South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-08-11
SOVIET BOOZERS
SHOWN NO MERCY
IN The FAR EAST
Soldiers When Drunk Are
Shot and Civilians Must
Pay Heavy Fine.

NEW YORK. Aug. 10.-When Il
comes 20 applying legal blotting pa
per 10 alcoholic moisture the Russian
bolshevists have Il on the Anti
Saloon League Ike the kick-packed
bottle OF twenty year old hootch has
on that contained in a glass OF half
1f-Oue- percent" The Russian Red
soldier can grunt a Slavic Here's
How" just once before rifle bullet
puts an end 20 his elbow bending &C
dvtues forever.
Erstwhile polishers or the brass
rail who might seek 10 beat the
eighteenth amendment by depOTta-
t!on-prOvOkinE acts are warned TO
stick 20 the more peaceful climate
OF Cuba or Montreal by Morris
Shtooten. who has just returned 10
the United States after five years IN
the Near East four OF them spent
in the South Russian city OF Lugans.
During the past yea. ne has been en-
gagged IN the activities Of the Near
East relief IN the Caucasus.
If a soviet soldier gets drunk he
IS shot Immediately" Shtooten de-
Clared. Tho penalty for civilians
IS not quite so severe. They are sent
10 Jail and kept there for a time.
Before they are released they have
20 pay a heavy fine
Shtooten. whose home is in Far
Rockaway, had taken his wife on
trip 20 Russia for her health when
the world war broke out. NARROWING
him in Lugansk. He formerly had
worked in a foundry in Akron. ohio,
so he obtained a job in the locomo-
tive factory In the Russian city. He
remained there after the BOlshevists
seized control.
THE only difference between So
Wet Russia and Imperial Russia he
said, lis a difference in who Yields
the axe The present regime is just
as autocratic as was the old with
only the difference that now there
is no real government I was born
in Russia and lived there until I was
IS years old.
Russia is united at present be-
cause the Russians hate the Poles.
But when the war is over I feel sure
that the Soviet government will be
replaced by democracy. Gen. Den
kline would have succeeded If he had
carried out his pledge OF amnesty TO
everyone. even those who had been
active in Soviet circles. But he
didn't"
Cossacks and Bolsheviks have
turned Shtooten's hair gray. He
pointed 20 them:
Il had a few when I left the
United States. but look at them now.
When the BOlshevists were first
chased out Of Lugansk they were go
ing TO shoot me because I wouldn't
go with them. Then Deniline'S
Cossacks threatened me with the
same fate because had worked with
Soviet workmen in the locomotive
factory. No wonder am gray."i
According 10 ShtoOten's story the
city became normal after the first
day of Cossack occupation. That
day was given up 10 the looting Of
Jewish shops and Jewish homes.
Though the Bo.shevists didn't in
duige in persecution Of the Jews they
Shot every che that didn't believe as
they id, he sail
Several times ShtOOten was on the
point OF attempting 10 Leave tho city
but was held back by the almost
positive assurance that he would be
searched and lose the money he had
managed TO save for his trip home
lie only escaped being robbed by the
Cossacks in common with other Jew
ish residents % the city because 0f
MS acquaintance with people OF all
Creeds and political beliefs.
Wnen Denlkine FORCES captured
tie city from the BolSheyists for the
second time. after having cnce lost
il. Shtooten and his wife scaped to
NOvorOSsisk, where the Near East
relief had esta blished a station. Be
cause of his knowledge Of the lang
uage and conditions in the country
he was recruited into the service of
the relief organization, later being
transferred 10 Akhalkalaki, in the
Caucasus.
lie was among the relief workers
evacuated at two hours notice az
midnight from the city on May 5 be-
cause OF the Bolshevist threat to Ar
menia. From Akhalkalaki he went
10 Batoum, where he continued IN
relief work until last month.
Everything was in turmoil when
I left Batoum," he said. The Brit
ish were getting ready to leave and
the reports OF Bolshevist activities
daily became more ominous. Ex-
change was demoraliZed. 1t cost $50
rubles 10 buy pound of steak. But
this amounted 10 little more than
60 cents in American money"