The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-06-13
Maui Man Tells
OF Siberian Trip
Major Short, On Relief Work For Red
Cross Writes Interesting Account
Of Visits To Various American
Camps In The Russian Territory

lne Mdu NEWS, tnrOugn the court
esq of H. B. Penhallow of the Wailu-
ku Sugar company, prints herewith a
letter from Major S. T. Short of the
American Red Cross, who is now on
duty in Siberia, on the journey of the
military relief train through the Am
erican quarters in Siberia. This let
to- is of double interest to Maui peo-
ri on account of the fact that Major
Short was at one time a member of
the Wailuku Sugar company.
The Military Relief Train left Via
divostok on February twenty-eighth,
1919 at twelve-thirty. The person
mel were Lieut.. Jones, Mr.. Greben,
the interpreter, a Chinese cook, and
myself. Arriving at Nikolsk, we were
able to persuade Lieut.. Alexander, of
the Russian Railroad Service, to take
the trip with us, and we came right
along to Habarovsk, arriving there
Saturday at midnight. We came in
the same old box car which we used
the first of the year when we deliver
ed the comfort kits. Our old box car
is not a palace by any means, but we
have really been quite comfortable on
the trip sc far. The fire goes out at
midnight, but with the aid of our ov-
e%rcoats, we are able to keep warm. l
assure you too, that our good and
willing cook does not let us starve.
Sunday morning l went over to
Headquarters and met Colonel Steyer
and Capt. Schameltuski, who were
both glad to see me. We talked over
the situation of the hospitals and 9th
er relief work in Habarovsk, as well
as the Camp Service end of the Red
Cross work. Arrangements were made
to have the hospital supplies called
for on Monday as well as the things
that We brought for the Army Hos
pital. Sunday afternoon, Jones, Alex
ander, and l took in the town, and l
was very glad to have an opportunity
of attending the Greek Church, which
l found very interesting. The music
was fine, and the interior of the
church was beautiful. We arrived
home (our old box carr about half
past six, and had a real good dinner
of ham and eggs, with sliced Hawaii
an pineapple for dessert.
Monday morning the detail arrived
about nine o'clock and we made short
work of the supplies. 1t took seven
wagon loads to transport them. In
the afternoon, l went up with n of
the wagons for the Army Hospital,
and saw Major Scudder. We had a
nice long chat about the situation of
the Russian Hospitals here as well as
about the work of this department in
his hospital. l explained my plans to
him, and l believe l have now con-
WINGED him that we really can do a
lot of good, and I think my next trip
there will bring results. There is no
room in the hospital which we could
use for our department, so l suggest
ed that we fix up a room or a small
building which could be used for the
c~onvalescents of the hospital.
Tuesday morning, we left for the
prison camp at Krasnaya Reitchka,
Colonel Steyer having made all ar
rangements for us to go over in his
own sleigh. We left about half past
ten and after a very beautiful and in
teresting trip across the frozen Us
surf and Amur Rivers, we arrived at
the Prison Camp about twelve o'clock.
We met Lieut.. James, the adjutant of
the camp who made arrangements for
us to go up to lunch. There we met
all the other eight officers of the
camp, including Col. and Major Stein
er, both officers of the Austrian army.
The Americans are in charge of the
camp but the men are also under
their own officers. We first visited
their handsome club rooms and their
amusement where they have a
Nlittle theatre of their own They built
all these things themselves. The cur
tain of their theatre is a work of art,
and the paintings, etchings, and tap
estries are really beautiful.
We next visited the hospital which
is the best that l have ever seen in
this part of the country. Everything
is as complete as it can be and the
men all seemed to take a great deal
OF pride and interest in their work.
This is all under supervision of the
American officers who are certainly
a fine lot of American true-blodded
men. In fact the whole camp is in
just as good condition as is the hos
pital.
After our tour of the hospital, we
made complete circuit of the mess