The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-10-08
United States Army Officer
Says 100000 German
Troops Are There
MILITARY FORCES
BEING INCREASED
stole Money from Despoiled Com
mandatur in Lett-Ignore the Regu-
, lations of the Allies and plan to Hold

"o"'ou III helt-lgnore the Regu
lations of the Allies and plan to Hold
the Country.
NEW YORK, Oct. S.-A United
States army officer in charge of the
children S relief program of the Amer,
lean Relief administration for Latvia
has written letter to the local office
OF that committee, pointing out that
the perils which threaten the relief pro.
gram IN the Baltic provinces are the
Bolsheviki and the Germans. He then
says:
The Germans promise to save the
people. 1t may surprise YOU to know
that there are estimated to be over
100 600 German troops in this general
nelghborhood. They have never gone
away, although ordered to do so many
times. 1t does not look as if they had
the slightest respect for the outcome
OF the peace conference. In fact, they
nave not, and laugh at it as affecting
themselves.
" 1t is well known that they are re-
eelVlng more troops than they send
home. Only 20 miles from here they
occupy city. Mitau. Two days ago
they broke into the Lett commando
tur, despoiled it, took many thousands
OF rubles, rounded up and disarmed
several hundred Lett soldiers and took
away even their shoes. A speech was
made by a German major saving that
the troops, even their acts, were not
authorized by the German government
and they need not fear punishment. He
went on verbally to attack the allies
and especially the British He stated
that the allies have done nothing for
these people and will not do ANYTHING
for them. Germany will help and save
them. he said.
II have seen in one German military
official communication reference to the
promise of land here to every German
soldier who is here All the German
soldiers expect TO be given money and
land. torchlight procession took
place in Mitau and an open utilization
with the Russian troops. The few al
he'd officers are insulted and ignored.
Machine guns are posted everywhere
over the whole city, and the territory is
under the military rule of the Ger
mans. The poor Lettish government,
only - miles away, are unable to cope
with the situation.
If the Germans are allowed TO re-
main and no help is given these people
Boishevlsm will prevail. If the Ger
mans act as saviors, they will remain
and absolutely administer this country
and never leave it again. Can ANYTHING
be done to solve the problem so that
neither Germany nor the Bolsheviki
Will prevail? Certainly. 1t can be
done by food, clothing, boots, arms. am
munltlon, etc, plus moral support. Can
not we OF America help in the way of
food and clothingt This of itself would
not only be humanitarian. but it would
10 more to crush Bolshevism within
and keep it out than any one thing ex
cept arms to fight it,
would like Mr. Hoover to consid.
er this subject, and | wish our govern
ment would sec this terrible situation
as every one of the American and Brit
lsh officers sees it. | can assure Won
this picture is a mild one and does not
begin to cover the ground All the in
reference by the Germans with orr
work, all the stealing of cattle food
and supplies from this poor. harried
country. all the insults and robberies
and free booting that takes place daily
these points are not touched up. The
whole trouble is that the policy of the
allies has not been carried out while
the Germans have been insolcntly ag
gressivc. 1t looks to me as though ali
of our work here is imperiled and that
what has been done will go for naught
unless we have more real substantial
help.