The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-10-06
TROTSkY SAYS RUSSIA FOUGHT ] TO HAVE PEACE War With Poland Being Fought For That
 Purpose. Is Extremely Proud of
 The Bolshevik Armies Seems To Have Control of the Situation In
 Russia.
Copyright 1920, By the Int News

Copyright 1920, By the Int News
 g. Service) s
 Moscow by Wireless to Berlin, Sept. 30-Delayed-Leon Trotsky. the Min ister Of War in the. Soviet govern ment, is immensely proud of the Red army. But he expressed keen diSap- pointment today because the Soviet had to interrupt it's industrial and economic program to build up a fighting machine.
 In an exclusive interview with the International News Service, Trotsky declared that Russia sought only peace with Poland. He said that Russia was determined to have peace if she had to fight for it. Trotsky's statements on the .Russo-Polish situ- ation were extremely timely in view : of the negotiations which are now in progress at Riga.
 The. War Minister said:
 The struggle with Poland our only aim has been peace. On the eve our undivided attention to peace : work and the problems of peaceful pursuits. I myself was in the rural district where l was president of the 1 first Labor Army" Never in all my service in behalf of Soviet Russia have experienced so much satisfac- ] ton as in this economic work. The Polish war diverted our efforts and 1 our attention from this constructive work. Our aim was peace at any 1 cost. We offered the greatest conces- sions to the Polish government. We l took the offensive in the field to com ' pei the Poles to give us peace. Our 1 offensive did not bring us complete [ success. Now the aH-Russian Gen. ! tral executive committee again is of- ffering uncommon1y generous terms 1 l do not say extravagance conces- 1 sions-to attain peace, which would i enable us to return to our recon struction and our economic problems. our terms were not only generous but very demonStrative.
 We wanted to grant 9, real peace | that would be of educational value. 1 We must and will prove to the world f including the Polish people that peace is our real aim even if we have
 to pay a high price for it. Our terms were an expression of the self confidence of the Russian workers and peasants who want peace and : are ready to make concessions to get it. If their peace proposals are again
 rejected they are fully able to gain
 peace by victory on the field They righteousness of their cause"
 rOnly two years ago Trotsky was asking American and French officers elementary questions on military mat ! ters. Since that time he has built UT on the ruins of the Czarist army and amidst the shattered industries and railways of his country a force o1 100000 more well armed. equopped fed and drilled. There is no guard
 maintained around Trotsky's office A single sentry stood before the dool
 when an interviewer sought admis sion at the appointed hour-to the
 very minute-Trotsky was at his desk at his headquarters ready to re
 ceive the correspondent. It was ar immense room, plain and severe il
 aspect. There were no pictures bu fone wall was covered with a hug,
 map of Russia. A cabinet stood il fone corner containing reports of var Eious kinds which are received dail, from every army unit.
 There was an elaborate telephon, system. At a great switchboard wer Hong distance lines stretch I to head
 quarterS in the field. Trere was al
 absolute silence in the room when tn,
 correspondent entered except for tn
 ticking of great grandfather clock.
 Trotsky sat at his desk. The desl was big square and clean. The maI Hooked like one who possessed qufe
 power. He appeared considerabl,
 aged and was slightly grey. His uni form was plain with no insignia ant
 when he spoke it was in excellen
 French.