Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-11
SEES ONLY PAPER
MONEY IN siberia
Arthur v. White Writes Inter-
esting Letter From North
ern Russia.

Mr.. ard Mrs. ]. F. White, 1866 north
Commercial, have recently received al
long letter from their son, Arthur v.
White, who is now stationed with the
American marines at Vladivstock, 81
IBERIA. He enlisted about year ago,
served for ten months at Mare Island,
Iwent from there to Honolulu with the
transport Sherman, and later was sent
on to Siberia to help out the Huns
from that region. He says in part:
"We are now located in the Y. NJ. C.
A. headquarters, which is about the only
warm place in town. OF all the places
have sen this has the whole world
beat in some respects. They have moth
ing but paper money here; one never
sees any silver Or gold. Yesterday
money was eight and half rubles on
the dollar; today it is niae and half.
Every day it varies from one to four
rubles.
"We have taken pictures of nearly
everything Of any interest and will send
all of them to you from Cavite. You
would hardly believe the way the ocean
freezes here unless you could see it.
We were a day late getting into port
because the ice was so thick we had
to have boats go ahead and break it.
People were standing within few feet
of the ship while we were breaking
through. A person would hardly think
the salt water would freeze two feet
and half thick but we were in that
kind of ice for more than a day before
we got in.
See Some Sights.
Geel l wish you folks could see some
of the sights here and in Japan. 1t is
some sights, believe me. We have just
been to good show and had grand |
time, with plenty to eat. The fellows
all stick around the y. M. G. A. be-
cause it is always warm and everybody |
speaks English
'There are three foreign battleships
hcre-oae American, British and Japan
csc each--besides all the Russian ships,
and they are all frooze in. There are
lot Of American soldiers stationed here
and none Of them like the place.
There are also lotsof sailors from the
bhttleship Brooklyn. To me this is sure
a treat, and | only wish / was going
further, though | prefer anotner ship,
"While in Kobe port got acquainted
with Japanese girl who had been in
England and the United States and
could speak good English. She was one
of the most charming womanlv foreign
ers have ever met withA She dresses
in English clothes and has nothing to
do with the Japsga all. While there
she invited me and my friends to hei
house and we had bne grand time. She |
was some cook and gave us a meal that
we will never forget, AID we spent
lot of time talking over places she had
visited. She did so hate to sees me
leave, and down at the ship she kissed
me on both cheeks and gave me her ad-
dress 50 | could write TO her.
To go to Nagasaki.
1t is rumored that we Will go from
here to Nagasaki and then come back
with load of coal for the Brooklyn,
but we cannot tell. We expect to go
then to Manila, which is only three
days from Nagasaki, so we will soon
hit warm weather.
This town has the marks of the Russo
Jap war left. There is Japanese
battleship stationed here that was cap
tured by the Russians, They have no
use for the Japs here. | have seen
many Of the Cossacks here and they
look Just like they are shown in the
pictures. 1t is all very interesting here
but | imagine it would get verv old
if fellow had to stay any length OF
time. It sure is cold outside, and
wouldn It walk around the block for So.
Am going to sit by the fireplace for
while and then go to bed. Will write
again from Nagasah.
Yours as ever,
ARTHUR.