By Orrin Keith, Chita, July 10.
Leaving Harbin, all such thing as Wagons Lits sleepers, dining cars and other little comforts of modern travel are left behind. From now on the traveller rustles his own hot water, prepares his own meals, washes his own dishes and makes his own bed—with his own bedding. Even so the trip is far from uncomfortable. The cars are good, clean and easy-riding compartment sleeping cars, the provodnik or guard is an accommodating fellow who is quite willing to help out when occasion demands. Good hot meals are served at many of the ger stations, canned food is sold all along the line, and being your own porter for a time is a whole some experience. The 30-hour ride to Manchuria Station, Manchuli as the Chinese call it, is made quickly enough, Manchuria is a typical border town, a sort of cross between a straggling Arizona cow town and moving-picture "wild west' set except for the Russians, who don't belong in either. For Manchuria, like Harbin, is a Russian settlement. Nevertheless the Chinese are active in asserting their rule. Passports are demanded on every occasion and baggage is examined even more frequently. You cannot go in or out of nor across the town without submitting to both useless aggravations.
Tue Passport Orricr, Here is another outpost of the Far Eastern Republic, where passports are again demanded and arrangements must be made for entering Siberia. Alexandrovsky is in charge here. He lives and has his office in a small building at the back of a high-fenced compound on a side street. There is no sign at the gate indicating its presence and there is a guard or two at the door. More are within call and a heavy revolver on: Alexandrovsky's desk recalls the fact that until a few weeks ago it was as much as a man's life was worth to work for the Far Eastern Republic Manchuria. For a great many of the Russians in the town are former followers of Simionov and present adherents of Ungern. When they were driven out of Siberia last autumn by the Partisans they stopped here. just across the border and began to plot to get back to the loaves and fishes. They carried things with a high hand and for a time made organized attacks upon all representatives of the Far Eastern Republic, hoping thus to discourage them from carrying on their work.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.