Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-01
0MSK TRAINS
ARE CROWDED
With. BRITISH
The Russians Have Friendly
Feeling Toward U. S.
Russian Prices Raise.

En- Route to omsk, Aboard British
Military Train. Jan. 3.-(Corre-
spondence of the Associated Press. -
Hardin was crowded to the bursting
point when u train carrying British
troops to Omsk arrived there. 1t was
quite impossible to obtain a room
anywhere in the town. Prices con
was 10 degrees below zero and the
atmosphere dry n bracing.
| Hundreds Of tiny droskies, drawn
by two shaggy-coated Mongolian
horses driven by bundled-up Man
chus, took passengers only at ex-
orbitant rates. The railroad station
was swarning with people of a score
of nationalities. all hurrying and
jostling, incarnating the fear and un
certainties Of Russian life Of today.
The correspondent visited the
largest grocery store and laid in an
extra supply Of canned goods. The
place was damned with people. 1t
was we'll stocked with goods, and
many people were buying wines, in
Guiding champagne. An American
housewife would have found the
store 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 packages. Hardin is
| ways considered herself as possessing
primary rights.
The great topic Of discussion was
the future Of Russia and everybody
seemed to nave a 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 z.
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 tina Allied Intervention should
be solely to restore order and not in
terfere with Internal politics. Rus
out her W political destiny. Inter-
ference from abroad would only post
pone a logical evolution of Russia's
revolution. 80
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 inc LrdnS-SlDer1an and other
railways, came aboard our train at
Titsikar, Manchuria. The place VA
a wild. ,un~cultivated prairie, with
hillocks extending far away into the
horizon.
This place." said Mr.. Ashby, lis
called No Mans Land" and ono
might well believe it. He said the
American engineers were now assist
ing the Russian staff officers who con
trolled different sections Of the rail-
way, line rs far as Manchuli. He lived
in 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 as that of. Canada. I
One could hardly help feeling that
the Americans should know and real
lie something Of what these American
engineers are doing often under OBJ
stacles in fulhifment Of the American
spirit Of humanity and helpfulness.
Mrs. David Fraser, wife Of the r
respondent Of the London Times, came
aboard our train to travel to Onsk
to join her husband. Everybody al
mired her. She wore a uniformgwith
knickerbockers and carried her own
provisions and cigarettes for her hus.
band. for there are no cigarettes to
be had at onisk.