The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-08-01
CAPTIVE YANKS
PAN BOLSHEv|SM
Russians Try to Convert Prison.
ers to Red Theories.
PLAN PROVES UTTER FAILURE.


Archangel Front Are Given UnweI
come Courses Of Lectures on Boil
shevism While In Moscow--Hopes
y to Send Them Home Primed for Aei
tation in United States.
American doughboys who fell iltt
the hands Of the bolsheviks as wal
prisoners were given an unwelcomet
course of lectures on bolshevism whilt
In Moscow. The bolsheviks aimed Il
convert the Americans and send then
home primed for agitation in Amer
lea.
The plan failed, judging from the
sentiments Of five Americans who were
released In Moscow and allowed to
leave at the request Of the United
Press, writes Frank ]. Taylor, staff
correspondent Of that organization.
These men were Bryant R. Ryall, Y.
M. G. A. secretary, New York city,
who had been In Russia before doing
civilian relief work; Sergt. Glenn w.
Leitzell, Mifflinburg, Pa, and Privates
Freeman Hogan, Detroit; Jens Laur-
sen, Marlett, Mich, and John Triplett,
Hindman, KY. In addition. the party
brought out Francis Linford, wound
ed English lad from Sussex.
Prisoners Are Stripped.
All the Yanks were captured on the
Archangel front. When the bolshe-
viks surprised them by a flank move
ment, the Yanks were passed back
from post to post until they arrived
In Moscow. They were stripped Of
practically everything. including
clothes.
Some of them had almost entirely
Russian uniforms. The bolsheviks
had particularly keen eye for Amer
lean 70. D." equipment, especially
: shirts. All Of the Americans had boil
shevik overcoats, their own having
been stolen.
In Moscow the Americans were CIV
en-. fairly clean and decent quarters,
but were issued practically no food. A
Red Cross fund and later money from
the 7. NJ. G. A. saved them from starv-
alton. The five did their own mar
keting and prepared their meals.
They were allowed remarkable
amount of freedom in Moscow, and
could go about the city In the day
time. At special times they had to
report for lectures on bolshevism ard !
the world revolution given by Rus
slams who had lived abroad and spoke |
English.
The bolsheviks did their best to con-
vert the Yankees who kept their
peace, and expressed no opinions un-
til they had crossed the border into
Finland. The doughboys were sup
posed to be ripe" for bolshevism when
they left Russia.
To learn what impression Russian
bolsheviks had made upon the dough.
boys, the United Press correspondent
asked them for their opinions when
they arrived at the internment camp
at Terijoki, where the Films quar-
antine arrivals from Russia.
"Make No Bolsheviks."
Sergeant .Leitzell said: "They're
not making any bolsheviks of Ameri-
can prisoners. They try to preach boil
shevism to us, but 1t doesn't 70.
They'd take men who've got brains,
whove accomplished something by
ability and work and reduce them to
the lowest level. Who's going to stand
for that?
They're bunch of thieves and
robbers. The leaders are preaching
that everyone ought to have the same
of money, but every leader has
a pile of rubles stuck away that would
knock your eye out. They all believe
u the principle the bolos had at the
front: What's yours is mine-that's
heir creed.'
"Bolos" is the name the Yankees on
;heviks. +
Leitzell is an intelligent, spirited,
'ed-headed American who came by his
lecisive ideas regarding bolshevism as
he result of his first-hand experiences.
Private Hogan is serious and DELHI
rate. He speaks little and listens
much. His views are equally inter-
sting. IF America ever went boil e
hevik like Moscow" he said, "pd q
make my self lone hand to stand out ,
gainst them. q
IF you want to be a good bolshe- Q
Tx, you've got to be GRUMPY and dirty. !
The majority Of people in Russia a
wouldn't tolerate 1t If 1t weren't for
he fact they would starve to death II Il
hey opposed the bolos." a
This is what the ordinary American 2
oughboy thinks Of bolshevism. These d
haps had three months to study it in Il
[oscow, mecca of the bolsheviks. d