The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-29
LANDLORDS BACK
Germans Restored ReactiOnary
Element to Power.
Placed the Ukraine Again in
Hands of Oppressors.
HOLDING THIRTY DIVISIONS
DisOrdered Conditions Keep
Many Hun Troops in Russia.
Inland Districts Quiet Under
Old Commune Rule.
THIRTY DIVISIONS

Amsterdam, June 29.-The Wolff |
bureaus advices say that Grand Duke !
Michael Alexandrovitch of Russia is !
at Omsk and is heading an anti-Bol- |
shevik movement. The Grand Duke |
Michael, it Is stated. has refused to
assume the throne, preferring to leave
the decision to an all-Russian popular
assembly.
In the Ukraine as certain returned
American observers see it, Germany
had put back into power the reaction
airy forces. The landowners and big
property holders who had been de-
posed by the revolution had their
property restored to them in part at
least by the Germans. They represent
the most organized force in the COM
munity. Many were pro-German In
sympathy and violent pro-German as
opposed to the radicalism of the Boil
sheviki. So the Huns attempted to
bind them to Germany.
Thirty Divisions in East.
At the same time the unorganized,
illiterate peasant class got the worst
or 1t. They have been robbed and
pillaged and maltreated in every fash
ion While there has been no regular
warfare or armies, Germany, the
Americans say. has been forced to
keep more than thirty divisions on the
east front to meet the guerilla war
fare that has resulted and attempt to
| maintain order. For only by keeping
a semblance of quiet can it be expect
ed that crops would be planted and
harvested and the needed food for
Germany and Austria maintained.
Inc paclfication of the Ukraine and
other border states they say hsa been a
disappointingly hard and difficult task
FOR the Huns as a result. Austria was
to have thejob AVID release all the Hun
| divisions for the west front but the
| Austrian troops soon become saturated
with the revolution and become worth
less SO Germany has been forced to
withhold many badly needed divisions
| from the west front.
| COmmunes Maintain Order.
Away from the border states where
the Hun has penetrated and in the
heart of Russia. away from the larger
cities, Russia is fairly quiet these
Americans say. The soldiers returned
to their villages and they have gone
ahead living their own life under the
communal system of the old time Rus
STA without disturbance. There is a
| marked absence of government as it
is known in the United States. But
the communal system suffices to
maintain order. Several of these re-
| turned Americans Travelled for hun
dreds and even for thousands Of miles
thru the interior of Russia, they say
and had no trouble and were as safe
as in a well poleed city. Conditions
| in the big cities and trouble centers
of course. are difficult. In the coun-
try crops are being planted. But the
disorganization and breakdown of
| transportation and finances is the
worst difficulty. The farmer has food
| to sell but he doesn't want roubles in
| pay for it. He wants shoes or cloth
| ing which Is hard to obtain and
roubles can't buy it in many places
Bartering in some communities has
| replaced the use Of money, which the
| peasant regards of doubtful value If
he cannot buy shoes or clothing or
things he needs with 1t.
Aid for Russia.
In this economic and commercial
| phase as well as in the national or
| ganization which will restore trans
portation and more free disposition be-
| tween country and towns lies Rus
| dent Wilson, it is known, has been
working on the problel.- of how best
the United States could. aid Russia
and save her from getting in the Hun
clutches entirely. Eventually she will
have to turn somewhere for the
manufactured goods like shoes and
clothing. She needs them now. They
will be imperative in the months to
| come. If the report of the overthrow
of the revolution is true, then the al
lies and the United States have waited
too long and the delay has cost them
Russi.. If it is false as many believe
as has been pointed out, it is expected
it will hasten a decision as to what
shall be done. 1t may be combined
military and economic Intervention.
But it now looks as If a definite pro-
gram of economic assistance on big
scale will be taken.
II