SIBERIA TO-DAY
SIBERIA TO-DAY
BY
FREDERICK F. MOORE
LATE CAPTAIN, INTELLIGENCE DIVISION, GENERAL STAFF
A. E. F. SIBERIA
AUTHOR OF “THE DEVIL’S ADMIRAL”
ILLUSTRATED
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
NEW YORK LONDON
1919
Copyright, 1919, by
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
Copyright, 1919, by
THE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE COMPANY
Copyright, 1919, by
LESLIE’S WEEKLY
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PREFACE
The attitude of mind with which a writer approacheshis subject is the core of his book. Mypurpose in recording my observations and impressionswhile serving in Siberia is to tell such citizensof the United States as may be interested some ofthe things they may want to know about the Siberians.
This is not a “war book,” nor an account ofthrilling deeds, nor a history of our expedition inSiberia, but a book in which I have attempted tobring to the public a realization of the difficultiesunder which our officers and men performed, andperform, their duties in that land. These difficultiesare partly inherent in the Siberians themselves,partly the result of the chaos following the Russianrevolution and Bolshevism, and partly the result ofa lack of policy for Siberia on our part.
The people of the United States undoubtedly feelsympathy for all Russia, and desire to aid it in someway; President Wilson, we all know, burdened withthe world war’s problems, seeks a solution of theRussian situation which will give the people of Russiathe fullest possible means of attaining nationalliberty.
Officers of high rank in Siberia, and correspondents,came more closely in touch with exalted personagesthan did I, who traveled practically aloneand mixed mostly with the peasants. Had I beenwith military and civil commissions, traveling inprivate cars, I might now have an entirely differentviewpoint on the Siberian problem. I know Siberiaas a land of peasants, rather than as a place whereI met governmental chiefs and heard the discussionof international policies.
I do not claim to hold the secret of just whatwould, or will, bring Siberia an ideal state of affairsin government. I deal only with what came undermy personal observation, and draw my own conclusions,with the hope that from my impressionsthere may be gathered some hint of a better understandingof some of the problems which confrontour government.
I have no apology to make for an excessive useof the first person singular, for it was my intentionas I wrote that the reader should travel with me andsee through my eyes the things he would like to see.It is not necessary, of course, to agree with my conclusions,which have no political or other bias, noanimus toward those who have been responsible forthe conduct of