Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-24
Americans Save Wounded
as Bullets Fly in MOScOW
IN c. A. Boys Show Great Bravery and Win
Praise as Junkers and Bolsheviki Battle.
Chaos in RussiaS Second Capital

, comfort stations. was in the city dur
| ing the fighting. America should be
proud of them, for during the severest
part of the struggle and In perfect
rain of bullets these men risked their
lives scores Of times in moving about
the streets and gathering up the dead
and wounded All Moscow appreciates
their heroism,
The Kremlin was not seriously dam
aged. Several of the towers apd gates
were battered by shellf1re, while the
great bell received a direct hit. The
kremlin was the center of much of the
fighting. The first in possession were
the junkers and then the bolsheviki
got in. 1t changed hands severaF times
and first one side directed the artillery
fire against it and then the other. The
soldiers refused to permit us to visit
1t. SO it is impossible to estimate the
extent of the damage within the walls
But if outward appearances are
criterion the damage was considerable.
Conservatives Strong.
The conflict was the outgrowth Of
the soviet the full governing power in
Russia. The conservative elements in
Moscow are much stronger than in Pc
trograd. and consequently. while the
paratively without bloodshed, it encoun
tered determined opposition in Mos
COW. The soviet organization under
the war revolutionary II committee t was vas
available supply of ammunition and
proceeded to round up the junkers. who.
aided by external forces. slowly beat
the bolsheviki troops back. The soviet
hastily recruited the Moscow garrison
or several thousand deserters from the
front, who were armed from the cap
tured arsenal, and then the tide OF bat
| tie turned against the junkers. The
first three days of the struggle were
comparatively light. Throngs OF peo-
pie moved about the city watching. the
cinematograph. But when the junkers
| invoked the artillery the tide again
| turned in their favor. Yet this advan-
tage was momentary for Red Guard re-
Inducements stormed the Junker artll-
| lery from the rear.
| The whole battle lasted eight days.
during the last five of which the streets
Of Moscow were absolutely "a. aes at
ing. Any pedestrian was shot down at
sight. Thousands Of people were hun
cry because they were unable to get
to the shops, which were closed and
| left starvation in its wake.
| The American Red Cross had a
| frightful experience. 1t was sheltered
| for the whole of five days in the Ma
| tional Hotel, which was continuously
under artillery and rifle fire. The men
were forced to lie fat on the foor to
| avoid the bullets of SnlperS VINO kept
! ,lp a deliberate and steady fire at all
| the women. I visited one room in the
| hotel and counted ninety-six bullet
| holes The same was the case In every
room facing the street. while those
| in the rear were subjected to the same
fire from adjoining buildings.
| Thursday night the junkers' White
| Guard. which is composed of officers
4 and other conservative elements. in
Guiding students from the university
| colleges informed the bolsheviki that
| they were willing to surrender. The
| soviet first demanded unconditional
| surrender, but the junkers' White Guard
| threatened the resumption of hostili-
| ties. Finally a decree of surrender
| was signed which recognized the SUI
| preme authority of the soviet and Sc
| cured Immediate release of all prisoners
| on both sides. The junkers delivered
| up all arms except those necessary for
| their training. while the officers were
| permitted to retain their side arms.
During my stay in Moscow did not
| hear of a single charge of looting. On
| approaching the station last night
had a disagreeable experience. The
cab driver shouted to group Of SOL
parted, but the soldiers. obviously
ing. There go two of those bourgeoisie
| through us in this manner. Down with
| them!' My Interpreter. white as
sheet. frantically urged the driver to
whip up the horse and we dashed to
| safety.