South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-26

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When the red forces last Novem-
Der finally defeated Gen. Semenoa
leader Of the Buriat Cossacks. and
sent him flying 20 the protection OF
a japanese warship In Vladivostok
haroor, they thought they had rid
themselves OF the japanese influence
IN the Lake BaikaI region and were
free TO devote their attention 20 their
enemies further east. They also
thought they were at last 10 have a
free route 10 China. even though the
railroads were held by the japanese.
They sought to make fullest use
Of the old caravan route which runs
from Verkne-Udinsk. past Urga and
onto Kalgan. where the railroad from
Picking ends. Altogether this road
is 1000 miles long and 700 miles OF
IL runs over The great desert OF Cobb.
Centuries OF use have beaten II hard
and IL is capable OF great traffic.
More than 100000 camels were en-
gagged. before the war. in carrying
tea into Siberia and taking back
other products 10 China. Many cara
vans OF hundreds Of camels would set
out daily each way.
The bolshevik troubles disorgan-
lied this route. but with the fall OF
Semenoff, NJ Yourin, a bolshevik
envoy. went to Picking and undertook
10 restore II and install automobile
trains He was making excellent
progress, even against the protests
Of the western powers and Japan,
when early in February Baron I'm
gern-Sternberg suddenly appeared on
the scene.
Hoped TO Put Back Cars.
This Russian aristOcrat OF German
blood had thrown himself into the
arms Of the Japanese in the belief
that only through their aid could
the czaristic regime be stored I'm Rus
STA He had been the chief of staff
Of Semenoff. When that leader was
beaten he refused to give in. With
about 5000 men, largely monarch
lists, and some japanese officers. he
made his way into Mongolia. Here
the japanese found ways Of helping
him, sending officers. supplies and
ammunition, and cooperating with
him in stirring up belief among the
MongOlians that they had an oppor-
tunity to achieve independence of
both China and Russia.
The Japanese militarists had long
studied the Monaghan problem. They
had laid claim to the eastern portion
of this old empire. They had also
seen the possibilities of using it's war
like tribes against other enemies.
AS far back as the Russo Japanese
war they had made good use Of the
superstitions of the tribesmen caus-
ing them to attack the Russian com
municauons. One OF the devices they
used was to rig up idols with cleo
trical eyes and have voices issue from
them telling the people they must
destroy the demons which ran on
the Siberian railroad. 1t worked.
The Mongol princes had been al
ways highly independent and had
been FESTIVE under the rulership Of
Picking. They had also resented the
steady encroachments OF Russia.
They and their people were ready to
! listen to the Japanese and their Rus
sian ally.
! Consequently. early last February,
/ the Chinese garrison in Urga, the
chief city of the great caravan route,
was surprised by an attack of a force
under the dashing Ungern- Sternberg.
He had about 5000 Russians and
10000 Mongols, finely armed and
equipped. The Chinese could put
up little resistance and the baron
and Japanese took possession of the
city. cut or the trade between China
and the bolsheviki: proclaimed the
independence of Mongolia and set out
to raise an army which should be
able to strike at the rear OF the reds
operating toward Manchuria. They
have had much success in this en-
deavor and at last accounts they had
large force on the caravan route to
the southwark of the red base at
! Nerkne- Udinsk, harassing the boil
shevik forces and trying TO stir up
rebellion among the Buriat Cos
sacks which would enable them TO
move into that territory.
Rebellion May Aid Japanese.
Coincidentaly with these far-fiung
| fanking enterprises. the Japanese
have been supporting the moderates
and monarchists in Siberia in at
tempts ostir up rebellions while the
reds in Russia proper are busily en-
gagged with the ievolts there. How
far these enterprises have succeeded
is not clear. We get a great deal
OF propaganda Indicating that the
whole of Siberia west Of Lake Baikal
has risen against the soviets but we
have heard euch things before and