The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-02
CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA.
CHIEF AMERICAN RAILROAD
COMMISSIONER REACHES
TOKYO.
Stevens Declares That Allies Should
Lend Most Friendly Help at This
Time.

'''S'Sho' ShAVA <AHicIlCdn railway COM
missioner to Russia arrived at Naga-
saki on December 10 from Vladivos-
tok. He has taken all the accommo-
dations of an entire hotel in Nagasaki
for the $50 members of his staff.
In statement to the Associated
Press Mr. Stevens said he fully ex-
! poets soon to return to Russia to
prosecute the proposed work of as
aisting in the reorganization of Rus
sian rail communications. He denied
the report that he was returning to
America.
The commission is composed o.
many Of Americas best railway en-
gineers.
Mr.. Stevens said:
: THE demand of America by the
European war front Is important but
the Russian situation is trebly i'm
portant as it involves the return OF
100000 German and Austrian ef-
7 fectives.
Russia at present presents com
fpletely chaotic condition, permeated
by the most clever German propa
ganda in every way and everywhere
among all classes of the people New
ertheless, 1 believe the better judg-
ment Of the mass of the people will
be asserted and Germany will no!
succeed in forcing a separate peace
Such a peace can not be concluded
If the allies promptly give their helr
and suggestions.
The MaXimalists now in contro
are much stronger than generally
credited. In any future reorganiza
4 ton or attempt at q stable govern
ment,t the Maximalists must be con
sidered and handled rightly
THE chaos is most evident in the
manufactures and railway shops
where the workmen's and soldiers
delegates are in absolute control The,
work or not as they please and every
! where may be seen workmen loafing
( Women are doing much of the worl
in the shops and even acting a.
brakemen. Where one woman II
working, 500 men are ioafing.
"A hundred thousand soldiers ar,
crowding the stations attempting tn,
management Of the trains and sup
porting themselves on a small daily
allowance to which they add b,
J thievery and smuggling.
"The railways and all other indus
tries are operating at only 80 per cen
OF their power. Food is plentiful, bu
is not being distributed.
AT Vladivostok the supplies Of al
kinds are carefully guarded. The por
authorities have erected large ware
houses and there is not much deter
ioration in the supplies. The Rolshe
Wiki are in possession and the sol
diers maintain order, but laborer.
are uneasy at the prospect that tbs
continuation Of the good condition:
is uncertain.
4 Siberia is not so much disturbed
as ihssia and it is the kples desire
to support any governm bppearins
W be stable. The unoV Exhty ir
Russia rests in the vast p der
ance of the 13O.O0O,OOO pess5ns ir
the peasant class. If Germany is al.
lowed to finance and advise them, the
situation is lost"
Mr.. Stevens said that everywhere
he found the people we'll disposed to-
ward America. Even when soldiers
stopped his special car and entered
1t they apologized and withdrew or
learning that the passengers were
Americans. The American influence
Is strong. possibly stronger than thai
of the other allies. and Mr.. Stevens
said that it should now be diverted
to the utmost, but the application OF
physical force in any degree is no,
advisable.
In conclusion, Mr.. Stevens said:
Not for a moment should the al
lies relax their sympathy and help
but on the contrary. should quad
ruple their efforts. The best senti.
ment in Russia is with us. We
should earnestly beg the allies not to
punish the Russian people, who love
their country. nor to abandon them
to the Germans.
I'VE are going back and will stay
there as long as we can be of any
assistance to the Russian people"
Peuograd Bolshcviki Liberatc Bank