Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-17
DOES NOT THINK
MUCH OF russ
Believes Allies Will Have to
Take Hold of Russian
Situation

Bemidti. Mimi, May 17.-Re-or-
ganization of the Russian army, n
the re-entry Of Russia into the war
against Germany is believed impossi-
BILE by Nels johnson. a brother OF
Sheriff Andrew johnson of this city
who has just returned to the United
States from Russia where he worked
for the Russian government for is
months putting farm tractors into op-
Grafton.
MIR. johnson, who is a special rep
resentative Of the Emerson Branting-
ham company of Rockford, ILL.,, q
tractor manufacturing concern, was
loaned by his company to the Rus
sian government to supervise the
work OF putting motor-driven farm
machinery into operation. his COM
Russian government. The car was in
power at that time. and considerable
was accomplished before the revolu-
ton. but after the disorganization of
he government conditions grew
worse until he was forced to return
to the United States. He left Russia
in February and landed in the United
States April 6. When he left Russia
he told leaders of the Bolsheviki that
to the United States. and they told
him to return to Russia AZ soon as
possible and help them to operate
their farm machinery.
Mr.. johnson believes that the Allies
will eventually have to take hold of
the Russian situation and give them
a. stable government. He says the
Bolsheviki in Russia is about the
same as the ]. w. w. in the United
States and hat there is absolutely ne
law or order. The people refuse to
| vynrL oy1 tho ~~Il:>~n ~or,,~. - 80.
up arms. The peasants, however, are
firing of conditions and are longing
for a stable government. Even the
conditions existing under the former
moharchial government would be
more popular than Bolsheviki rule.
Conditions in the northern part OF
Russia are deplorable, but in the
south the people get plenty 10 eat and
conditions in general are better. Mr.
johnson was in Petrograd when the
Germans were advancing on that city
and when he fed with the Russians
his trunks containing many valuables
were stolen from the train. In Petro.
grad and the northern part Of Rus.
STA a person canno get food WITHOUT
a bread card and the bread they re.
ceive is composed OF rye -four ant
ground straw. Agricultural activitie!
are at a standstill and the outlook fol-
tHe future IS DARK. Inc BOlShevlk
spread rumors throughout the nation
that an ]. w. w. uprising, similar t,
the Russian revolution will lake plac,
in the United States.
These is nc aw or order and a per
son is liable to be robbed and can re
no through the courts. A
Vladivostok Mr.. johnson lost hi
grips which contained many valuabl,
papers and although ne offered 100
rubles reward. which is PRACTICAL,
$500 in American money, he neve
heard OF them again. On his tri]
from Petrograd to V~ladivostok he wa
not permitted to PASS through Man
churia, but had to pass through 81
IBERIA. During the past is months h
has travelled V e $4,000 miles o
Russian territory.
While in the southern part of Rus
STA he found Stanilous Zbyszko 9TH
Russian Lion) world-known wrestle
!, operating a restaurant and he had a,
interesting visit with the big Russian
Zbyszko wants to return to the Unite
States. but the powers that he in Rus
!, STA. will not permit him to do so.
Mr.. johnson does not think muc
I of Trotzky or of his system OF runnin
a government, but says he thinks
general reorganization is due befor
the Russians will be back on a soun
i, Industrial basis