The Mankato free press., 1919-05-30
CRUELTY TALES RELATED
CHASTITY STORIES ARE TOLD
ABOUT B0LSHEVlKI
YANK OFFICERS REPORT
Those Trotsky's Minions Have
Fought Like Lot OF
.Barbarians
FRANK J. TAYLOR.


Berlin.-GBy Mail. 1.-The bolshevik
fighting in the Baltic provinces is the
most hateful of all, according to
American officers returning from mis-
sions there, who tell of the ghastly
almost unbelievable cruelty on the
part of the bolshevik mercenaries.
Neither side is showing mercy now,
according to the latest reports.
number of phases are cited to
account for the exceptional bitterness
of the Courtland and Lithuanian fight
ing. The bolsheviks are faced around
Riga, by German volunteer divisions,
with whom Il number of Let's are
fighting.
The German divisions are known as
the Baltic army and is supported from
German headquarters. The campaign
is conducted in accordance with the
armistice terms, say the officers. Part
of the Germans are from Germany
proper. and the rest are known as
"Balts."
The "Balts" Described.
The "Balts" are the German popu-
lation of the Russian provinces north
of Prussia. They are descendants of
a wave of Germans which swept into
the Baltic provinces of Russia in the
thirteenth century. In the course of
time the Germans, though very mi
nor portion of the population. have
come to own practically all the prop
erty.
They are called the Baltic Bar
ons," and own everything through a
feudal system which has lasted from
the middle ages. The people are
mostly Let's. some of whom are in
favor of the "Balts" and many of
whom are not. The "Balts" lean to-
ward Germany in their sympathies
and are hated especially by the boil
sheviks of Russia.
When the revolution came in Rus
sia, the "Balts" organized and began
a telling campaign against the boil
sheviks. During the last year they
have held the bolsheviks out of most
of the Baltic Baron" territory, and
since the armistice have been materi-
ally helped by the volunteers recruit
ca m Germany. 'st = J
Their resistance has especially ang-
cred the Russians, who want to free
the country of Germans. According
to Americans who have been in the
region, Trotsky has sent his best
troops against the "Balts" The boil
sheviks have fought like barbarans,
and according to reports, have wiped
Cut entire towns, when they were
able to take them, to end the "Balt"
influence. II is claimed that more
than five thousand were murdered
when the bolsheviks took Riga.
Cruelty Reports Verified.
Entente officers have investigated
many of the reports of cruelty, and
verify statements that men, women
and children have been victims of
the bolshevik mercenaries, many of
whom are Chinese. When an Amer
ican food commission arrived at Lii
bau, it found thousands of defenseless
women and children put on islands
and left to starve because they fav-
ored the "Balts."
The American mission officers, who
are doing their best to get food to
the starving population, blame the
bolshevik army for the atrocities.
Photographs, too horrible to look at,
show the awful methods of the saw
age mecenaries, who are not eXpon-
ents of any idealism which the boil
shevik leaders may profess, but are
fanatics.
The Baltic fighting is probably the
most savage and barbarous in the
world today, due to the bitter feel
ing on both sides. The "Balts" have
exploited the people, thereby provok
ing hatred unequa'" anywhere. On
both sides the armies are well fed
from exploiting the land, while the
population is starving.
Behind the "Balt'' army, the gov
ernments have changed from time
to time in localities. At present the
"Barons" are largely in control, though
recently republic was in sway. ,.
Let's Prefer Russia.
The Let's for the most part prefer
to belong to Russia, but hate the boil
sheviks, and therefore are fighting
for the "Balts," who have preserved
the numbers and names of the old
Russian regiments from the region
for the sake of stirring up national
feeling Some of the "Balts" would
prefer to adhere to Russia politically
but are afraid of the bolsheviks
Others are out and out Germans, and
plans are under way for joining the
provinces to Germany when an oppor.
tunity comes later.
How to distribute the food and
which government to support is puz
zle to the food missions from the en-
tente sent to Libau and Memel to care
for the populations. On both sides
of the lines the populations are
starving, while military organizations
of mercenaries are ravaging the
lands