HOW THE BOLSHEVISTS GET OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 169, 11 April 1919, Page 10

HOW THE BOLSHEVISTS GET OFFICERS

AVIVES HELD AS HOSTAGES. The following (in the London "Times" of February 21 last) is an extract from a letter by' a British officer in Kussia It has 'always been a wonder to me how the Bolshevist Army is m well, officered and has so many patriotic, true, and loyal "Russian officers of standing serving in its ranks. I have gono into 1 the matter, and this is the reason. The Bolshevists seized all former officers and gave them the choice of service, against their convictions and principles, or of being shot. You will perhaps ?av that a true patriot would prefer death, but mark the devilish cunniug and cruelly of tho Bolshevists. They seized the'mother.-:, wives, and children of such former officers ami y>v« the hitler the choice of service in tho Bolshevist. Army or the death rf the relatives held in confinement as hostages. You sec the hideous predicament of the officer. You may say why docs not the officer desert ami come over to us at the first opportunity or carry out his enforced duty in a perfunctory way. The answer is that each officer liai> a Bolshevist official attached to him to watch ' his action, ,<lay and night. On tho slightest signs of wavering or unsatisfactory conduct he is reminded of the position of his family, ami threatened with death to himself and them. Tliero never was such a refinement of fiendish tyranny and terror ns this under any despot of Bussia or any other country, and one must go back to ancient history to find anything like a parallel. This should .be known in England, and yoit will be the cause here a service 'by making it known, and asking others to do tho same.