The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1918-12-14
THE SOVIET LEADERS, TOO, SHOULD BE
HELD TO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
CRIMES

CRIMES.
1t should be made clear at the earliest possible
moment by the Allied powers that the individuals
parties who have been and still committing
crimes and depredations in the countries involved
in the world war will ultimately be made to answer
for their msdeeds in courts of justice, either in their
own lands or, that is not feasible, before tribunals
specially constituted for dealing with such cases.
The PRONUNCIATION of such decree would have
wholesome effect upon those who have seized au-
thorlty in Russia, Germany Austria, and Turkey in
the confusion and chaos that have followed after
the signing of the armstice. The Soviets and sim
liar organizations should be sharply given to under
stand that they shall not resort to the methods of
ruthlessness and rapacity that have characterized
the Trotzky and Lenine regime in Russia and that
war conditions will afford them no permanent inn
munity for their infamous procedures.
Had it been proclaimed early in the war that the
individuals groups issuing orders for the destruc
ton OF life and property in violation of natural,
we'll as international, laws would be held strictly
accountable for such misdeeds after the period of
beligerency, even the kaiser himself might have
hesitated to append his imperial signature to such
orders And if the subalterns and men who were
charged with the execution of these ruthless actions
had known that their lives might be forfeited as a.
penalty for their execution of such commands we
may we'll be assured that the number of submarine
outrages could have been materially reduced If the
German officers and soldiers who practiced all sorts
OF degeneracy and savagery in the towns and viii
lagos of France and Belgium had been warned that
they would be held accountable as individuals for
their unspeakable acts it may be sursed that there
would not be such prodigous amount of these in
tamles The same is true of the Turkish pashas and
their subordinates who stood sponsors for the al
most incredible massacres and butcheries in Ar
menia, of which the recitas of the girl Aurora Mar
diganian, gives partial revelation.
The signing of the armstice has not wholly put
a stop to these outrages. The German armies even
in the course of their withdrawal from the battle
fronts, in conformance with the terms of the armi-
stice, did not refrain from their abtua ooting pro-
penslties. Up to the very last hour, wherever the
opportunity was open they continued wantonly and
wilfully to destroy and violate
In Russia the situation is desperate the prospect
being that millions will perish of starvation and cold
during the winter. 1t is stated that only 100000
out of the normal population of 100000 remain in
Petrograd. The middle classes, the bourgoise,
excluded from the public eating houses and are dy-
ing by thousands, under the regime OF the Sovets.
Hundreds of the more educated people, who have
the special hatred of the Bolshevists have been shot
or starved to DEATH while their houses and property
have been looted by the ruling powers. Food is
so high priced and to be practically
obtanable except by those enjoying the favor of the
Soviet authorities.
These Soviets are, of course headed to destruc-
ton themselves Tlfey keep up the practice of rails
ing wages and confscating factories relief meas
ures believing apparently that they can raise them
selves up by pulling their boot-straps. The
reign of terror slaughter and defamation continues
with appalling prospects for the immediate future.
Before the read]uStmentS OF the Peace Conference
can be made effective the country may be reduced to
such condition as to be source of trouble for the
whole world
Some preliminary remedial measures are inme-
dately necessary in addition to the direct help that
! is being hurried to the Soviet-rued regions The
same conditions as exist in Russia are incipent in
Germany and AUSTRIA whose revolutions are fol-
lowing the il-fated lines of the Russian upheaval
In the of the Teutonic empires however, the
task of restoring order and living conditions is less
formidable than in the Muscovte realm, because of
the greater intelligence and education of the
of their peoples. Although Marxiansm was "made
in Germany it made for export rather than for
domestic use, and the German people, as whole,
may be given the credit of experimenting the sham
and futiity of its tenets Although the Sovets have
have initiated some of the Trotzky-Lenine pro-
cedures there is little likelihood of the MARKHAM
methods gaining much ground in the Fatherand.
| The Soviet leaders in all these countries should
be Immediately given to understand that they, like
the kaiser, will be held personally responsible for
the ordering of the destruction of human life and
the conhscation of private property we'll as for
all other acts in violation of natural law and justice
Such procurement bearing the signature Of
Marshal Foch might we'll be promulgated to the
world for the benefit of all whom it may concern.
These governments" should be made to under
stand that they merely tentative affairs that
ton of world affairs. 1t may be found necessary
to include Messieurs Trotzky, Lenine and many 9th
er Soviet leaders in the category of culprts along
with Herr Hohenzollern.
! THE SPARTACIDEs.
! The German I. w. WIS have been called Spar
tacdes, in honor of the gladiator of ancient times