Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-11


TN Tcheliabinsk the train stopped
L for a couple of hours. There were
two regiments stationed there, and
there we're several hundred soldiers
aboard the express. A meeting was
quickly organized right near the sta
tion within a short distance of the
place where | had been thrown on
the train some three months pre-
yious. But how different was the
mood of the masses now! There were
thousands at the meeting. \ refugee
addressed the crowd. He made stir
ring, sarcastic speech.
Every one of us" he began has
something at stake In Russia. we all
went to defend our country. We all
made our sacrifices. For three years
| fought in this war. Then | was
set free to return home. But | found
my home in the hands of the Ger.
mans. | could not return. lost
my parents, my wife, my sisters!
What do l now get for all my sac
rfiCes?
Liberty!
Il came to Petrograd For three
DAYS | went hungry. | was not alone.
1 lltlt Ntlt many oA'ANi SpaNAS'' '''~
suffered the same fate. They gave
us no bread. What do we get to sat
isfy our needs?
Liberty!
Il went to see the chief of the gov
ernment in Petrograd. But l was
never admitted to him. ! was nearly
beaten to death and thrown out of the
building. Why?
Liberty!
THE Germans are taking every
thing they can and at the same time
the Red Guard is being increased to
fight--whOm. the Germans? No, the
so.called bourgeoisie! But are they
lot our own brethren, our own blood?
In the name of what are we urged
to slaughter our own people while
the Germans ravish our land?
I'm the name of Liberty.
"Our country has been disgraCed
and ruined and still we are being
called upon TO destroy our own edu.
Gated and Intelligent classes.
"Is this Liberty?
Il hear that in Moscow a thousand
invalids were thrown out into the
street. These invalids are soldiers like
yourselves and myself only manned
and crippled for life. Why were they
thrown out?
For the sake of Liberty"
We were all deeply impressed by
this speech of the soldier. Not
single voice was raised in protest.
Every heart felt that the liberty we
had received was not the kind of lib
erty we had dreamed about. We
wanted peace, happiness, brotherhood,
not civil war. foreign invasions, strife,
starvation and disease.
Another speaker said:
The Comrade is right. We have
been deceived and disgraced. We do
go hungry and no one cares. But how
can we get out of this shameful posi-
ton? We would have to overthrow
the present leaders and re-establish
the front. The Japanese are already
moving into Siberia and the Germans
are occupying Russia, all because we
are divided. We will be under some
foreign yoke if we don't get together.
We quarreled with our officers, but
how can we ever hope to do anything
without officers? We might make
peace with them. but where can we
get arms to overthrow our present
leaders, who have surrounded them
selves with bands of Red Guards"
For a moment the vast gathering
remained silent. 1t was a pathetic
calm. Somehow one felt poignantly
that our much-Cherished freedom had
turned into an oppressive bondage.
Suddenly a couple of men raised
their voices in protest, denouncing the
speaker, even threatening him. They
were promptly seized and placed under
arrest and quiet was restored.
ALLOW me to answer the question:"
I shouted to the chairman from the
nj I
"Botchkareva! It's Botchkareva. :"
a number of voices passed the word to
the platform, and Immediately l was
picked up and carried to the speaker S
stand.
It's a pleasure to speak to you
now" | began, "only a few weeks age
! you would have torn me to pieces"
Yes, it's true. We killed many
several men interrupted. But we
were told that the officers wanted tC
enslave us. that's why we killed them
| We now see that our real enemies are
not the officers, but the Germans"
Before / answer the question put
| by the preceding speaker. let me ask
| YOU what your attitude Is toward the
! Allies" | said.
America, England and France we
/ trust. They are our fxsApds. They
are free countries. B28&e distrust
Japan. Japan wants SfBeria," came
/ in reply from many corners.
Here a soldier requested permission
I to ask a question. 1t was granted.
II can't understand why our allie.
do not defend u.s." he said, Not one