The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-27
BUDAPEST SOVIET
ENDING IN TERROR
Czech and Rumanian Armies
Are Hailed as Saviors of
Hungarian City.

BUDAPEST, June q. Correspond
ence OF the Associated Press.)-What
may be the last days of the red
soviet republic here are fraught with
such terror. hunger, mental misery, up-
roofing OF family ties, heart breaking
partings, flights, arrests n legal loot
ings that the majority Of Hungarians
are praying that such DAYS may never
come again. They live like people
caught in a burning house with the
nremen squirting benzine on the only
escape ladder.
One way out may possibly be pro-
vided by the Czech and Rumanian
armies, who, though national enemies
OF the Magyars, are now hailed as
saviors. The atmosphere is charged
with fears and alarms worse than those
felt on any battle front. A contagious
rear like that which prevails when an
army Is in rout is spreading even to
foreigners, whose persons are compare
lively safe from arrest, owing to the
wishes of Bella Kun, the communist
leader, and other ministers to save
themselves from the gallows when the
grand collapse comes.
When fathers and son flee the coun-
try to evade arrest or to join the coun-
ter-revolutionists their wives and
mothers whisper at the parting: Let
us hope we may meet in happier times"
When the correspondent Of the Asso-
clated Press has had occasion to ex-
plain his nationality the listener,
WhetherN red guard, peasant or civilian,
has remarked with envy: What a for
tunate man you are to be an Ameri-
can"
He would Invariably ask whether it
would be possible to reach America and
whether foreigners, former enemies,
would be permitted to land on her
shores. Peasants, who refuse to fur
nish food to Budapest or other cities
because they are hostile to communism
and want shoes and clothes more than
paper money, Of which they have plen-
ty, gladly enough sold meals and sup
plies to the correspondent on the
strength Of his American nationality.
The city of Budapest, which a few
weeks ago had a plentiful supply of
eggs-people almost lived upon them
and potatoes-is now without eggs be-
cause of the obstinacy Of the peasants,
A great many Of the stores have been
closed for lack of goods to sell or be-
cause they have been requisitioned by
the soviet.
The most saddening impression the
| visitor receives is that of a country
in dissolution, being stripped day by
day, mercilessly and inexorably, Of its
riches, to benefit nobody. The reln-
lively pleasant, orderly and bountifu
life that existed in Hungary a few
| IlOlllilS hku, WnCn I htlBhpolb nus
tria, was starving, is gone for many
years to come.
IF anyone wants to be convinced Of
the futility of remaking the world If
a single day with pet theories h~eNshould
now visit Hungary was the remari
made by an American naval officer
II is estimated that half a million o
Hungary's best citizens have heel
Obliged to flee from their homes AM
wander across the frontiers to strang'
lands.
There are many stories of their at
tempts to save their lives and prop
erty, some OF which read like Arabian
Nights tales. 1t is calculated that som'
1900, 900, 900 kronen worth of bonds
gold coin, jewelry, plate, paintings ant
works of art have been saved from
the clutches of the red guards ant
struggled across the frontiers by block
ade runners, afoot, on bicycles, autos
or peasant carts. Within a few week!
there has grown up a system by whicl
large percentages of the value OF sucf
property, often amounting to so pc
cent, have been given for its SAT-
transportation to Vienna or Agram. No
a few communists took advantage o
such methods of getting valuables. GU
Of the country. Many jewelers., how
ever, stored their stocks under side
walks or hid them in holes dug In thei
cellars in preference to trusting ther
to blockade runners.