The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-25
RUSSIANS LEN|ENT RULERS IN GAL|C|A
Have Restricted Freedom of
 Movement But Little
TROUBLE WITH MONEY
Speculation in Paper Currency of Both Austria and Russia Prevalent. Galicia Has Suffered Little
 From Hostile Invasion

Lvoff tI.emberg). Galcia, March 12 Correspondence of the Associated Press) East Galcia has found Count George Bohrlnsly a humane and just governor and, until the Austrians reoccupied Stanis- laus for a brief period, very lenient one There was scarcely any restriction of free dom of movement between East and West Galicia and between East Galicia and Russia. The Russian authorities then be- came convinced that they had been too easy-going and score of traders were arrested under charges of purchasing provisions for the Austrian army. in the expectation of reoccupation of this city where the cannonading about Stanislaus was audible.
 An evil with which the Russian govern ment was confronted was the persistent speculation in Russian and Austrian cur rency. The Russian authorities estab- lished a rate of exchange instead of for bidding the use of Austrian money alto sether. The rate was fixed at Sss. rouble being made equal to s.ss crowns The gold equivalent of a rouble was 255 crowns before the war
 
 SO the temptation to speculation was of- fered. One of the local cafes, frequented by small brokers and traders soon re- sembled hand book club. The rate of exchange for the day would be fixed by whispers. signs and mods and then the speculators would scatter among the country folk on the market place and spread reports calculated to support the agreed rate of exchange.
 Printed. typed or mimeographed slips would be shown as having been dropped by Austrian aeroplanes. which, as a fact have not flown in East Galicia, except over the battle-ground in the Carpathians in three months These slips would an- hounce Austrian victories and the ap- preaching expulsion of the Russians from the occupied territory. In consequence many holders of Russian notes would dis pose of them for Austrian crowns at a panic price. The speculation extended to kieff and thence to Austria, through Rou- mania. It has now been greatly checked by periodical but unannounced sitting of the cafes by the restrictions on freedom CT movement and by arrests, of which, however, there have been comparatively few.
 Russians Are Friends
 
 In other respects the Russians play the role of friends and benefactors of the pop ulation of the occupied territory. Not single dollar has been taken from the peo- pie in the form of taxes, imposts, loans, acquisitions or general fines. On the con trary. the government invites bids from contractors. large and small, willing to supply provisions. and the officers and scl- diers of the Russian armies pay cash ard at prices fixed by the shop keepers for everything they require.
 The municipalities expend large sums to support the needy and the Russian government itself contributes to this work There are said to be .000 families of for mer Austrian civil servants in this city and the majority are receiving public SUD- port through about 50 public tea houses The wealthier classes fled the country he- fore the Russians. The tradesmen that remained are doing thriving business. Large numbers of peasants and villagers from all parts of Galicia have drifted into the capital to swell the numbers of the beneficiaries of charity.
 The Russian armies are well provisioned and the soldiers dinner kettle is always at the disposal of any hungry person.
 In addition sundry philanthropic socie- ties have been organized in Russia to SUD- ply the material and spiritual necessities of the people. Count Vladimir Bobrinsky. member of the Duma, is the president of the best known of these organiza- tions. Besides distributing food and cloth ing and arranging for shelter, this society Is interesting itself in the organization of Russian schools. The government itself has established seminaries for the train- ing of teachers and many have been sent to Russian institutions at Kieff and Mos- cow
 East Galicia shows fewer traces of mil itary occupation than might have been expected. Tn eprincipal entry is Brody. There one of the leading streets was vis- ited by fire on the gfirst appearance of the Cossacks, on the ground. it is sain. that Cossack officer was killed by a woman, which scans to have been admitted With this exception there is not a sign of destruction on the railway line to Lerc- berg. and this beautiful city was fortu- nately evacuated by the Austrians. who made their stand at Grodek some ds- tance westward.
 Devastation Serious
 The towns and villages of the Carpa- thian slopes have suffered of course as they have been fought over time and again. In West Galca, that is Galcia west of Przemysl, the deva station has been serious, though unintentlonal, both Russians and AustNans regarding the country as their own. Some of the valleys have been traversed seven times py alter hating Russian and Austrian urmies.
 The land of Galicia is considered only moderately fertile, but the greatest hard icap to prosperous agriculture is periodi- cal inundation by the mountain torrents. The regulation of these streams would af. ford abundant electric power and, with the Russian market open to its products, Galicia should make rapid strides as a manufacturing country. Hitherto 1t has been separated from the remainder of the central European plain by an artificial frontier and from Austria Hungary by the mountains There are large resources in naphtha, as Is v-eN known. and in forests. AS to the latter, firewood for the 100000 inhabitants of Lemberg Is hauled to the city in wagons. so close are the virgin woods. It is perhaps worth while adding that the Russian government