New-York tribune., 1918-04-29
Russia Revolt
Notu Reported
Anti German,

- q
Continued from page
table and will be the direct result of
intolerable conditions created by the
Bolsheviki, according to Frederick M.
Corse, an American, who reached this
port to-day after sixteen years resi-
dence in Petrograd.
Mr.. Corse, who is accompanied by
his wife, was the general representa-
tive in Russia of the New York Life
Insurance Company. He said he and
his wife left Petrograd in a party Of
cans, when life there became abso-
lutely unbearable, in the early part of
February: They were able to get
through Finland only by getting the
opposing armies of the Red and White
Guards to declare a seven-hour truce
while they passed the zone of fire.
When told Of reports of counter
revolution, Mr.. Corse said:
The revolutionary governme ent
which supplanted Czardom in March,
1917. was apparently never understood
outside of Russia. The world was dis
| posed to believe that because 9 body
OF conservatives, we'll known abroad,
took over the various ministerial port
1otos a stable government was as
sured
kerensky Without Power
"The cardinal fact, however, remains
{ that frorn the start not a vestige of
power was ever lodged in the various
governments headed by kerensky, who
was the dramatic personality in Rus
sia from the date of the revolution to
the final assumption Of authority by
the Bolshevilzi on November 7, 1917.
The Council OF Laborers' and Soldiers
Deputies assumed and maintained all
authority from the day of the revolu-
bility of government, or rather mis-
government, until November 7, 1917
"The Council of Laborers and Sol
diers' Deputies during the early pc
Rod OF their supremacy occupied
themselves with the disorganization
and disruption of the army. BY June
8. 1917, at least 100000 soldiers had
deserted the ranks and were wander
ing aimlessly about the country, loot
ing and pillaging.
"At the present time practically the
whole Russian army has, of it's own
initiative. demobilized. and if the coun-
| try could express tho l-orrors of the
present condition the world would be
| treated to one of the most narrowing
recitals of human suffering ever re-
corded.
Having demobilized the army, the
Council of Laborers' and Soldiers Dep
uties proceeded Systematically to lay
; the foundation of social revolution.
Class hatred is now the dominant note
IN Russia. Banks and credit insttu-
tions have been nationalized; that is,
merged into the State Bank. Indus,
trial plants have been taken under the
control and management of the labor
ers, t-e owners thereof being deprived
of their property rights without COM
pensation.
Factories Nearing Collapse
"All equities represented by stocks
or bonds in credit institutions or in
dustrial plants are cancelled Factor
les, mines etc, under labor control and
management are rapidly approaching
collapse. Values in these properties
have been SO pers1stently destroyed
that the stocks of private banks, whose
value was chiefly represented by hold
ings and control of industrials, have
become practically worthless.
"The private banks of Russia are
bankrupt. The State Bank, into which
the private banks have been merged,
honors it's own checks only for paying
the excessive wages of labor. The or
dinary depositor can realize on checks
,
ing commission, or blackmail, to
some banking official from 5. to 20 per
cent of the amount drawn.
wholesale confscation of private
property, real and movable, is prac-
tised atathe present time. Life is safe
nowhere IN the country. When I left
Petrograd the intelligent and property
classes were openly soliciting Germany
TO come and establish order. The proX-
unity of German troops to the town
was far less disquieting than the grow
ing anarchy within.
Labor Upheaval Everywhere
There is everywhere in Russia q
great labor uphcaval The maximum
wage and minimum work is the order
of the day. The destruction of capital
Is going on az such a rate under Boil
4 shcvik management that if it continues
during the current year not only will
the state be bankrupt. but years, per
! haps a decade, must elapse before the
country can repair the damage done.
at is apparent that Germany con-
templates complete political and bust
ness domination in the whole country
The investments Of her subjects she
has protected in the peace treaty with
the Bolsheviki, but should her contem-
plated dominion Of the country be re-
allied. Germany will sec to it that ali
Allied investments and interests are
cancelled.
Siberia is still a free field for opera
tions. Control of it by the Allies
might eventually compensate them for
their losses in European Russia. After
a residence in Russia of sixteen years,
I am compelled to agree with many
Russians Of light and learning, whose
opinion ! was formerly disposed to
discount, hat is. that the preservation
of the national integrity Of the coun
try and the establishment of stable
! government within will be effected and
i maintained only through foreign inter
vention and a permanent foreign po-