Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-09-05
CAPTIVE YANKS
! PAN BOLSHEVISM
Russians Try to Convert Prison
erS to Red Theories.
PLAN PROVES UTTER FAILURE

American Douohboys Captured on
Archangel Front Are Given unwel-
come Courses of Lectures on Boil
shevism While in Mcscow-Hopec
to Send Them Home Primed for Agi-
tation in United States.
American doughboys who fell Into
the hands of the bolsheviks as war
prisoners were given an unwelcomed
course Of lectures on bolshevism while
I'M Moscow. The bolsheviks aimed TO
convert the Americans and send them
home prlmed for agitation in Amer
ica.
The plan failed, judging from the
sentiments of five Americans who were
released in Moscow and allowed to
leave at the request of the United
Press writes Frank J. Taylor, stan
correspondent Of that organization.
These men were Bryant r. Ryall, 7.
NJ. G. A. secretary, New York city,
who had been in Russia before doing
civilian relief work Sergt. Glenn w.
Leitaell, Mifflinburg, Pa, and Privates
Freeman Hogan, Detroit; Jens Laur-
sen, Marlett, Mich, and John Triplett,
Hindman, Ky. In addition, the party
brought out Francis Linford, wound
ed English lad from Sussex.
Prisoners Are Stripped.
All the Yanks were captured on the
Archangel front. When the bolshe-
viks surprised them by flank move
ment, the Yanks were passed back
from post to post until they arrived
in Moscow. They were stripped of
practically everything, including
clothes.
Some of them had almost entirely
Russian uniforms. The bolsheviks
had a particularly keen eye for Amer
lean 20. D." equipment, especially
shirts. All of the Americans had Dol.
shevik overcoats. their own having
been stolen.
In Moscow the Americans were Civ
en- fairly clean and decent quarters,
but were issued practically no food. A
Red Cross fund and later money from
the Y. NJ c. A. saved them from starv-
alton. The five did their own mar
ketlng and prepared their meals.
They were allowed a remarkable
amount of freedom In Moscow, and
could go about the city in the day
time At special times they had to
report for lectures on bolshevism and
the world revolution given by Rus
slams who had lived abroad and spoke
English
The bolshevlks did their best to con-
vert the Yankees who kept their
peace, and expressed no opinions UNI
I'll they had crossed the border into
Finland. The doughboys were sup
posed to be ripe" for bolshevism when
ne left Russia.
a. learn what impression Russian
bolsheviks had made upon the dough-
boys, the United Press correspondent
asked them for their opinions when
they arrived at the internment camp
at Terijokl, where the Films quar-
antlne arrivals from Russia.
"Make Mo 6oIshevlks."
Sergeant LeItzell said: They're
not making any bolsheviks of AmerI-
can prisoners. They try to preach boil
shevism to us, but It doesn't GO
They'd take men who've got brains,
who've accomplished something by
ability and work and reduce them to
the lowest level. Who's going to stand
for that?
They're a bunch of thieves and
robbers. The leaders are preaching
that everyone ought to have the same
amount of money, but every leader has
pile of rubles stuck away that would
knock your eye out. They all believe
in the principle the bolos had at the
front; What's yours is mine-thats
their creed"
"Bolos' is the name the Yankees on
the Archangel front gave to the boil
sheviks
Leitzcll is an intelligent. spirited,
red-headed American who came by his
decisive ideas regarding bolshevlsm as
the result Of his first-hand experiences
Private Hogan is serious andedelib-
crate. He speaks little and listens
much His views are equally Inter-
estlng. IF America ever went boil.
shevik like Moscow" he said, "rd
make my self lone hand TO stand out
against them.
III you want to be good bolshe-
vik, you've got to be GRUMPY and dirty.
The majority of people in Russia
wouldn't tolerate it If 1t weren't for
the fact they would starye to death If
they opposed the bolos."
This Is what the ordinary American
doughboy thinks Of bolShevism. These
chaps haa three months to study 1t In
Moscow, mecca OF the bolsheviks.