The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-02-01
w. D. Pelley Explains Sib.
erian Situation from
Own Experience
RED GUARD DESCRIBED
Hand of Germany Can Be Detected
Behind All Nations
Troubles
Burlington Free Press)

Russia should become a protecto-
rate of the allied nations until such
time as a solid government can be es-
tablished in that country that will
command the respect and the support
of the people" declared William Dud-
ley Pelley, editor of the st. Johnsbury
Daily Caledonian, who has recently
returned from Russia, Siberia and the
Near East, before the members of
Unity last night in the parlors of the
Unitarian church Of Burlington.
"The system of government, if it
can be called a system, in Russia at
the present time follows out to de-
gree the cid Gar regime. In each
town and hamlet the Red Guards, or
Bolsheviki, has established an agent.
This agent sits in every local govern
ment and reports its doings to the
head Red Guard government. Any at
tempt to rise up against the Red
Guard is promptly suppressed with
body of troops. All the inhabitants
live in two or three rows of houses
in small hamlet and their land is
pasture land is divided up proportion
ately among the inhabitants and each
family has share in the Ind for their
! cttle. A wood lot the same. A mans
pasture may be a considerable dis
tance from his wood lot, or his corn
field from his other grain field.
siberia is land like the United
States in climate, topography and We
getation. The northern part is within
the Arctic circle, but it is a revela-
ton to behold. Agricultural experts
state authof1tatively that the prairies
of Siberia are so fertile and excellent
for raising wheat and other grains
that they could feed the whole world
if not another blade of grain grew
anywhere. It also is rich in miner
ais and other resources.
"The people there are not starving
They have plenty of beef and other
meats and bread. The main factor
in the food question is the lack of
transportation. One town may have
plenty with prices low, while ten
miles away there is a famine and
prices to the sky. High customs duty
prevents purchasing in one part for
use in another.
'It was only the Czecho Slovaks,
the people from Bohemia, who, val
lent men, deserting from the Austrian
army that prevented Germany from
getting into Siberia. They did that
by taking possession of the Trans
Siberian railroad along the entire
route Of 5000 miles. Had Germany
got in the war would have lasted
much longer. Allied intervention, with
Japan and America taking part, also
assisted.
'I am positive that the second Rus
sian revolution or the present Red
| Guard revolt was made in Germany.
Banners which have been carried by
! the Red Guard bear the name of the
German maker in one corner and in
some cases mistake was made and
the banner was lettered in German
and not in Russian.
"The Red Guard is nothing but a
big band of hoodlums broken beyond
all restraint from the country in
which it now RACES. They have muir
dered the men with the brains who
could have solved the country's diff
ficulties. There are 140,000,000 Rus
slams in that country who are light
headed. They have been under re-
straint from personal liberty so long
that they will try anything once, no
matter what the result The Russians
are good-hearted and like the Ameri-
! cans. They have no use for the Red
Guards, but they are helpless. It is
either with the Red Guard or against
them, so far as the Red Guard itself
is concerned. IF you are with them
you are safe; of not you have not
long to live"