Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1919-02-18
SIBERIAN CAMPAIGN
SERIOUS PROPOSITION
Sending Troops BEYOND the trnlH
Not n Tempting
Idea.
RAIL WAYS NEED RENOVATION
Lack of Facilities OF Mnny Kinds
Prove Embarrassing
IIindrnncc,

EN- ROUTE TO OMSK, SIBERIA
Fec. l7.--Peoplr have talked iRh ~
OF sending an army Of half a million
men or moro to western siberia 10
battle with bOlshovism or for any
other reason connected with ihis
stupendous Russian problem the
Japanese learned hy bitter expert
ence I'm the war with RuEsin OF the
difficulties OF. "a siberian campaign
and would ponder long before ais
patching a mighty army 10 IN" Tar
lIrnl mountains Tho correspondent
Of the Associated prctE, as pass"n-
pcy on a special British military train
bound Tor Omsk, the seat OF the all
Russian government, Nv having "A
close opportunity 10 study the difii-
cuiiics OF transporting q great army.
We have on board company of
splendid British troops recently ar
rived from India men of the IA
nous Hampshire reRiment---the ter
ritorlals Of militia OF Enslnnd who
offered 10 20 to India To replace tho
regulars and who served there for
TWO years. Now the fortunes OF war
find them rld!ng across the barren
lands " Manchuria on their way 10
the heart OF the siberian Steppcs
where the temperature is 30 deg ces
below zero. Anxious as they are 10
return to their homes In England
they fulflll this new task gladly ana
light. heartcdly. They arc travelling
In plain. rude box cars, grouped
about stoves with all the dlscon-
forts thai a Journey of two or three
weeks and perhaps more involves.
For the officers commanding the
contingent. there In third class
Russian sleeping car with bare
wooden shelves to hold their sleeping
bags and blankets. In another Brit
iah military train which precedcs us
there in nd sleeping car and the Of
flcers are camping with their men
IN the box ears, We are fortunate In
one respect. Lack OF Russian equip
ment and facilities for cooking obl!gn
the Officers to eat the same rations
az the men which, II plain. Is whole
some and nourishing
Transportation Difficulties.
Lack OF railroad cars is the most
striking feature OF lie In siberia
today There is dcplorable disor-
Eanizatio1 There Is urgent need OF
cefftpai infringement and people who
nave lHt Netlhft VI FtibfTlh NJ n'i
earnestly hope that John u. stevens.
tho American railroad expert. who
Is now here. will lie given chance
TO bring order from chaos,
II was n picturesque spectacle ms
tho train stopped at stations on tho
way from Vhdivostok TO IIarbin,
Tall Russiens, Chinese and Koreans
In bulky. tattered. filthy garments
warmed around the traAn offering
doubtful-looking eaiables for sale
Hungry. long haired dogs. wolfish In
appearances. prowled about the ears.
anapping and growing fulptng
down anything that will stay dea tn.
In n band In lonely area thay
would be formidable TO any man. The
weather was keen and cold. the
wind biting. Long delays occurred
at almost every station. Many
freight cars we're seen but few In
movement, Disorganization rslrned
master.
The two lessons taught early in
the journey woye. first. the great
material obstacles 10 be encountered
in sending a hig army Into Siberia
and the imperative need OF central
management OF the Siberian rail-
roads. The comfort and perhaps the
lives Of the people OF Russia depend
upon prompt central control OF the
railroads..