Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-11-18

Russia remains the one country
sealed to the postwar tourist. Until
an AsSociated Press correspondent
and another American recently made
the 5000 mile journey from Vladivos.
trk. Siberia. into Russia proper,
through Moscow and Petrograd and
ouI across the Finnish frontier no
Americans had crossed Russia for
more than two years.
After Admiral Kolrhaks defeat last
year, Russia and part of Siberia again
were united, but the Red forces did not
follow up their successes beyond lrk-
utSk. Scattered remnants of KOlchak's
forces retreated On foot to Chila.
where they joined with the CoSsacks
and DICTIONARIES under Ataman Seine
noff and there again established an
anti-Bolshevik barrier.
Then VladvOstok, the Siberian port,
fell to local revolutionists, who ex-
pressed their sympathy for the Soviet
regime, but it was understood in Elad-
ivostok the attempt to establish G
Soviet regime in far eastern Siberia
was to be postponed until after the de-
parture Of foreign troops.
Siberia Is Divided.
Thus Siberia remained divided, the
Bolshevik flag flying in the Lake l'hi-
kal and maritime provinces, while be
tween these districts Semenof and his
Cossacks continued to hold the "hlack
spot Of Siberia, as the BoSheviki
term the Cossack territory.
Thousands of refugees from Boil
shevism are gathered in Irkutsk. Their
one desire to get out Of BOlSIevik
territory, but the Cossacks will not al
low them to pass along the railway
zone, fearing Bolshevk agents in their
numbers. On the other side of the
Cossack barrier, refugees who have
gathered at VladivostOk and Hardin
during the last three years try In vain
to cross the Cossack belt into Soviet
Siberia. Difficult living conditions In
Vladivostok have made them ready lis
teners to the stories of BOlshevik
agents about ideal life under the So
Wet regime. Each group of refugees
wishes to be in the others shoes.
Cross Cobb Desert
One way is open into Siberia. de-
tour of 1000 miles, through northern
China and Mongolia, across the Cobb
desert, brings the traveller into ST.
IBERIA across the northern Mongolian
frontier. Over this route thousands OF
Chinese laborers and small shopkeep-
ers have returned to China since the
establishment of the Bolshevik regime
in Siberia. Those few refugees who
escape through the Bolshevik Gordon
travel across Mongolia into China and
Bolshevik agents cross the 7OO-mile
Cobb desert In their trips to and from
the Vladivostok district.
II was this old-world caravan route
that the Associated Press correspon-
dent used to enter Siberia, travelling
by train, automobile, horse and steam
boat from Picking to Verkhne- Udinsk
on the Selenga river, where travel by
the trans-Siberian railway again Is
possible.
Wireless dispatches from Mosc'
lIlul htduldA oShiShoi h'c >>'.'''
his anti-Bolshevik activities; has, 1t Is
reported, even asked that his forces be
incorporated in the Bolshevik armies
Such action would mean an open way
into Siberia.
But Asia never will compete with
Europe for the favor of the battlefield
tourist. There can be no few days
tours of the battlefelds In Russia
There war is science of great spaces
as we'll us Of guns and men and STRAIT
egy. In day Russian armies can ad'
vance or retreat over more ground
than some European armies covered In
years Of war.
The retreat Of Admiral Kolchass
forces from Perm and Ufa ended al
Chita, 5000 miles to the rear-the dis
lance across the United States from
Maine to California-the longest re-
treat in military history. And the dis
lance from the Kolchak front In the
Urals to the other Russian fronts Ia
that of the breadth of Europe.