The Bowbells tribune. [volume] (Bowbells, Ward Co., N.D.) 1899-1969, 1920-12-17
TELLS ABOUT Con.
O|T|0NS IN SIBERIA

Barney Hoffman, son Of Mr.
and Mrs. John Hoffman Of this city
who arrived last week from San
Francisco where he received his
discharge from the U. S. Army, has
many interesting experiences to re-
late in regard to his stay in Siberia
during the last year Of the war. He
is now spending a few weeks here
visiting his parents, during which
/ time he is employed at The Tribune
plant. He spent three. years in the
U. S. service.
On the trip out from the states.
:, the unit to which Hoffman belonged
! sailed direct to the Philippines.
| There they remained two months
and then went to Siberia by way of
Hong Kong, China. and Japan.
| The Americans met with rousing re-
ceptions at the port of Hong Kong
and in China, but were treated with
cool contempt by the Japanese. In
| Siberia his outfit was stationed at
Vladivostok, Khanarsvsk. Nikholz,
Ver]1hue-Udinsk and at Irkutsk on
Lake Baikal. Lake Baikal, said
Hoffman, is a beautiful body Of Wal
ter and in the summer time is Il
popular resort for summer visitors.
A carferry is operated across the
luke Throughout the year in connec-
ton with the Trans Siberian rail-
road.
Transportation facilities along
the line of railroad are very poor.
The cars are small and inadequa uate
and the trains are operated largely
at the will Of the train crews.
American troops in southern ST.
IBERIA were few, according to Mr..
Hoffman, and their duties lay Who'll
ly in the protecting of American in
terests.
Besides America, Japan has sent
troops into this territory, exceeding
her limit by many thousand men.
Japan was only entitled to 1000
troops in Siberia under the eaty
and agreement with the Allies, Dul
did and still maintains an army of
about $4,000 men in Siberia.
Mr.. Hoffman says: "The Men,
chivik or CoCssacks represent the
capitalists of Russia and Siberia.
They are on il par with the old re-
glme OF the Car. and greatly ad-
verse TO the presence of Allied
troops in Siberia. On several occu-
sions we would undoubtedly have
been attacked by the Cossacks hn
it not been for the presence in our
sector of numerous Japanese troops.
"On the other hand. the Bolshe-
Wiki soldiers. representing the COM
mon classes Of Russia and Siberia,
WRIr0Cnn<l
no trouble with them, and in many
cases they permitted American sup
plies to pass through their lines
when they would not allow the sup
plies Of the other Allied armies to
pass. This situation was very no.
ticeable in the vicinity of Arch
angle:
'The Japanese and American
troops did not fraternalize. We
had several ruI-ins with Jap troops.
but one American was usually good
for regiment or two, so that did
not bother us much"
Speaking OF the people, Mr.. Hoff-
man said: 1.-THE people of Siberia
are of the Old order of Russian
peasant, Thy are ignorant, filthy
and brutal. The men spend most
of their time smoking and drinking
tea (Which they consume in large
Quantities), and the women do tho
work. Womanhood in Siberia ID
OH par with the days of Caesar,
and is merely considered by the ST.
berian as beast of burden. Often
Russian women who had been seen
with with American soldiers, were
f1ogged by the Cossack troops, but
they considered it all in the days
work, and OF no consequence"
An effort on the part of the Yanks
to introduce the "Shimmie' and the
turkey-trot into Russian society met
with a fiat failure. "They haven't
got the pep, the inclination nor the
said Hoffman. ''They
are also adverse to whistling in the
house, and l got in dutch right off
the bat when I attempted to whistle
It's a Long Way to Berlin-But
Well Get There, while attending
Siberian dinner party. Either the :
host didn't believe in our theory or
t went cro grained with his re-
igion--anyhow, was politely in
vited to tabo my musical program
Tor the present.
-. " Adl Ll0 HdllvcS i've on is
mystery. They have a ration of
ish and bread and tea which would
mock the stantions out of the stom-
lch of most any human, but they
get away with it and linger on. The
German and Austrian prison camps
we're in frightful shape when we
got there. The Cossacks had been
II charge and nearly starved the
prisoners. We took charge of the
amp and after few square meals !.
We couldn't separate the prisoners
rom our company any more than
We could so many cooties.'' - #
g Money conditions in Siberia are
rery unsettled. Money value rises
nd falls with the various victories
t the factions and each; form Of
,overnment manufactures its own
money g5
8 Hoffman told OF: an amusing in
ident in connection with the money
An American soldier: Of
cred American money for. a basket
( boiled eggs. The woman suit
Ter refused the Yankee coin but ac- S..
opted two Fatima cigarette coupons
a v ~