Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-03-27
I'VE NEED A STRONG ARMY"
Says TrOtzky-Russians Wearying of
- German Rulers.

MOSCOW from DflnSk, tells the con-
ditions there after the, Germans en-
tered the city. Municipal officials
and persons OF all classes, tired Of
disorder aud confusion, welcomed
the Germans, gave flowers to the Of
ficers and paid them every courtesy.
The Germans were kind the first
day. but the second day they COM
mandeered all food supplies, reduced
food allowances to Russians by one
half, and shipped supplies out Of the
city. The mayor OF Dvinsk offered
the German commander bread and
salt, according to the Russian Gus
tom IN greeting visitors, but this
feeling was soon changed toward the
| invaders. who became harsh and en-
forced compulsory labor for twelve
hours a day to skilled workmen, the
highest wages paid being three ru-
bles day.
Russian officers were ordered by
the Germans to restore their shoul-
der straps and then were made pris-
oners. The daily food allowance
now is small piece Of bread and II
quarter of pound Of pork.
Clerks are paid from 40 to so ru-
bles' monthly and physicians GO ru-
bles for the same time. The value
Of ruble is now about 10 cents.
Mohilev, Reval, Narva and Kiev, as
we'll as other occupied cities, report
Germans communicating and ship
ping out food supplies.
Trotzy Urges New Army.
Leon Trotzky delivered an address
before the Moscow soviet and declar-
ed mequivocally for a new army Of
100000 to 100000, commanded by
trained officers and strictly discip-
lined He said it is foolish to sup
pose that officers can be improvised,
and denounced guerilla warfare as
useless and undisciplned. He said
the Bolshevik army is helpless
against skilled troops.
/. eve need strong army to defend
ourselves in this critical world posi-
| SiSii' JIG oulhs fioul GdSJ dllu west
enemies are upon us. According to
news reports Germany has proposed
peace without anneXations or con-
tributiOns to the western powers
France and Belgium to be restored.
This Is unconfirmed, but probable. 1t
means peace at Russia's expense.
There is struggle between two
currents in England. One favors a
compromise at Russia expense and
the other reckons with a powerful
development Of the laboring masses,
which warn against an alliance with
Germany. We are surrounded by
enemies on all sides. If it were
proposed to France to return Alsace
the French. bourse would sell Rus
sia tomorrow"
NJ. Trotzky denied the charge that
the Bolsheviki had wrecked the old
army, but said that 1t was disorgan-
ized and enfeebled by three years of
war, and when false war aims were
made clear the complete collapse en-
sued.
Foreign Intervention Opposed.
Although former Russian officers
In many sections and large numbers
OF the burgeoise have expressed their
preference for the German rather
than the Bolsheviki, and many. con-
servatives announced they would de-
sire Japanese intervention or any
foreign assistance which will~restore
quiet, the views Of such persons are
not representative Of conservative
Russians apparently. Newspapers
which are the organs Of the constitu-
tional democrats, minimalists and So
cial revolutionists Of the right are
practically unanimous in their oppo-
sition to any sort of foreign inter-
vention.
The Russky Vedomosti, leading
constitutional democratic organ,
says that some Russians welcome
German occupation and denounces
these as reactionaries. 1t says that
those who favor Japanese interyen-
tion are not quite so conservative as
they can justify this position to a
limited extent on the ground that
Japan Is an ally. The newspaper
continues:
eve cannot take either position.
Any foreign Intervention would be a
calamity. Russia would pay dearly
for any sort OF Intervention by for
eign powers The Russian DeoDle