VLADIVOSTOCK OF TO-DAY.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 March 1918, Page 3

VLADIVOSTOCK OF TO-DAY.

CHAOTIC CONDITIONS. The chaos which reigns at Vladivostock was graphically described by Mr. C. H. Carter, an American traveller, in an iterview with a “Herald” reporter. Accompanied by his wife, Mr, Carter went to Yladivostock 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 be abandoned. “Japan will have to step In and protect the Allies’ interests in Siberia,” said Mr. Carter, “if million of pounds’ worth of essential war material is to be made secure against Germany. Foils or 20 miles, the beach at Vladivbstock is piled with munitions and supplies of all descriptions—machinery, motor-cars by the hundred, steam and gasoline tractors, copper and steel for I shells, and almost every essential in the way of war material. Much of this grea dump was unloaded onto the ice, the materials being then dragged to the beach and left there. The confusion and muadle has been such that much of it is below high-water level i and when the tide comes in it is covered by water wiich, in the case c the machinery, must do great damage. But this is not the only place where there is congestion of w r ar 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 Yladivostock. At the present time Yladivostock can handle only 150 to 200 cars daily, and I this number diminishes further on owning to the lack of terminal facilities. All this material has come from America and Japan.” Referring to the conditions in Yladivostock, Mr. Carter said there was indescribable chaos and no certain form 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 ow-n commanding officer. The state of this undisciplin-' ed rabble of a garrison gave an indh cation of the awful conditions existing throughout Russia. j “The port of Yladivostock is clos- j ed,’ ’continued Mr. Carter, “and trade is at a standstill. A foreigner cannot deposit money in the banks nor can he withdraw it, and anyone arriving canont 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.”