The port of Vladivostok in 1919
Some
years ago a friend who worked
as
a plumber in
New York City
found
a letter, written in French, in an abandoned apartment building
and passed it on to me. Although
my French is not good and the nearly hundred year old letter was not
completely legible, it was apparent that the writer was one of the
Allied soldiers sent to Russia
in 1918-19 to suppress the new Bolshevik government then struggling
to extend its control over the entirety of the Tsar’s old empire. As
the Reds won the Russian heartland, the White Army under Admiral
Kolchak was driven into Siberia, making Vladivostok its main port for
access to whatever aid the capitalist powers chose to provide to the
counter-revolutionary forces. Kolchak was eventually betrayed and the Allies were evacuated.
In
many ways that failed expedition of a century ago foreshadowed the
unsuccessful counter-insurgencies waged to this day by the US and its
allies. The unknown soldier
knows
that the effort which has cost so many lives is pointless. He longs
only to go home to
his family. It seems probable that his goal was to return to France although Canadian soldiers were also at Vladivostok in 1918-1919. There
is no way of knowing if the soldier ever returned home or how the letter to his family ended up in New York.
The
letter inspired
the
Vladivostok
scenes
found in my novel, Mr. Dolge’s Money
US troops arriving in Vladivostok August 1918
Here
is the translation:
At a Russian barracks called
The Riviera near Vladivostok
March
19, 1919
Dear everyone,
It is finally ….to
give you my news in a certain fashion… As I said in my letter of
February, the (Name of boat – Tomax?) is already at the
dock.
This embarkation is
going to happen immediately.
There was nothing
yesterday but then all our baggage and our gear….
to the Riviera and…a
train.. will carry us there in an hour. I have had a pleasant
surprise!
The immense barracks
lie in a valley with stations and diverse stores. The …who dominate
the seaside and the bay… in the village can all be found within
twelve kilometers
I have no fear of
finding barracks life... I would say it is perfect but… I have the
feeling that we are at the beginning of a (constitutional?)
drive…important militarily and internationally.
It is a true novel
but an actual situation and the Allied organization (blurred)
! Something in our newspapers does not give good sense here
and the need will be
there
the need is great
for a unique order and …I believe by the Japanese!
The Americans are
content to do business. (Business is business.)
And we…. too much
of the world.
The French are near
us in Omsk and same plus less or organize a badly defined front on
the coast of the Aral Sea.
They are all more
active than the British who are not as bad as the Canadians.
The town presents a
curious aspect with the (Tajiks?), the Italians, the free
Russians…
I find these races
almost as curious as the Japanese and the Chinese.
The police are
assured by the international detachment and all is calm.
Up to fifty
kilometers from the city.
The cannon (or
trucks) of the Allied fleet inspire great respect.
In this fashion all
regard them as watch dogs (literally earthenware dogs)
and regret the
trading of one for the other…
The population
appears to be majority Bolshevik but not able to say because the
Allies provide them with food and without them, they will be in a
famine.
Life is made very
simple for the Europeans and Americans who have a beneficial exchange
rate.
The ruble goes at
this moment …eleven… one hundred fifty francs is worth more than
300 rubles.
We are rich
gentleman in this court here…and the high life is for us very
cheap.
Diverse rumors
circulate and are all about the situation in general.
In all cases
elementary precautions border on preventing an attack on the city but
not far….
Near Karbine but
further than Omsk(?)
The security of the
railroad is confronted by small detachments that get on the train in
a hunt for loot.
Those people
disperse when they pass through (blurry)
they arrive and wait
for rear attacks on the food or the munitions trains.
Because of this it
is necessary to escort them all.
The travel service
is organized almost all the way to Karbine but not quite that far.
The scheduling is
irregular and …..
The biggest job of
the soldiers who preceded us is to protect these trains and their
passengers.
Others drive the
trucks and the autos that come from America.
I ignore in this
fashion absolutely that which lies ahead…stay here for now at
first.
Here it may not be
interesting but it is peaceful…
To go to Vladivostok
or depart from Omsk but again it is necessary to arrive in order to
leave for France.
If I am here, there
are two routes, the Orient Express to Marseilles and the return via
San Francisco, going backwards.
If I am in Omsk the
return will be via the Black Sea and the Mediterranean after leaving
from Odessa.
One way or another,
it will take me at least 45 to 50 days and it is impossible for me to
foresee where or when from here.
In any case, don’t
worry about me.
The temperature is
that of a normal winter at home.
Yesterday there was
a little snow but today the weather is clear and dry.
Good food.
Good lodging.
Heat and warm
clothes.
I am able to await
the return with patience.
I hope this letter
finds you all in good health, Papa, Mama (or Emma?),
Emmanuelle, Lea, and the little ones. In any case, I send to you all
my greatest affection and despite the distance, the greatest kisses
from your son and brother.
(Signature
illegible)
White Russian cavalry in Siberia
