The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-06-14
Anarchy in Hungary
Soviet Rule in Buda Pest War
Carnival Of Crime

Budapest, May Correspondence
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, hearbreaklnS
partings. flights, arrests and legal loot
ings that the majority Of Hungarlans
are praying that such days may never
come again. They live like people
caught in a burning house with the
firemen squirting benZine on the only
escape ladder
One way out may possibly be pro-
vided by the Czech and Rumanian ar
mics, who, though national enemies OF
the Magyars, are now hailed as sa-
viors. The atmosphere is charged
with fears and alarms worse than
those felt on any battle front. A con-
tagious fear like that which prevails
when an army is in rout is spreading
even to foreigners whcse persons are
comparatively safe from arrest owing
to The wishes Of Bella Kun, the Corn
munist leader, and other ministers to
save themselves from the gallows
when the grand collapse comes.
When fathers and sons flee the
countr yto ev:lde arrest or to join the
counter-revolutionis their wives
and mothers whisper at the parting:
Let US hope we may meet in happier
tines
When the correspondent of The
Associated Press has had occasion to
explain his nationality the listeHe",
whether Red Guard, peasant, or ci-
william, has remarked with envy:
What fortunate M n you are, TO he
an American"
He would invariably ask whether it
would be possible to reach America
and whether foreigners former enc
mics, would be permitted to land on
her shores. Peasants, who refuse to
cities because they are hostile to COM
munism and want shoes and clothes
more than paper money, of which they
have plenty, gladly enough sold meals
and supplies to the correspondent on
the strength of his American nation
ality.
The city of Budapest which a few
weeks ago had plentiful supply of
egg@people almost lived upon them
and potatoes-is now without eggs,
because Of the obstinacy Of the peas
ants. a great many OF the stores
have been closed for lack of goods to
sell. or because they have been rcqui-
sitioned by the Soviet.
The most saddening impression the
visitor receives is that Of country in
dissolution, being stripped day by day.
mercilessly and ineXorably. Of its
riches to benefit nobody. The rela-
lively pleasant. orderly and boun1iful
life that existed in Hungary a few
months ago. when its neighbor Aus
tria was starving, is gone for many
years to come.
eff anyone wants to be conviced OF
the futility Of remaking the world IN
a single day with pet theories ne
should now visit Hungary" was the
remark made by an American naval
officer 1t is estimated that half
Of Hungary's best citizens have
been obliged TO flee from their homes
and wander across the frontiers to
strange lands.
There are many stories of their at |
tempts to save their lives and property
some of which are like Arabian Nights
tales. It is calculated that some b
900, 100000 Kronen worth Of bonds
gold coin. jewelry. plate. paintings
and works of art have been saved from
tho clutches of the Red Guards and
across the frontiers by
blockade runners. afoot. on bicycles,
autos or peasant carts. Within few
weeks. there has grown up a system
by which large percentages OF the
value of such property, often amount
ns to 80 per cent have been given for
is safe transportation to Vienna or
\ cram. Not few communists TOOK
advantage Of such methods OF getting
:alues out OF the country. Many
jewelers.. however. stored their stocks
lndcr sidewalks or hid them in holes
lug in their cellars in preference TO
trusting them to blockade runners.