South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-15
PEASANTS FIGHT
WITHOUT UNIFORM
international Army Battling
BoISheviki in Russia Re-
Semble American ReVO-
tiOniStS.

Nth THE AMERICANS or
NORTH RUSSIAN FRONT. Feb. 8.
Correspondence LIN this inter
national army which is lighting nu-
mericaIly superior BoIshevik forces
in North Russia there are. mingled
with the half dozen or 50 varieties
Of uniforms. men who wear no uni
forms a. all They fight. as did the
francs tireurs in the Franco-Prus-
sian war and the first minute men Of
the American revolution, for the
protection Of their hresides
They are peasants. bearded or
beardless. with nothing 20 distinguish
them from the thousands Of other
peasants living around them but
their guns and cartridge belts. They
are the irregular or partisan"
troops and the sentiments they are
showing and fighting for in this
wilderness OF snow and pine trees
loom up so periodically that the
government Of Northern Russia is
beginning 10 look upon them as the
keystone on which TO build a Rus
sian state that will be free from
bOlshevism.
These peasants have known the
ravages Of boishevik troops in their
villages They have been friends ex-
ecuted for anti-bolshevik activities.
They hail the Allies as rescuers. In
nearly every attack the regular
troops make against the enemy one
finds these armed partisans. crack
shots, going ahead OF or along the
tanks Of the Americans. British,
French and trained. uniformed Rus
SLAMS 20 scout a patch or take a pot
shot at the enemy.
Peasants Viewpoint.
The point Of view Of these peas
ants is this "The army has not
yet been organized; we are robbed
and in-treated by the bOlsheviki;
therefore we have 10 defend our
selves" The peasants in Kholmo-
CORY district, along the Dwina river,
have been lighting for four months.
Military authorities say they do their
work as cheerfully and efficiently as
regular soldiers. The Red Guards are
helpless against the revolted pOpu-
lation.
The appearance of peasants fight
ing voluntarily against Trotzky's
forces has a demoralizing effect up
on the BOlsheviki as il disa buses the
minds Of some Of them of the theory
that they are being opposed only by
"imperialists."
The partisans know that if they
are captured they will be shot But.
knowing the forest country as city
dwellers know their own streets,
they are seldom captured. In scout
ing they are as tireless as wild ami
mails.
The government OF the North for
a long time did nothing TO help the
partisans, but. now that their use
fulness is recognized. they and their
families are prOvisioned as If they
were regular soldiers. In Deem
Der a big delegation Of partisans
went TO Archangel and. according 70
the local newspapers, this new ap-
partition stirred up all the classes Of
population of the town"
ft became clear that a sound evo-
hutton from anarchy toward patri-
otism had taken place among the
people, that the effects of the parti-
sans. though OF a local character.
must be supported. and that il was
absolutely necessary TO create
suitable atmosphere for further or
ganization of partisan attachments
A big committee including all poll
teal parties has been formed in
Archangel 20 aid in this plan and a
new partisan newspaper is to be
published for the benefit of the
lighting peasants.