CHAOS AT VLADIVOSTOK.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 21, 15 March 1918, Page 4

CHAOS AT VLADIVOSTOK.

MILES OP WAR MATERIAL ABANDONED. The chaos which reigns at Vladivostok was graphically described by Mr C. H. Carter, an American traveller, in an interview with a New Zealand Herald reporter the other day. Accompanied by his wife, Mr Carter went to Vladivostok from San Francisco with the intention of travelling some distance east into Siberia, thence south through China, but the difficulties were so great and the future so uncertain that the tour had to bo abandoned.

‘ ‘ Japan will have to step in and protpet the Allies' interests in Siberia," said Mr Carter, "if millions of pounds' worth of essential war material is to be made secure against Germany. For 15 or 20 miles, the beach at Vladivostok is piled with munitions and supplies of all descriptions—machinery, motor-cars by the hundred, steam and gasoline tractors, copper and steel for shells, and almost every essential in. the way of war material. Much of this great dump was unloaded on to the ice, the materials being then dragged to the beach and left there. The confusion and muddle has been such that much of it is below high-water level and when the tide comes in it is covered by water which, in the case of the machinery, must do great damage. But this is not the only- place where there is congestion of war supplies. Every terminal between the Pacific Ocean and the Ural Mountains is loaded with freight, because many of the railway depots along the route have not the capacity of Vladivostok. At the present time Vladivostok can handle about 300 cars daily, the capacity of each being 15 or 20 tons, but Harbin can handle only 150 to 200 cars daily, and this number diminishes further on owing to the lack of terminal facilities. All this material has come from America and Japan.' ’ Referring to the conditions in Vladivostok, Mr Carter said there was indescribable chaos and no certain form of authority. In the town there were 15,000 or 20,000 soldiers who were under no semblance of discipline or control. They simply wandered about the streets and did what they liked. Drilling was a thing of the past, and every man appeared to be his own commanding officer. The state of this undisciplined rabble of garrison gave an indication of the awful conditions existing throughout Russia. "The port of Vladivostok is closed," continued Mr Carter, "and trade is at a standstill. A foreigner cannot deposit money in the banks nor can ho withdraw it, and anyone arriving cannot leave under a period of ten days. These, he concluded, "are a few of the results of the first attempt of the people of Russia to rule themselves."