Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-10-20
SOVIET REGIME
IS A SYSTEM Of
PRISONS, SAYS
American Returns From
Russia; 20 Million Lives
Lost Since 1914 From
Execution, Famine, War.
(By The Associated Press,


New York. Oct. 19.-Astounding
reports of conditions in soviet Rus
STA were given in q statement to
the Associated Press by Capt. En-
NETT Kilpatric. of Uniontown, La,
who was captured by General Bu-
denny's cavalry command in Oc-
tober. 1920, while doing American
Red Cross work and suffered for
more than Line months in soviet
prisons.
Captain Fitzpatrick, under TWEEN
ty years sentence at hard labor,
was released August Z. last,
through efforts of the American
relief mission In Russia. He re-
turned to the United States Mon
day.
Thousands Of Austro- Hungarian
prisoners of war, many of them
taken by the Russian armies in
1914, still are held by the soviets,
Captain Fitzpatrick declared, but
their number is fast dwindling
through deaths from starvation.
From figures obtained from GER
tain persons holding high offices
In the soviet government. he add
ed, he conservatively estimated the
loss of life In Russia since 1914
from famine. execution and war,
at 100000.
Systems OF Prisons.
my figures and my story may
seem ridiculous" Captain Kilpat-
rick said, but during my prison
life in Russia I talked to several
thousand prisoners-generals and
aristocrats. as we'll as politicians,
business men and peasants--and I
think / know what I am talking
about.
"The soviet government Is moth
Ing more than system Of prisons
operated by the extraordinary COM
mission, and over this commission
Lenine and Trotzky reign. No
where in soviet Russia Is there q
shop, restaurant or Industrial plant
In operation. The only mills that
run are those turning out soviet
paper money. The entire popula-
ton is ruled by a scant 100000
communists.
I'm Moscow alone there are 80.
600 government rpies working and
1t is almost certain death to utter
a word against the government.
Executions 60 on like the fall of
Niagara. I have stood in my prison
cell and heard the work going on
hour after hour with never a let
up. When l first was placed in
prison the majority of my COM
rades were aristocrats and men,
bers of royalty. When I came out
they were all gone-killed. I have
sawn logs with beautiful. aristo-
cratic young women pulling the
other end of the saw"
We're Treated BrutalIy.
Captain Fitzpatrick was engaged
In typhus survey in villages on
the south front of WrangePs often
sive in the section north of the vii
lage Of Perikop. When returning
by train his party wls attacked by
a detachment of Budenny's cav
airy. All their clothes were taken
away and they were treated bru-
tally, he said. His secretary. o
terpreter also a Russian, were cap
tured with him.
They were driven through twen-
W miles OF snow ana Sleet ana were |
forced to do Red Cross work |
among the Budenny wounded in a
number of engagements. He said
they had barely enough food to |
keep alive. They were then placed |
in a box car and Travelled eight |
days, with but morsel of food
day, to the grand headquarters of |
Had Dinner With Budenny.
General B1denny is a simple
living fellow and he treated me !
very decently." Fitzpatrick contin-
ued. 1--WE had dinner with him
and discussed his work. L attribute
my success Budenny told me, to |
the fact that I teach my soldiers |
that they always win and never |
lose.' He refused. however, to |
pass on my case and we were sent
to Kharkov. general headquarters
Of the southern bolshevist army"
After series of terrifying ex-
periences in soviet prisons, he fin
ally obtained his release in August. |
Captain Fitzpatrick said he would |
make a report to the state depart
ment officials at Washington.