New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-10-06
TIME "Berliner Tageblatt" is now
printing series of articles on
4 conditions in Russia, by Hans


German authorities on Russian affairs,
whom the 'Tagebatt" has sent as a spe-
cial correspondent to Moscow. In one of
his latest articles, written in the begin
ming of September, Hans Worst speaks
of the great change which has recently
taken place in the general appearance Of
Moscow. He says:
.Everywhere one sees traces of the fight
ing in the streets. On the Nikitskaya there
is large building in which during the
days of last October the last supporters of
the kerensky government defended them
selves against the Bolshevks. On all parts
of it cannon shells have left their impress
sions. Around this building are many
others in ruins, either burned or demol-
ished by gun fire. All over the city and
especially in the centrally located sections,
one sees the effects of the machine gun fire
There remain intact very few of the large
beautiful show windows formerly so char
acteristic of Moscow Many of them are
broken and others are riddled with bullet
holes. People have given up putting in
new glass. What is the use of new win
dows? A short while and they will be
shattered
Even now there is great deal of shoot
ing going on. Late in the evening, when
the city seems to be at rest, hears
shots exchanged here and there. ] have
even heard shooting in the centre of the
city during the day. People do not pay any
attention to it; mere glance and one CON
tinues on his way. The hurried recruiting
OF the Bolshevik armies has resulted in the
giving of arms to men who do not know
how to handle them. Doubtless many a
shot is due to accident. But often the fir
ing is due rather to wantonness.
Hotel Metropol-one of the most luxu-
rious centres OF Russia. where one formerly
met the wealthiest Russians and the lead
ing diplomats of Russia. prominent English
ladies and foreign epresentatives-is
the Second Home of the Soviet in which
located the Bolshevik Ministry of For
eign Affairs, the Red Guard staff and many
other institutions of the Soviet republic
Here, too, traces of shell fire are every
where noticeable, just as in the buildings
of the adjoining Kremlin. But the dam
age done to the Kremln is not so great as it
has been reported. The press reports were
Kremlin We're the residences of the Roman
offs. To-day many Bolshevik authorities
are living in them. Lenine has his resi-
dence in the kremln.
"All the entrances are locked and guard
ed. Red weather beaten flags are hanging
from the towers. The guard in the Krem
lin consists of Lettish troops. One hears
no Russian spoken Nothing but Lettish.
In order to gain admission to the Kremlin
one must obtain special permit from the
authorities: the place is closed to the bour-
geoisie.'"
In another article Hans Worst shows
how the Bolsheviks are gradually losing
followers. After pointing out that many
of the most ardent adherents of Bolshe-
vism have found that the Bolshevist
teachings are not so good in practice as
they had appeared in theory, he says:
at is, therefore, not strange that one
finds among the masses many bitter oppo-
nents of the Bolsheviki. But | am really
surprised at the rapidity with which the OPP
ponents Of Bolshevism have grown in
strength among the peasantry Immediately
on my arrival in Russia | had an opportu-
nifty to learn that even among the workmen
that strongest support of the Bolshevikl
adherence to Bolshevism was not general.
ON my way to Moscow I met an intelligent
labor leader who himself a Bolshevih
and had formerly been very active for Boil
Shevism. He told me that in his home city
very great part Of the workmen have
turned away from The Bolsheviki. Their
feelings are turning against the Soviets. In
reply to my question: How can the Bolshe-
Wiki remain in power when even their own
followers are turning away from them? He
declared that the Bolsheviki are tottering,
but that their end is not to be expected inn
mediatey, for in all important centres of
Russia they have concentrated power and
would, iii of necessity, be able to de
fend themselves to the last.
also in Moscow considerable parts Of
the workmen have fallen away from the
Bolshevkl. | was one day riding in the
Streetcar when company Of mounted Red
Guards hurried by An old workman sit
ting near me tauntingly pointed at them
and said: 'Tovaristchi' This word, the
real meaning Of which is Comrades is now
ironically used in connection with the sup
porters of the Bolshevik regime and the
Red Guards; it shows the discredit into
which the system has sunk it emphasizes
re contrast there is between the
armed power of the Soviets and the masses
of tA- real proletarat. My neighbor said
10 me that in his trade so per cent of the
workmen are now hostile to the Soviets
but that they do not dare yet to step
out openly against them"
Of the feelings of the Russians toward
she Germans, Hans Worst says:
THE bitterness against Germany and
Everything German is very general. began
SO feel it immediately on my journey to
Moscow when woman began to talk in a
-actless and insulting manner of the Ger
man character, although she knew that |