The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-03-18
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Trip 10 Russia
STARTS ON PAGE ONE

Industrial section. II one didn't
have = pass-it Was just too
bad"
There are few Russians who
speak English. and those we en-
countered invariably asked this
question first:
How Is the war In Fin
land ?"
Johnston said one young fell
low, an employee Of radio station,
made the query.
IL told him that latest re-
ports then were TO the effect
that the Russians appeared TO
be getting licked. He didn't
seem to like this news.
Then I told him of the Firms
use Of white garments in the snow
covered battle fields TO escape de-
lection.
He laughed at this" john
ston remarked, land then
commented, Those Firms are
tricky, aren't they"
Johnston disclosed that English
speaking civilians were permitted
to congregate in but one place
the International club.
City Disappointing
ut was just a place for distribu-
ton of propaganda. There was an
old battered piano in the place and
all kinds of propaganda literature
on tables, printed in the English
language. Painted on walls of the
club, in large English letters, was
the Russian constitution"
A trip through the business and
residential sections of the city
proved disappointing to Johnston.
THE buildings were either old,
or appeared to be but half finished
and they were falling apart.
None Of them seemed to be wired
for electricity.
Display windows of stores
were so dirty. one could not see in
side. I guess that didn't matter,
though, for they had little mer-
chandise to sell.
I'VE went into one big de-
partment store. II was four
stories high. Inside we found
n small stock Of merchandise.
II It was all grouped together.
/ doubt II II would have filled
the average room of a house"
Johnston expressed amazement
at the food Russians were required
to subsist on.
No Fresh Food
Wages are high, and 30 Is
everything else. We tried TO buy
fresh food, but could find none. We
learned the Russians may purchase
only cheese, bread, canned crab,
salt herring and salomi. Some of
the Russians cut holes through the
Recovered harbor and catch an
occasional fish to get fresh food.
II bought a cheese sandwich
and IL cost me four rubles--
80 cents"
Johnston revealed that all stores
and businesses are government OPP
Grated. That includes the barber
shops, too" he said.
Street cars in Vladiyostok, John
ston said, are smaller than the
one-man trans that used TO OPP
crate in Tacoma. Two Of the small
cars are coupled together. They
are operated by male motormen,
but women collect fares.
In ali of Vladivostok. Johnston
estimated. there were not more
than 100 automobiles.
Gasoline Shortage
There are but two makes
there" he said. Either Lincoln OF
Ford. Both are made in Russia.
Those who do have cars have
trouble getting gasoline. due to the
shortage caused by the var.
only one brand OF cigsrets are
obtainable. A brand made from
Turkish tobacco. No cigars ars
sold and no one smokes pipes.
There were about two
soldiers for every civilian"
Johnst declared. There
were lots Of sailors, too, "a
Nladivostok Is a naval base.
The soldiers and sailors like n
tell how the Russians went int
Poland TO save the Poles"
Johnston said they were unshl.
to learn for what purpose the load
Of copper taken over on the shig
] was 10 bs used. II evidently wal