04 Dec 1918 pg3

The following letter from Capt. F.B. Whitmore, of Monrovia, Calif., formerly of West Union, written from Siberia, where he went with the American Expeditionary force, is reprinted from the Monrovia Messenger:

Sept. 10, Vladivostok, Siberia:

I am located for the present in the cantonment hospital, a cement covered brick building, built by the Russians only a short time ago, so in good shape. The water supply is poor and electric lightson a circuit that goes out when it takes a notion, but these things can be remedied. Viadivostok reminds me so much of seaport cities in China, a native city becoming modernized, splendid buildings being put up, roads graded, modern improvements added,
but retaing all the foreign. The Americans are the best men coming in, but so little effort is being made to curb them that the usual result will happen, as the Anericans are so full of energy that the usual result will happen, as yhe Americans are so full of energy that they simply must do something.

Our organizantions made at home and for which we have been training so long, are all being broken up ao
probably no two who came from Camp Fremont will be together.

September 11:

We have just receieved orders to go up the railroad to guard some mines , or rather to drive out rebels, control, take possession and have operatered for use of the goverment reailroad. It will be a force made up of all of us, but under our experience American colonel every officer and every man is anxious to go as everyone wants action.

September 14:

 All villages are largely supported from the large coal mines we came to take over and manage after traveling on foot or in coal cars for this long distance. We came to the mines about 9 p.m. and we were surprisedto find a tremendous plant, one town of over 4,000 and several village: substancal buildings everywhere , electric lights in houses, mines runningnight and day and a big business going on. It was like suddenly coming onto Kuling, a mountain resort in China. If yo had come over the back mountains and didn't expect to find only a few scattered houses. The people are strongly Bolsheviki, but our force is strong enough to control the cituation and I believe most of them will accept the new management. The country is full of the Chinese bandits called "hung hu dza", whom the people fear and are glad of our protection. The country around is beautiful, range after range of wooded hills, the air is bracing. exhilirating and so far no trouble to speak of. We all go armed all the time, but we think ot force is latgr rnough to prevent or put down any outbreak.

September 13:

Shu Chyan Mines, Siberia, This is a most interesting people, really most than I expected and an American cannot hlp but sympathizw with them with them in their struggle for freedom and linerty after so many centuries of oppresion that the trouble with the Bolsheviki is that they mistook freedom for licsnse in their efforts to get
individual freedom they neglected the first principalss of government and their international onligations. Their are some 5000 minershere in ten mines. They had captured the mines, driven off or killed those in charge and were running things themselves when we came. The mountains around are beautiful, almost covered with trees just beginning to turn red, very few farmers because of unsettled conditions and danger of robbers. They have to live in villages, so but little produce comes to market and foodstuffs are carece. The doolies, truck gardeners, merchants, etc., as usual throughout the east, are Chinese, the hard workers everywhere. It is always amusing to them that a white man can talk , any Chinese, but they understand, and it mkes friends,

Septeber 20:

 I am the only medical official with the American troops here, so have a great many things to look after.  The poor Russians are as dirty as the Chinese as far as their homes, closets, and surroundings are concerned, so, to conform
with our ideas of sanitation, a great amount of cleaning up muct be done. I like the Russian people and there seems to be a good feeling for the American troops. The soldierss are always good mixers and it is fun to see soldiers playing with the children although neither understands the other. The Japanese troops, as usual, are strictly business and always ready for action.

October 4:

Shu Chian, Siberia, This place is a day and night's ride from Vladivostok. All houses are built with double windows, thick walls and give evidence of being built to expect severe weather. But weather so far has been about like nortthern Minnesota or Wisconsin -- not much like what we were enjoying last fall in Monrovia. We are very comfortablely situated here, in fact far better than I had expected to be. I hold clinics here twice a day. A good many have been sick but not as many as I had expected. The Japanese doctor in charge of his troops has been over several times, and we have fun trying to carry on a conversation with the aid of a dictionary. I wish he spoke Chinese. All war news we get looks favorable, but I cannot say that it hastens our mission any yet.