Evening star., 1949-11-06
Reds Harrassed
By Guerri||as,
Session Told
Leader of Ukruiniun
Unit Describes Need
For Guns, Money

Stories of an armed and active
underground army which har-
rasses the Red Army with guer-
rilla tactics behind the Iron Cur.
tain were told last night at the
4th Congress of Americans Of
Ukrainian Descent at the Statler
Hotel.
Delegates became voluble after
receiving a message from Presi-
dent Truman expressing the hope
that the desire of all peoples for
freedom will increase as the true
story" of American democracy
spreads into countries which CEN
sor their press and radio.
Lew Lahidny. who said he led
an underground unit of $50 men
armed with rifles and light ma
chine guns in the Ukraine until
1947 when he was sent on a mis-
sion to the American zone in Ger
many to seek more guns and am
munition. said there is a burning
desire for freedom already burn
ing in the Ukraine.
But we need guns and money
to carry on our fight" he said.
1--WE cannot fight the Red Army
with words"
Voice Programs Criticized.
Nykola Lebed said the Ukrain-
ian underground army was fight
ing the Red Army and the Ges-
tapo before America entered the
war. He said he knew Of $4,000
armed men in the territory in
which he operated.
Mr.. Lebed was critical of the
policies of the Voice of America
programs which, he said, do not
appeal to the numerous national
groups behind the Iron Curtain.
such as the Ukrainians, but tends
to address them as "the Russian
people" He also said the rebels
in the Ukraine look to America
for guns and ammunition.
Prof. Lev Dobriansky, Of
Georgetown University, told the
Congress the Ukrainian Army
was the only genuinely demo-
cratic force in Eastern Europe at
the close of World War I until
it went down without help from
the democratic nations.
Aid to Tito Questioned.
THE world witnesses the po.
litical rape of independent nom.
Russian states in Eastern and
Central Europe today" Prof. Do
briansky said, "but forgets the
first rape by Soviet Communism
OF the independent, non Russian
State Of Ukraine in 1920"
Prof. Dobriansky said the
United States should make allies
l out OF the Ukranian, Bait, Slovak
and other underground partisans
who today are harrassing the
Soviet octopus, but tomorrow, with
! their ranks increased a mAlion-'
fold, will be gnawing at the very.
centers of this monster"
| Critical of the State Depart
ment's recent decision to lend
economic aid to Tito, Prof. Do
briansky said:
Our State Department may for
the moment depend on Titoism to
split Eastern Europe, but it will
soon find that Titoism is restricted
to Tito's boundries. Americas
true allies are not the dissident
prodcts of the Kremlin, but the
victims of Soviet oppression who
are today fighting Communism in
the sole hope that tomorrow the
United States will support their
aims for freedom
Truman Halls Contributions.
President Truman, in his letter
to the Congress, congratulated
Americans of Ukrainian descent
for their contributions to Ameri-
can life. He commended them
also for efforts to aid kinsmen
overseas who are not able to
enjoy the benefits of a free So
ciety which we in the United
States are fortunate to enjoy"
/ Without mentioning that the
Ukraine is one of the Soviet So
!cialist Republic, the President
said:
Il hope that more and more
the story of our American democ-
racy will reach your kinsmen and
others overseas who are not able
to listen to a free radio or read
an uncensored press and that as
the true story of democracy is
heard more widely the desire of
all peoples for freedom and peace
and justice will increase corre-
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