Evening star., 1919-03-09
Physicians Ordered Shot.


z Discussing the manner in which the
bolshevists treated the bourgoise or
professional and employing class. he
said that when cholera was spreading
in Petrograd last August. and charges
were made that the bourgoiae we're
aiding the spread, an order was is
sued by bolshevist official To the red
soldiers 10 shoot every physician they
thought was not performing his fuii
dnty.
soldiers license to shoot any phESi-
clan 1t was n disgrace to humanity.
The bolshevists are worse than the
anarchists who. / understand. believe
only in the destruction of property.
while the boishevists believe in the
destruction of human life as well as
property"
Mr. Francis said that he believed in
the distribution of the land to the
people, the peasants, and had urged II
when the kerensky revolution derei-
oped. The bolsheviki. he said. con-
fscated the land. but did not propose
to give title to it to the people. Ee
said that the bolshevists, under their
plan, ould move peasant off the land
he held to some other part of the
country whenever they desired.
The ambassador said he knew il to
be a fact that the bolshevists in sew
eral provinces had nationalized ~om-
en-. Several previous witnesses had
denied that such was the case. Mr..
Francis said it was quite true the cenv
trail soviet had not issued decree
nationalizing women, but that it had
published decree providing that mar
riage and divorce could be engaged in
by two parties simply by the method
Of giving notice Of their intentions.
Russians Reported Starving.
The bolshevists. in recent months.
the ambassador said. had been fol-
lowing the plan of getting Russians
into the red guard by means OF ar
resting woman members of their fam
lilies and holding them as hostages.
The great bulk of the Russian people
were hungry. he asserted, and even
! three perters and two women left TO
care for the American embassy build
ing in Petrograd were on the verge OF
starvation. The State Department
s had been trying to get food to them
through Sweden.
Speaking Of the Czechoslovak forces
~ Russia Mr.. Francis said there was
not the slightest doubt but that they
were betrayed by Trotsky at the in
stiEation of the Germans Trotsky,
said the ambassador agreed to assist
Eshe Czechoslovaks to leave Russia il
fhey would lay down their arms and
1T the same time issued secret order
8
srainman who in any way assisted
Them to get out of the country. Later
40 ese Czschosloyaks were treacherous-
fy attacked.
A Flat contradiction was given by
Ambassador Francis to statements of
previous witnesses before the com
inittee to the effect that & free press
existed il Russia.
Americans Become Bolshevists.
K The ambassador said that on the
night OF the suppression of the con-
stituent assembly boishevists expected
i1roubIe. and three Of the many hun
.hred Americans who came to Russia
were on guard at the soviet ministry
ipf foreign affairs. He declared these
ito have been John Reed, a writer who
fhas appeared before the committee: a
sman named Humphries and another
tnamed Refnstein, whose home was
! said to be in Buffalo. The AMBASSADOR
asserted that in a single week 500
fAmericans arrived in Russia and that
many OF them associated with the boil
: shevists soon thereafter. The am
naesador said he warned the State
Department and recommended that
passports be not issued TO Americans
TO come to Russia
Albert Rhys Williams q previous
wlness before the committee, was re-
ferred TO by Mr. Francis, who said
WiHian1s freely associated with the boil
1 snevists and was an advocate OF their
principles.
/ Subject to the future call of Senator
/ Overman. chairman, the comrnittee ad-
Journed at the conclusion of yesterdays
nearing. 1t was said to be doubtful
whether any further witnesses would be
asked to testify before the committee.