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Show MOBILIZATION IN SIBERIA RAPID London. Sept. 28 3 23 a. m How the people of Siberia took the news that war had been declared and their action in preparing for it, Is. told in a dispatch from Omsk. Siberia, to the Daily Telegraph under date of September 15 The dispatch follows "Here Is the heart of Siberia a most striking feature to a foreigner of the early stages of the war was the remarkably business-like fashion in which the country tackled the grim realities of war. "We were In Semipalatinsk, 600 miles from the railroad when the war was declared The news was carried all over Siberia by galloping Cossacks, who. like a multitude of Paul Reveres, spread across the countr notifying the farmers and peasants of the little villages and or dering the mlbilizatlon "Omsk, three das journey from Semlpalatinsky, we found humming with well regulated activity. There were nearlv 200,000 resenists a 'ready gathering there and being sent westward, west-ward, drilling in the encampments in southern Russia "The outstanding feature was the rapidity precision and smoothness with which the vast masses of troops were handled This was an object lesson in the awakening of the Russian Rus-sian empire, and a reminder that Si beria is adopting the aggressive American methods of grappling with its vast problems "The attitude of the Jews, who even ev-en where displayed an enthusiastic sympathy with the Russian attitude in the war, was also interesting It is a remarkable sign of the times, this Jewish movement. If the occasion is grasped. a6 there is reason to believe be-lieve it will be, it means an opportunity oppor-tunity for the solution of the much mixed Jewish problem. "The attitude of the Siberians toward to-ward this war is very different from their attitude during the Japanese war Japan meant little or nothing to the Siberia moujik, but he knows the Germans, This Is no struggle against an unknown foe over an ob scure International disagreement, but a war in which the personal equation largely figures Every man feels that he is going to help his brother Slavs in Servla. and at the same time free Russia from Teuton tutelage. "At Semipalatinsk the breweries and vodka ships were closed as soon as war was declared. As soon as the reservists began to pour In with the regularity of a well oiled machine they were sent In one door of the low building which housed military headquarters, and sent out promptly with instructions where to report for service, with warrants for steamer and railway travel and with an allowance al-lowance of 25 kopecks a da for spending money. ' It was a thrilling scene as the reservists took the boat for the mobilization mo-bilization point. Great crowds thronged the pier where the govern or. in full uniform, harangued his people in stirring words " 'This is no war of aggression he said 'You are fighting to crush a cruel oppression, and Almighty God is with you As for your womenfolks women-folks who are left perhaps to mourn let them be of good cheer, and bj their courage and self-control emhia zon the Russian flag with one more instance of the devotion of its worn anhood.' "As he finished the band played the national hymn, and the priests robed in green and gold, advanced to ward the ship, giving it and the pas sengers their blessing. "The Russians have a great advan tage in the good feeling between the officers and the men. Their treat ment is paternal, almost to the ex tent of that exhibited in the school room. " |