Evening star., 1928-06-03
RUSSIA DISCOVERS
VAST NOMAD BAND
Population of Worlds Larg-
est Nation Stretches
to All Chimes.

A wear ago Russia announced that
the Union had l46,304,93l inhabitants
according TO a new cenSus. But recent
" census enumerators, Drowned by the
saln-swept sands of Kara Kun Desert, in
the Transcaspian region, upset t1eSe
figures when they reported 250,00O
npnad Soviet subjects which had not
been counted.
Although the Union Of Socialist
Soviet Republics is three times the area
Cf the United States it has but 26.000.-
coo more inhabitants" says bulletin
from the National Geographic Society
" Russia owns one-seventh Of the
land area of the world has become a
stock phrase among the Soviet orators.
II is the worlds largest continuous
country and is second only TO the Bit
ish Empire among the worlds land
holders. Unlike the British Empire.
however. its possessions are all within
two continents-Europe and Asia.
trip across the Union from its western
to its eastern border would nearly equal
round trip from New York to san
Francisco.
Year-round Wardrobe.
From the borders of Poland and
Tun1ania On the west the Union
stretches across half of Europe and
northern Asia TO the easternmost point
Of Kamchatka. which extends into the
Pacific Ocean. It's bleak islands OF the
north are nearer the North Pole than
.Soitzbergen and its southern frontiers
are on the parallel Of Norfolk and san
Francisco.
ITO tour the Union traveller needs
2 year round wardrobe" continues the
bulletin. The government operates
Arctic Circle where the Eskimos huddIe
themselves in numerous layers OF furs.
Along the northern part Of Russia and
Siberia the traveller sees the Samoyeo.
snugly wrapped. emerge firm his hut
or dugout. straddle the reinjeel, which
Is his only transportation, ana tIot
across a land of perpetual snow. Ihe
whole range of temperate climates is
encountered in the middle region, while
in the extreme south. where otEer
Soviet subjects sit cross-legged on
camels, straw hats and Summer linens
are even uncomfortable.
Politically the Union is divided into
six constituent republics They in turn
comprise more than 80 autonomous
units, in many Of which the inl1abt+-
ants widely differ in race, languages.
customs. costumes and culture.
The Russian Socialist Federated
Soviet Republic. the largest of the re-
uublics. includes most Of European
Russia and Siberia II is twice the size
Of Canada. with population nearly
equal to that Of the whole French Re-
public, which counts its possessions in
both hemispheres. The TurEoman
Soviet Socialist Republic and the Uzbek
Soviet Socialist Republic. lying between
the Caspian Sea and the back door OF
China. are about six times as large as
New York State. but with a population
about equal 10 that Of New York City
Tsars' Expansion.
The Transcaucas.an Socialist Fed
erai Soviet Republic which includes
Georgia Azerbaijan and Armenia, also
fas q population nearly equal 70 New
York City. and its area is slightly less
than twice that Of the State. The
Ukrainisn Soviet Socialist Republic.
OCCUPYING the southwestern corner OF
Russia. is slightly smaller than Cali
foyTia In area with population less
than that of Gan Francisco. The White
Russian Eowiet ! Socialist Republic.
Witch is the Rhode Island Of the con-
stituent republics. is about 40 times
larger than the New England States,
with twice the population Of ProVi-
6ence.
The expansion Of Russia began
r1oYe than thousand years ago. First
the country was divided into numerous
independent prinicipalities and gov
erned by princes. In the fifteenth
century. when the tsars took the retlss
CT government. great empire began 10
spread over the Eastern Hemisphere.
ivan the III was the famous ground
gamer On the Russian gridiron and
earned tns title 'Gatherer Of Russian
Earth Peter the Great. Catherine the
Great. Alexander and Nicholas I,
however. should share the honors for
extending the domain
The Union is not quite as large as
r was prior 70 1917 under the tsars.
for Egtaoass, Latvia, Poland and Fin
land have been granted their freedom.
and Besssraniz disputed territory BE-
tween Raananis and the Ukraine. nov
ts occupied BIZ taa Rainlaniang. These
areas comprise 2S9.492 square miles,
with about 5000, ,Do) inias oltants."