The Washington times., 1920-11-21
SOVIET BOOTY
IS ENORMOUS
immense Supplies Captured
From WrangeI's Force Re-
quire Special Commission.
BY LOUISE BRYANT.
Inteppstisnal News Service,

MOSCOW. Nov. IS (by wireless
to Berlin, Nov. 21).-So enormous
was the booty captured from Cen
eral Wrangel In the Crimea that the
Soviet government has appointed a,
special commission to supervise its
transportation from the battle front.
CAPTURE WAR MATERIAL.
The captures embraced every kind
OF war materials. including many
French lighting airpianes. tanks.
guns. munitions for artillery and
small arms. and unused uniforms.
The prisoners included soldiers from
thirty different units OF General
Wrangers army.
A great wave Of rejoicing swept
Soviet Russia when news OF the vic
tory was flashed by the government
wireless system. Real peace appears
to be In sight for the FIRST time since
the Soviet government came into
power.
PROSPECT OF PEACE.
The anti-Red forces under General
Baischovitch and General PetIuts.
which are operating In the western
part of White Russia and Ukrainia
are not regarded as serious obstacles.
Military men say these forces can be
disposed Of in a very short time.
With the prospect of a complete
cessation OF hostilities. all depart
ments OF the Soviet government are
now discussing reconstruction plans
The storming OF the defenses OF
northern Crimea by the Red army
was one of the most dramatic battles
Of modern times. Russian military
men say that il compares with the
battle Of Verdun. The powerful de-
fensive works. which were believed by
General Wrangel's engineers to be-
impregnable. were first preached with
violent artillery fire. and then the
troops poured through the gaps.
TROTZkY DIRECTED ATTACK.
Leon Trotzky. commissar for war
in the Soviet government. personally
directed the final phase of the at
tack. As soon as the Russo-Polish
armisuce was signed, Trotzky left for
the Crimean war theater and organ
lied the advance. The concentration
OF Red troops was completed in Octo-
Der, and the battle opened on October
IA north of Perekop. the town at
the battle neck where Crimea joins
the Russian mainland.
The first Russian victory was won
north OF Perekop at enormous cost.
Trotzky sent in his best soldiers
shock troops-and they justified
Trotzky's expectations.
1t is now apparent that the de-
moralization of WrangeIs soldiers
had been under way for some time
before the collapse. Twenty-four
hours after the fall OF Simferopol
and Sabastopol local soviet govern
ments were administering all public
affairs. They had been established q
month previouly and had to conduct
their affairs by underground sys-
tenn.
WRANGEL IN TURKEY.
The first telegram from the Cri-
mean Soviet government was received
by the Moscow government on Tues
day night. At that time it was not
known definitely that General Wran-'
gel had escaped to Turkey upon AZ
here that Wrangel
might be made q prisoner.
Red soldiers captured an order OF
the day signed by General Wrangel
saying that as the allies were giving
him 40 further military assistance
he extended permission to all his
soldiers 20 surrender themselves TO
the Reds.
Military experts writing in the
local newspaper. Pravda, say that the
Importance of the victory in Crimea
cannot be over-cstimated.