Evening star., 1920-03-10
RUSS CONDITIONS
TOLD IN LECTURE
Military Invasion Defended
by Capt. Martin at Gen.
trail High.

That United States soldiers were
never worthy of greater praise than
the members of the Siberian expedi-
tion, and that the soldiers never
have received greater blame than this
force received, was the declaration
of Capt. Hugh s. Martin in lecture
at Central High School last night.
The meeting was held for the bene-
fit of the American central commit
tee for relief in Russia. under the
auspices of the Community Center de-
partment of the school system. Dr.
Edward II. Egbert. who was chief OF
the American Red Cross detachment
in Russia. also was to speak. but his
part of the program was carce!ed.
Explains L. :. Soldiers in Russia.
Capt. Martin invited his audience
of about $50 persons to question hun
during the course of his talk, ana
the inquiry which stirred the most
lively interest was:
What business did the American
government have in sending a force
against Russia without a declaration
of war;"
The speaker explained that primar-
lily it was due to the condition OF
general upheaval in the world; that.
secondarily. it was an effort to de-
fend orderly government everywhere
from the irresponsible elements
which sought to break down the
structure of civilization by the spread
of the doctrine of anarchy. He ex-
planned that the anti-bolshevistic
Russians are the educated people,
skilled workmen, tradespeople and
clerks. 1t is they, more than the
rich. he said. that have suffered most
at the hands of the wild, laWless
forces in that great land.
Capt. Martin cited numerous IN
stances-particularly in the case of
Central America and MeXico--where
the United States has applied force
without a declaration of war. Al
ways this has been done, he explain
ed. in the interest of peace, order,
justice--to protect the lives and prop
erty of innocent people.
The speaker deplored America
apparent lack of faith in the inherent
strength. friendliness and good pur-
pose of the Russian people at pres
ent. The Russians he described as
magnificent race. and out of the pres
ent chaos there he predicted there
will come great. free nation.
Tells Of Bolshevist Movement.
Questioned about the bolshevist
movement. Capt. Martin said it's force
is not diminishing in Russia. but that
the movement is assuming a SEM
blance of balance. Its great strength
has been made by the application or
terrorism. AS an instance OF the
sort OF alTOCllleS IoillAhiI'Su ~ .A'S
bolshevists ne told of their burning
the home of a widow with three emil
dren because she had been KIND 10
American doughboys in the Siberian
expedition.
Asked about the establishment OF
free love-" or naturalization OF all
Russian women by the bolshevists, Capt.
Martin declared he did not know such
a thing was practiced or that such
state of affairs prevailed. Then he con-
demned persons who, coming out OF
Russia, tell the world of deplorapie
conditions, of atrocities, which they
really know nothing about-"spreading
rumor without supporting evidence, ne
said.
Capt. Martin was, in 1916. a special
attache of the American embassy IN
Petrograd and was a member OF the
allied intelligence service. He repre-
sented the United States at Archangel
and Murmansk, and it is said he was
largely instrumental in causing break
between north Russia and the central
soviet government He travelled widely
in Russian territory during three years
there. returning to the United States
last September.
He made a plea for American aid to
the hundreds of thousands of Russian
men, women and children who are starv-
ing, and who will continue to suffer un-
speakabIe hardships, unless given out
side aid, until a stable government is
established in the Land of the Great
Bear"