New-York tribune., 1918-02-05
A Russian 8 View of Russia
Why He Views With Dismay the
Disruption Wrought by Bolsheviki

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In view of the Importance which may
be attached to the statements regarding con-
ditons in Russia and the Bolshevik regime,
made by Colonel Thompson and reprinted in
to-day's Tribune, would like to point out the
rcgrettabie misstatemcnts and misinterpreta
tions contained in those statements and at
trihutabe only to lack Of knowledge Of Rus
sian conditions and Of the party programme
and tactics Of the Bolsheyiki.
TO begin with, the colonel praises Kercnsky
and speaks of "rcal patriots" like Nine.
Breshkovsky. Tchakovsky, ETC., and at the
same time justifes the activities Of the Eo!-
sheviki Does the colonel not know that the
Bolsheviki have outlawed Kcrensky, have put
in prison all the great patriots of Russia, in
Guiding Nine. Breshkovsky, Prince Kropotkin,
Flekhanov and number of others whose
names / do not mention merely because they
arc not known to Americans? Does the colo
mel not know that the chief objection to
kerepsky himself on the part Of the Bolshe-
wiki was that Kerensky stood for war, while
the Bolshevki clamored for peace? Have not
the Bcshcviki disorganizcd the Russian
army? Is it in any way helpful to the estab-
lishment of democratic rule in either Russia
or Germany when Bolshevik regiments open
the front to the enemy and cause the slaugh-
ter of thousands of officers and men?
The colonel says further that he has not
witnessed deeds of wanton destruction and
violence. Very likely. But does the colonel
not know of the Petropavlovsk horror, Of the
slaughter Of Viborg, of the shameful killing
of officers at Riga, of the destruction of Nos
COW, of the rape and plunder and murder and
wanton, bestial tortures which make Russians
red in their face for shame at the mere
thought that such deeds are done every day
III Russia? And when the people demand con-
troll of Russas destines through the Con-
stituent Assembly no others than the Bolshe-
wiki apply the methods of the ex-Czar and dis
rerse the Assembly, putting to scorn the dear
est aspirations of those very patriots whom
the colonel cxtols.
Bolsheviki Will Not Fight
Then again the colonel thinks that the Boil
sheviki are going to fight if the Germans will
refuse their terms. Does the colonel not
know that the Germans have refused them
and that Trotzky is continuing to negotiate
peace just the same? Has the colonel read
the report of the chief of the Russian staff
to the commander in chief, Krylenko in which
il is made bitterly clear that the Russian
soldiers themselves have destroyed number
of defensive works or the Eastern front and
are continually dcserting to such an extent
that the front cannot be held even against an
inferor Germany army if the enemy were to
attack? Is the colonel aware of the fact that
the Russian army is being demoblized and
the manufacturing Of ammunition practically
stopped by the order of the Bolsheviki?
And when the colonel compares the Russian
Rolshevki to the forty nners' in this coun-
try does he really know what the Bolshevki
stand for? Does he realize that there is lust
one thing which the Bolsheviki hate more
than imperialism, and that is capitalism?
Does he know that this country is made par
ticularly the butt of Bolshevik attacks be-
cause of the intimate relation between CAPT
talism and government under which the
United States has lived for so many years?
And does the colonel realize that if the Boil
shevik principles were some day to rule this
country he himself would not be found "sit-
ting at the same table with labor" but closely
confined behind bars dangerous capital
ist or forced to earn his living, as work
men do?
1t is true that this country will need
great deal of reconstruction after the war.
but let us hope that it will avoid the sad and
terrible trial of class war As for the rccog~
milton of the Belshevik leaders as the Russian
government by this country its allies, moth
ing could be more harmful for the establish
ment of future good relations with Russia
considering the fact that the Bolsheviki rep
resent small minority and that the rest Of
the Russian people look with dismay at the
disruption of Russia under the Lenine-
1rotzky regime and will some day, and let us
hope in not too distant future, demand of
this mad crowd of demagogues retribution for
irreparable wrongs.
ALEXANDER PETRUNKEVITCH