Evening journal., 1919-07-11
RUSSIAN PEASANTS
WEARY OF SOVIET
US. Report Sh ows Bolshe
visits Hold Power Only
Through Intimidation
Is. 900 ARE HELD
AS HOSTAGES

Nh1iii-Nuib b4Nf July l1.-lue Depart
ment Of state. IN rs arst official com
ment on the recent adyices OF dislnte-
grafton Of Bolsheyist power in Euro
pean Russia, made public a report Of
! distressing conditions made to the
/ American legation at stockholm by
Baron Boris Nolde, a Russian Of high
standing and undoubled integrity.
Baron Nolde has been occupying the
chair Of international law at the Uni
Nersity Of peirograd since May. 1911
: lie was legal adviser 10 the Russian
foreign oillce under the rule OF the
: Car and was under secriary Of foreign
affairs during the life Of the Kerensky-
I LuOm government
The Stale Departments report en-
braced among other reflections the fol-
lowing analysis OF Russian public
opinion:
"All the intellectual elements. as well
as the peasants and workmen. voice
hatred OF the Bolshevist government.
but the civil population is unarmed and
powerless.
"The Red army lacks morale. and It's
disorganization. at the time Of Baron
iNoldes departure from Petrograd, was
increasing steadily
There was a famine among the
workmen because the factories had
ceased operations.
Extreme Methods Used.
Even the peasants in the Red army
are said TO be against the BolsheNisis,
but an uprising among them has been
ayerted by the extreme methods OF the
Bolsheyists.
The peasants are pictured as having
been entirely disillusiOned from the
dream they had when Lenine inaugu-
rated in 1917, the policy OF confsca-
ting large estates. by the fact that the
surplus harVesis have been appropriated
by the Lenine government for the use
Of the army and OF the cities and towns.
"Thc soldiers are getting a pound OF
black bread daily. only half pound
being allowed TO people not in the mill
tary forces"
Imprisonment Of approximately 1900
people as hostages by the Bolshevist
authorities at Petrograd during a three
weeks period. in a recent outbreak OF
The terror there. was reported by
Baron Nolde after his escape from Pet
rograd.
According 10 his statement. the for
eigners among this large number OF
hostages were 10 be held for exchange
for Bolshevists abroad and the Rus
SLAMS among the hostages were to be
held subject 10 exchange for BOlshevists
in the custody OF the White army forces
in various sections OF Russia. Persons
who were arrested at the embassies
and LEGATIONS in pelrograd as well as
some Of the personnel Of the Danish or
ganization OF the Red Cross, were among
these hostages
Peters Has Unlimited Powers.
Unlimited power has been given to
a man named Peters, a former head OF
The Moscow commission, 10 combat the
Russian revolution and .he. Is now in
complete charge Of ihs &ternal de-
fenses Of Petrograd
From Russian sources" The State
Department added, including the
Pravda. newspaper published at
Petrograd, the department has been
advised that The Bolshevist authorities
In Carella have announced that de-
serters from the Soviet army in the
Pelrograd district who have hidden in
the forests will be granted full pardon /
and their families, who are held as |
hostages. will be released IL the de- /
serters return 10 duty. but that those /
who are not returning within three /
days will become outlaws and will be
shot on sight. Seventy per cent. are
said 10 have been executed on a charge /.
OF having arms in their possession. Of
espionage or Of having connection with
an alleged organization OF monarchists.
According 10 this information. which
comes from unofficial sources. one per
son was executed by the Bolshevists
for having written anti-Soviet verses
soviet Russia is having a fuel fam
inc Peters. in charge Of internal de-
lenses Of Petrograd, has announced his
seizure Of a large amount Of arms and
taken from counter-revo-
lutionists Everybody found having
arms without authority was ordered 10
be shot along with those in charge OF
Ihe buildings where the arms were
found The public telephone service In
Petrograd has been ordered closed"