RUSSIA THROUGH AMERICAN SPECTACLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12727, 22 December 1915, Page 8

RUSSIA THROUGH AMERICAN SPECTACLES.

A special Commissioner was recently sent to Russia to review the situation through American eyes, and has just sent an interesting dispatch to San i'Vaneisco showing that freight is overwhelming Russia's sole

port oi Vladivostok. In the course ol his initial report he says:—'"With its wharves piled high with all sorts oi war supplies and its railway facilities wholly inadequate to meet the insistent demands of the Russian army, Vladivostok is looking anxiously toward the Panama Canal and hoping ior a report that the slides have been mastered and will permit the passage of ships carrying the rails, locomotives and ears so necessary to speed up transportation along the six miles of railway -which separate the Russian battle lines from Russia's greatest gateway for supplies. "So far not a' single chip from -NewYork has arrived bearing locomotives or railway cats. Four hundred and fiftyAmerican locomotives and twenty thousand American freight- cars have been purchased, and many of them have been shipped.

"So far large guns have been the onlybulky machinery unloaded. The great cargoes of American locomotives and steel freight ears call for docking machinery and facilities which Vladivostok does not affoid. The docks are small; entirely- of wood, and few in number. The lighters and barges available are also small and not well suited to large pieces of machinerv.

"Virtually -every available foot oi ground along the waterfront is at present stacked high with war supplies covered with canvas. Warehoused are crowded to their capacity, and the overflow is piled under any temporary shelter which can be provided.

"It is estimated ' that a traiuload of war supplies stares westward every three hours, but the great warehouses and piers are constantly Idled again from the ships alwavs at anchor waiting for a chance to dock'.

"An endless chain of Koreans and Chinese are employed loading the IVeight cars, which are rapidly worked into trains and started off for the seat of war.

Japan is supplying Kus.sia with great quantities of lead and copper, which are delivered at Vladivostok.' Shel's, lines and big guns, some as large as twelve inches, are also- beinu provided by the Japanese. The leading hotels are crowded with representatives- " <>] Japanese and American concerns interested in tin- n.i,traeb> for war materials to he shipped through the Vladivostok gateway. .Steamers operating between Japanese west coast ports and Vladivostok are carrying heavyloads of war supplies from Japan. "Jiefore the great European war began Vladivostok had more than 100.000 "inhabitants. To-dav its population is U -15 than 75.000, so heavy have been the'<-;,!!-of the Russian army upon tile men ol Eastern .Siberia. The latest .-urmui.iiwill take 10.0Q0 from Vladivostok alone. These new recruits arc being sent awav at the rate of 1.000 a day. "Many of them are badlv needed in Vladivostok to help take care .;!' the war supplies, which are glutting the port. But the (-all of the army "is unqualified. Trained and untrained men alike of military age. men of all classes, are beim: sent away daily to interior Siberia, where they will .go into training, replacing others now ready to yo to the trout. Russia has such a ureat number of men that all ol them aie not compelled to undergo military training. Exceptions are made in th-.-) ease of ai7 only son in the family, as well as under other special conditions : but now all males in Siberia are called out.

•'More thiin 100 n-u'e taken by Dim call fniiii a single, (iim in Vladivostok. Many of the .American concerns with oliiees have lost virtually their entire Russian oiiiee foi-cs-i to the army. "Retail and wholesale establishments have .such reduced forces that through a. general agreement all the larger places of business close at the lunch hour, not having men enoU''h left to an-aius; relip/ at meal time. Women ,-iie being trained for positions they are fitted for. preference being given to the wives of men called to the front. I "Koreans and Chinese are coining into Vladivostok to replace dock labourers called to war Virtually all the heavy work on the docks now is being dunetby theiii, but they, are so unskilled there i"s much uneasiness as to the effect the removal of the better trained Russians will have on the handling of war supplks. "The Russian Government was" slow to call out reservists in .Siberia. Men are few and much needed in this country. The Government has expended great sums in encouraging emigration to Siberia, and hesitated to take the crea?n of the colony's manhood back to the battle line. But the need evidentlv became so great, it was

"Tin 1 railroad guard, numbering over 150,000. was called' immediately al'Ur I lie regular anny loress were sent back to liuosia. Then time calls were made, and it is reported another is soon to come, which will call all men in .Siberia up to 45. ''Owners of large businesses have been taken along with their humblest ■employee. Apparently there have been no exceptions made in the enforcement of the call."