The sun., 1919-06-19
TELLS OF HORRORS
IN BALTIC STATES
Col. Carlson Says Germans
Mistreated Riga Prison
ers Terribly.
MANY WERE EXECUTED
Better Conditions Will Follow
Eviction of TeutOns, Re-
GENTLY Ordered.

PARIS, June 1s.-Additional light was
thrown to-day on conditions In the Bal
tic provinces by Col. A. J. Carlson of the
Sanitary Corps OF the United States
Army, professor In the University Of
Chicago, who arrived to-day in Paris
from Riga.
Lieut. Col Warwick Greene, chief of
the American Military Mission to the
Baltic States. also arrived here t. dis
cuss the Baltic situation with the Peace
Conference. which is endeavor ng to OBJ
tain comprehension of the complex con-
ditions caused by the presence OF several
opposing armies IN Letvia and the gem
eral encouragement of unrest throughout
the Baltic regions by German propa-
gandists.
In the opinion of COL. Carlson. the
expulsion of the German army from
Letvia and Lithuania, recently ordered
by the Council OF Four. will cause the
betterment of conditions, but he ex-
pressed the opinion that IL would be
necessary also TO expel the volunteer
German and German Russian forces,
created under German officers and oper-
ating around Riga under Major Fletcher.
which are held responsible for the re-
cent execution Of 100 alleged Bolsheviki,
including ten women, and the imprison-
ment Of great numbers of persons under
revolving conditions.
Col. Carlson visited Riga on June
and 4 to investigate the sanitary con-
ditions. He found the prisons over
| crowded with starving men and women
who. il was admitted by the German
keepers, were given only enough food
to keep them alive, although the Ar,cr-
| lean Food Administ ration was supply
| ing provisions.
Young and attractive women. Col
Carlson said. were at the mercy Of Off
GERS in prisons without matrons. Prison-
| ers were being tortured and executed
| daily in a manner which he declared
| was equally as revolving as when the
red terror prevailed.
The Investigator reported the horrors
to Major Fletcher. but the latter re-
fused to do anything to- alter the
situation materially. declaring that ans
relaxation of severity would result In
| recurrence of Bolshevsm.
Even in Esthoni3. which is now quiet
| the land barons. who represent only 8
email percentage of the public, are try
| ing to create the impression that al
| others than Esthonians are Bolshevik
| and are endeavoring TO involve Esthonia
| and Letvia in war. according TO Col
| Carlson.
Really" the Colonel continued, there
are very Few Bolsheviki In Esthonia and
Letvia, and after the German armies
and other forces organized under Ger
man officers are expelled. I believe the
Esthonians and Let's will be able to
protect themselves easily from Russian
Bolshevik invasion. IL the Allies will
permit them to have limited amounts OF
arms and munitions. But the Allies
| cannot supply food to perpetuate such
persecution as l saw in Letvia."
Recent reports received from Riga in
.dicate that conditions have improved
| somewhat IN the prisons. and womeT
prisoners are segregated under matrons
but executions are continuing
Herbert Hoover. head of the Inter
! allied relief organization, has sent in
structions to Col, Groome, directing
American food distribution, to make II
clear to all officials in the Baltic states
that supplies will not be continued un'
less humane treatment and honest trials
are assured to all political prisoners.