New-York tribune., 1918-06-03

Inc distress and hopelessncss which
overwhelmed the well-to-do and official
classes in the Russian revolution are
VWidly portrayed from the point Of
view of a Russian woman in a letter
received by her former classmatc in
THIS country. The writer is a daughter
of Russian diplomat who was con-
nccted with the Russian Embassy in
Washington about twenty years ago.
widow of an officer in the Russian
army who was killed carly in the war.
Russia, crushed by exterior ard in
terror enemies, justly despised and alb
horred by the great countries that once
trusted her. is ruined and disappear
ing, she wrote. "My country is ccas-
ing to exist. 1t was bad enough before
the March revolution, when our nm
happy, half-witted Emperor, under the
influence of his German wife, seemed
to do everything possible to make oeo-
pie lose patience. We have a thousand
anonymous potentates, the top ones
PAID by Germany and the lower ones
lufed into supporting them by money,
money and money.
ne present government has abol-
ished ali laws, all courts, the police,
land ownership. all private real estate
IN towns, all distinction Of castles and
grades in the army and navy They
nave seized all the banks. are opening
az the private safes and confise seating
an gold and silver found therein
though 1T had never been said before
that 1t was criminal to have it.
Back to Savage State
"Of course, everything they decree
IS so mad that it IS quite sure not to
last forever, but the chaos they make
Will take centuries to forget. The
country is going back to a savage state
And we will not live to wait for better
times.
"All Russia is focating-every day
brings new surprises that show that
there is but one way out of 1.-THE
grave on the ground of liberty they
abolish all laws, judges. attorneys, and
substitute for it peoples courts of
justice with only soldiers, workmen or
peasants, often quite illiterate and al
ways without the slightest knowledge
OF court proceedings, taking the places
CT the former judiciary.
On the same ground they abolish all
Po4iNS' iSI iOOSc Ill tnc CRIMINALS from
the prisons, arm them, constituting
from their number, together with work
men, deserters and hooligans, a Red
Guard and filling the prisons to their
utmost with all those who crave for or
der and will not work together with
them toward the total ruin OF the
country.
Officers Reduced
On the pretense of equality they
abolish all grades in the army and
navy and make all posts elective by the
simple soldiers. In most places it is
understood as complete determination
-lynchng Of the officers, who, for
being better educated, are under sus-
plclon of being 'counter-revolutiona
The highest posts are occupied bv
elected soldiers, who very often hardly
can sign their names, and the former
officers are made simple soldiers. with
soldiers pay of $3.50 a month, and
ordered to the lowest tasks-cleaning
Of the barracks, cooking food and TAX
ing care of the horses.
Our great country could only exist
when all the wheels of the government
were working in harmony Now every
thing is perfect chaos. Everybody
was willing to throw over the Czarist!c
government, but not in order to change
it for this one of loot, anarchy and
treason toward our allies! on, the