The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-11-06

try broke down completely. Inc
Bolsheviki would give no encourage
ment to administrative skill and ap-
pointed incompetents to high execu-
tive posts. At the same time arrests
an dexecutions We're ordered to stamp
out counter-revolutionary activities
by terrorism. Inefficiency developed
everywhere except among the peas
ants. They f1ourished as never be-
fore. They had unprecedented guam
titles Of food for themselves. They
sent only small consignments to the
Industrial centers and kept the major
parts at home. They had to do with
out manufactured articles, but they
were never favored in this respect
under the czars and did not greatly
feel the privation.
A revolt against the Bolsheviki in
the industrial centers that would have
overthrown this rule might soon have
been brought about if the allies had
left the Russians to themselves. The
United States and Great Britain
wished to follow. this policy but
France objected, insisting that the
Bolsheviki must be soverthrown quick
ly and that this could only be brought
about by giving ofDreign aid to the
disaffected groups within Russia.
Admiral Kolchak, General Deni-
kline, General 'Wrangel and other
Russian conservatives were supplied
through French insistence with money
and war munitions by the allies. But
the only effect of, this plan was to
rally the vast majority of Russians
to the defense Of their country:
Lenine and ,TrotzkY cleverly persuad-
ed the Russian people that the allies
were intent uponl destroying Russia.
The response to the Bolsheviki call
for volunteers for the army was over
whelming. Every attempt of the al
lies to fight Russia from within was
defeated. ~. X
But the raising of large armies by
the Bolsheviki for defense purposes
at last bred a spirit of military ad-
venture. Poland had been encour-
aged by France to invade Russia and
had suffered severe defeat. The Poles
were driven. from Russian territory.
The conquering Russians became in
toxicated with their successes. In
stead of resting on their own frontier
they pursued the emery into Poland.
The Poles were demoralized. A wave
Of imperialism swept over Russia.
The Russians determined to. take
Warsaw. The Poles were badly led
and their officers were not skilled in
mapor strategic problems.
: p h4 no
At this critical moment France
sent to Warsaw General. Weygand,
Marshal Foch's most trusted lieuten-
ant. WeWygand saw at once that
the Russians had committed their old
military fault of~ outrunning their
lines of communications. By a few
mastery manoeuvers with the Polish
army, demoralized as it. was, he
threatened to annihilate the Russian
invaders. Their supplies were in grave
danger and retreat was necessary.
Within a week Weygand had cleared
Poland of Russian troops. Hardly
blow had been struc k. It was all a
series of problems in higher strategy.
The collapse Of the military pres
tige of the Bolsheviki was followed
by acceptance of the Polish peace
terms. These terms were far differ
ent from the set of Soviet conditions
which Lenine and Trotzky had hoped
to force upon the Poles. The dis
astrous adventure into Poland dis
mayed the Russian troops. They de-
serted by thousands and returned
home disillusioned. Thereafter, re-
volts against the Bolsheviki began
to be frequently reported from many
parts of the country.
IL rEa Is 49,.