South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-28
FIGHTING SPIRIT
LOST IN RUSSIA
Traveller Says Allies Can't
Count on Much Help From
New Republic.


American who has spent 10 years in
European capitals and whose posi-
ton compels him TO take the view
point of an impartial observer,
reached here Thursday after six
weeks in Petrograd and gives a
pessimistic report of the fighting
spirit in Russia and of political and
industrial conditions there. He says:
There is no fighting spirit except
among the cossacks and Caucasians
and that seems to be waning. A eau
casian colonel said 10 me: There is
no real fighters left in Russia except
us and we are not Russians, thank
God, but Caucasians and Mohamme-
dams
The interior cities and villages
are filled with Russian troops who
refuse to go to the front Young
Russians of the better class are
hunting the streets of Petrograd for
men who are willing to become of
ficers. Since the murder of officers
by men has become a daily occur
renee only the most fervent pa
triOts will assume the risk of taking
commissions.
Soldiers Steal and Murder.
"The reports of open disobedience
of troops at the front and of deeds
of violence committed by them are
countless. Railway travel in many
places and particularly in south
western Russia is unsafe because sol
diers loot trains, steal baggage and
mistreat and even murder those who
resist
Il sat in the war office at Petro-
I grad when the report was received
/ of the murder of nearly 100 officers
at NibOrg and of the preparation Of
/ prescription lists against officers in
/ Tammerfors.
! Newspapers in Helsingfors carry
/ daily accounts of military deeds OF
/ violence and of the murder of of
ficers and civilians by soldiers often
accompanied by robbery. The gov
eminent has not dared TO do more
( than announce that these matters
/ will be investigated carefully.
THE Bolsheviks are gaining the
upper hand in Petrograd and are
increasing their strength in Mos
COW i venture TO predict their
| eventual supremacy. 1 know this
] means almost the elimination OF
/ Russia as a factor in the war and
1 places new burdens on America.
Government is POwcrless.
The governments utter power
/ lessness was recently shown in con-
nection with its exile of a mum Der
. of dark forces The Bolsheviks
took them from a train at Viborg.
now are sending them back to Petro-
rad. and the government does not
. dare TO insist that its deportation
! order be carried out.
The Bolsheviks demonstration
of joy over the fall of Riga held in
front of the war office was suffered
| by the government i'm silence.
such facts. together with the
| governments rapid changes in per-
sonnet. form and policy, demonstrate
the seriousness of the situation.
When KOrniloh issued his ulti-
. matum the news was received with
Joy by a great proportion of sub
stantial citizens and even men in the
! government departments told me Of
their secret hope that ne would
come 10 Petrograd The comments
from English and American news
papers rejoicing at Korniloff's fail
IRE We're received with amazement
by these people. who saw in his sue
cess the only possibility Of saving
Russia.
"A factory near Nizhini- Novgorod.
manufacturing war materials and
employing 1900 hands. has Just
closed because IT has been impos
sibIe to meet the wage demands.
Armed workmen terrorize the own
ers of factories workmen's commit
-rs spend their whole time drafting
wage schedules and nobody may DE
hired or discharged without their
! consent IahOrer- unloading wood
I from barEes az Perrosrad won in one
dav "a strike for am increase Of from
g. 10 - rubleS daily.
conductors and porters ON Fin
nish railroads refuse 20 accept Rus
! sian money AT any rate Of exchange
D Saw four one-ruble and three
three -ruble notes Gearing the same
/ respective mum bers"