Harbin, March 3.
The carloads of gold which the railwaymen were expecting Simionov to send vid the C. E. K. and Changehun to Japan now prove to be carloads of wolframite of an unknown value. Upon their entry ito Manchurian territory word was sent to the delegates of the Central Union of Railway Workers at Harbin as to their approximate arrival at Harbin. The delegates went to the Czech authorities and notified them that it was their intention to arrest four carloads of wolfram which were arriving by a mixed train and asked the Czechs whether they had any objections, because at all stations are @ certain number of Czechs toops for the preservation of. order. The delegates were informed no, for what after all did Simionov's—wolfram have to do with the Czechs?
Ovr or tre Worxsen's Hanps.
On the due date the four carloads arrived -in the charge of Simionov Officers dressed as ordinary Cossacks; they were uncoupled and taken into the workshops yards, Simionov's men said nothing and some armed Czech soldiers watched the proceedings. It was the intention of the Workmen's Union to send the carloads on to Viadivostok and place them at the disposal of the Zemstvo Government there, and actually the cars left for the Pacific port. When, however they reached Hundaihotze the higher railway authorities again had the four carloads detached and before the workers became cognizant of the facts the wagons were again on their way eastwards. They Were de coupled again before Harbin station was reached and then sent on to Changchun. It is said, however, that two of the four cars somehow disappeared during these operations, Acrvat Varun Uxxnown-
Whether this wolfram ore is of any great commercial value still remains to be proved. Both wol-from and tin are to be found in considerable quantities in the Transbaikal Province, where workings of a primitive kind exist. The wolfram in question has been lying untouched for some four years past owing to the revolution. and the ore was eventually seized by Simionov.
Some two or more years ago, Simionov's agents offered the wol-from to an American firm, but the latter refused to have anything to do with it owing to the great difficulties in determining its ' re: value without extensive tests. It is to be presumed that since then the Japanese have also been offered the "cargo" but owing to its doubtful value refused actually to buy it, suggesting to Simionov that he should himself send it on to Japan and offer it there to some smelting works, Simionov has
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.