Evening star., 1949-09-18

III poyIACIlI. hOul cSS IOc OuIlud-
ton. Box 1920. Richmond. Va.
Br0uUn
Continued From Page CID
"Haiducs." They are led by former
army officers who managed to
escape the repeated purges which
have occurred since 1945. The
bands are organized in small
groups lost" in the mountains.
but there appears to be close
liaison between them. At present
they merely raid small villages,
kill Communist stooges. rob gov
ernment institutions, blow up an
occasional railway or bridge and
generally make nuisances of them
selves.
There have been a number of
police expeditions against them.
But because they operate in small
groups they are not easily discov-
cred. And when a group is found
the number who can be executed
on the spot is small. It has hap
pened, too, that gendarmes sent
in pursuit of the Haiducs killed
their leaders and went over to the
brigands bag and baggage. In
recent months Tito has helped
them by sending arms. ammuni-
ton, a few medicals supplies and
experienced leaders in partisan
warfare.
A similar situation has de-
veloped in Bulgaria, where the
Comitadjis as-the guerrilla fight
ers in the mountains have been
known for more than 100 years
have made their appearance again.
The ranks of these guerrillas are
reported to be swelled every week
by the arrival of more peasants
from the plains. who prefer to
abandon their homes and lead the
dangerous but free life of the
guerrillas.
These rebellious operations are
more than mere flea bites for Mos
cows leaders. The Soviets have
developed a new empire in East
, ern and Central Europe and in the
Balkans. This resulted from the
passive attitude of the United
States and Great Britain. The
political leaders of both the great
Western powers were so anxious
to appease Stain and his Politburo
that they did not oppose Soviet
hegemony over more than a third
of Europe.
The genuine democatic leaders
in all that area went underground
and lived in exile while Hitler
ruled their peoples. They later
returned to their homes, full of
good will toward their liberators
and were anxious to make drastic
changes in some of the worst fea-
lures of their former governments.
But these men were purged rapid
ly by the Russians, while the
United States and Britain watched
impassively.
Politburo Has Problem
This new Russian empire now
is seriously threatened because the
once-trusted lieutenant of Joseph
Stain, Marshal Tito, decided to
declare his independence and told
his former masters to go whistle.
The Politburo probably would
like to. let Tito alone for the pres
ent and strike later when he least
expects it. This, however. will be
difficult, in the opinion of Amer
ican and Western European po-
litical and military analysts.
The spirit OF rebellion is very
contagious among peoples who
have suffered as much as the satel-
lite populations. Being fatalistic,
the yaccepted their fate at first
because they did not think any,
thing could be done about it. But
from the moment top Commu-
mist leader like Tito raised the
standard of rebellion, they were
ready to follow it.
If the present revolutionary
spirit spreads to all the satellite
countries, and all indications are
that it will, the Soviet government
may be faced with an ever-worse
situation than in 1941, when Hitler
invaded Russia.
Russia may perfer to strike at
Tito before the revolutionary
flame engulfs all the Balkans and
|. Eastern Europe, according to some
of Mr.. Bevin's advisers. Other
wise. fires may spring up in so
many places that Russia's large
armies will not be able to cope
with them.
!: The Moscow Politburo knows
/ only too well that repressing re-
bellions which involve tens of
millions Of persons and attempt
ing to fight elusive guerrillas with
regular armies are the toughest
problems any military men ever
encounters. Thus, instead of watt
ing quietly for the Western world
to disintegrate under the impact
of difficult economic conditions
the Soviet empire itself may dis
integrate because Tito chose to
assert himself as a Nationalist
Communist.
Furthermore, the Atlantic pact
countries-which include Italy
cannot remain mere spectators in
! the event of a Soviet aggression
against YVoslavia, which is q
vSoarohor ~ khA TTn{%nI NJ