia at heart earnestly hope tha'
John F., Stevens, the American ran
road expert, who is now here, wili oe
given a chance to bring order from
chaos. 80.
It was a picturesque spectacle as
the train stopped at stations on w.
way from Vladivostok TO Hardin. Tan
Russians, Chinese and Koreans I'D
bulky, tattcred, filthy garments wou'o
swarm around the train Offering lot
sa,e doubtful looking eatables. nun
srv, long haired dogs, wolfish in ap-
near,ncc. prowled about the cars
Swapping and growing, gulpins down
ANYTHING that will stay death. IN
band in a lonely area they Wouio NC
formidable to any man. Ehe Wea,he'
w,s keen and cold. the wind biting.
Long delays occurred al almost ever
station. Many freight cars were seen
but few, in movement. Disorsah'~a-
ton reigned master .,,o
The two lessons taught early IN inc
tourney were, first the great ma'e-
rial obstacles ito be encountered II,
sanding a big army into Siberia an"
tho imperative need Of central man
agement of the Siberian railroads:
Tbe comfort and perhaps the lives ol
the people Of Russia depend upon d
nrompt, central. control Of the ran
roads. t