The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-19
People of Hungary
In Bad Condition
BY EDWARD BING
id Press Staff Correspondent.

VIENNA, July 15.-(Delayed.) -
Bolshevik Hungary, like a wounded
lion at bay, stands ready to battle
the whole world in defense of the So
Wet government.
Yet a small allied army, especially
if it includes American and British
troops, could crush the Red army
with ease.
After personally witnessing the
whole course of the revolution IN
Budapest, I am able to state this
with authority.
The food situation throughout
Hungary is critical. Budapest is vlr-
tually starving. The country is torn
bv internal dissensions. Bella Kun
is confronted with the problem of
raising an army from people whose
morale is at it's lowest ebb, and try
ing to equip it with arms and muni-
tions that are practically non-exist-
ant. Should the expected allied Of
fensive fail to materialize there is
one other factor that could bring
about the bolsheviki downfall--a
concerted attack by anti-soviet gov
ernments. The Red army is pre-
pared to fight the Rumanians and
Czechos-and probably could wage
successful war againrt them--but it
has no stomach for battling its own
brothers in the White army
At present the White forces are
scattered and without competent
leaders or a definite objective. En-
tire divisions of the led forces, how
ever, have served formal notice that
they will refuse to fight the White
army. A number of workmen's bat
talions were disarmed and returned
to the factories because of this de-
fiance.
An allied offensive undoubtedly
would result in an immediate crisis
in the soviet government. Never
theless, | believe the order which has
so far been maintained by the Reds
in Budapest would continue, But if
the White army were to attack, it is
certain that streets would run red
with blood, since there are tens of
thousands of bitter anti-bolsheviks in
the capital who would welcome such
signal for a counter revolt. These
same persons could be counted upon
to resist an allied offensive because OF
racial pride.
There is a strong political move
ment against the soviets under way
already, fostered by the powerful
trades unions. At the same time, the
Red leaders are growing more anC
) more radical. There are at least 40(
political prisoners now in Budapes
jails. The railway trainmen, posta
! and telegraph employees plan a fusiol
: which would greatly strengthen thei
: opposition to the soviets.
) The bourgeoisie, as whole, hav
t been cowed by the bolsheviki. Ever
r man of that class between 18 and a
= had been ordered modified an
= pressed into service with the Re
: army. Many of them are now er
e gagged in erecting powerful defense
around Budapest, in preparation fo
last stand in defense of the capita
S should this benecessary.
, General Boehm, commander-ir
!. chief of the Red army, has resigned
V "Ill health" was the reason giver
1t was said, however, the real caus
8 was the dissensions in the countr.
as we'll as the antagonism betwee
Boehm and the so-called "terrC
@ troops" who have run to extreme
n in furnishing alleged violations of bo
q shevik laws and have embarrassed tn
! soviet government.
p Boehm has been succeeded by Gel
: eral Lander, former commander {
.s the Fifth army corps. Boehm is e,
n pected to leave soon for Switzerlan
Boehm opposed the offensive again
4 the Rumanians which is planned
v start in a few days.
4 The few comparative moderat
n left in the soviet government are raI
% idly turning to the extreme lef
There have been frequent cases
q sabotage in the railway service 1
Il we'll as in the public services, becau
,s of resentment of the employees again
4 this attitude of the Reds.
=, In the belief of members of Il
former Hungarian government, no
exiled in Switzerland, occupation
pvJorac+ hNy Aponr;nop apd Rri+i,