AT SEA WITH RUSSIANS.

Evening Star, Issue 12964, 8 November 1906, Page 6

AT SEA WITH RUSSIANS.

A CHAT WITH THE CAPTAIN OP THH COURTFTELD.

" I was at Tladivostock with this steamer in March.” said Captain Martin, of the steamer Courtfield, to a ' Star ’ representative this mominir. ”We took home to Odessa 2,496 soldiers of the Boseian Imperial Army. Of these about 1.400 had been taken prisoners in the great battle of Mukden. Some of them looked as though they had been knocked about a lot, and all had seen service. Tladivostoek’s a tickßsb port to get into in war time. Thera w-rc acres of mines I o avoid, and some of tlrfen were adrift. Wo passed three loose dbes when bearing np to Askold Island for a pilot. I heard that no less than forty miles of mines had been laid altogether, and it was not without some sense of relief that we finally hauled in alongside the quay at the upper end of tho harbor. Tm four-funnelled men of war, the Boraria a.al tho Qromoboi, were lying there, both repaired after the knocking about that Kamimura gave them. At the time of our visit there was a pretty stiff insurrection going on Two or three streets were laid entirely in ruins, and the town was full. of Cossacks doing their best to keep order. The embarkation of the troops was sample enough. All their arms were first packed in boxes and lowered into the hold. Then the soldiers marched on board. Here is the card of the officer in command.” From the address on tho card, tho reporter judged that the. men taken homo .on the Courtfield must have been attached do the Fourth Corps, Genpral Masloff, and belonged to the Second Army, commanded by General Kaulbars. The writing oa the card was almost illegible, but among it could bo distinguished : ” A bon souvenir. Monsieur Commandant bote an Courtfield . . . Lieutenant-colonele Jean Leonricff . .

men address a Riga.” “ Just a word about this officer,” said Captain Martin. " When we arrived at Odessa he entertained us, together with some of his friends, at dinner. After dinne" he gave his sentiments about Britishers ana British ships. It had to be interpreted to us, and, speaking from memory, I think be said that when he first heard that be would have to go home in a British ship his first impulse was to stay where he was. and remain in Siberia for the rest of his life. Ha had never heard anything but bad accounts of anything British. After being aboard a few hours be had found that the devil -wan not quite so, bud as Kft was painted, mod before ho had been a week at sea he was bordering on the conviction that British people were very good fellows. After being five weeks at sea be found that they were the best fellows in the world, and he would knock any man down who said they weren't. And,” added Captain Martin, “ho looked fit enough to do it. He was about 6ft sin.” “For myself,” continued the captain. “I had my eyes opened with respect to Russians. I had always imagined them to be exceedingly dirty people, but they were not very long on the Courtfield before they began to make free use of water, and very soon the ship was covered from bow to| stern with shirts and other garments which they had washed and hung up to dry. The ’tween decks were kept spotlessly clean, and from start to finish there was not the suggestion of an offensive smell. Perhaps the best evidence about the general hygiene is the fact that, the ship experienced all temperatures from lOdeg above zero (at Vladivoe■stock) to tropic heat, and not a case of serious illness occurred. A point, that impressed me was the gratitude and respectful demeanor of the men. Whenever I went along the deck they broke up their little gatherings and made way for me, standing to attention most respectfully. And whenever I had anything done for them, such us rigging im awning or giving a little extra water in the tropics, there was no bounds to their gratitude. Four days after the ship reached Odessa the officers came down in a body and presented me with a gold and silver cigar box. T didn't put myself much out- for them. 1 think, but for whatever I did do I ncvci saw people more grateful.” ” How did you feed them T” ” Well, that wan another surprise. 1 was always under the impression that tho food given to Russian soldiers was very poor, but here is a list of provisions which the Russian authorities made us supply ; n terms of our charter :—Flour. 112,5001b; biscuits, 5,2301b; Australian butter, 6.0061b -, salt beef. 45,0001b: vinegar, 806 gal ; sauerkraut, 10,2401b; loaf sugar, 7,5001b: macaroni, 2,9281b; vermicelli, 4801b ; tea, 1,1301b ; washing soap, 4,5001b ; rice, 6,8001b: potatoes, 6,7TXJIb; fresh beef. 22,6121b; salt, 5,5861b; peas, 6,5361b ; lentils. 7841b ; groats, S4tlb ; pep percorns. 2501b; onions, 1,4651b; dried apples, 1,7001b: French claret, 150 gal ; cut tobacco. 1,7501h: bar tobacco, 480Tb; white cabbage. 3,3251b; oatmeal, 7,1761b: bav loaves, 401b: hops, 901b; cigarette paper. 651b; ice, 60 tons. Each day every man had a stated ration supplied, which always included white bread, brandy, buckwheat, butter, vinegar, sugar, tea, and vegetables. They wanted to put 200 gal ol vodka on board at Vladivqstock, bnt I objected, and it was not shipped. “ I was in Nagasaki when the battle of Tsn-sbima was fought, and from time to time we saw funerals of Russian dead. These had expired in the hospitals at Sasebo, and to every one the Japanese accorded a naval funeral. In the case of officers the coffin was covered with the Russian flag, and an armed Japanese company were always present to accord tho last naval lionors. As to what_ doing generally in Nagasaki, Kurc, Ujim, Saacdxi. and other plaecs I don’t think I ought to speak. Every captain trading into these ports in wax time had to take an oath not to divulge anything, and, for my own part, I think that those who took the oath should respect it. Altogether, I hold rwas a great achievement on the part ot British shipping companies to bring home hundreds of lliousands of soldiers from the scat of war, and, with tho exception of the Haversharn Grange, without an accident Tho Russian authorities in Odessa pave us great praise for the way we lauded the troops.”