WHERE BOLSHEVISM DOES NOT THRIVE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 176, 21 April 1919, Page 5

WHERE BOLSHEVISM DOES NOT THRIVE

, ORDER IN GERMAN-AUSTRIA (Bv a Vienna Correspondent of the London "Daily News.") Of all the countries whom, after the terrors of war, revolution has overtaken German-Austria is the only one enjoying not only an orderly Parliamentary Government, but also a Government that lias been evolved in a reasonable fashion without «ny undue break with legality oi* custom. There is no Bolshevism in Vienna or anywhere in German-Austria, either rampant or in tho ascendany, or with any other attribute. The members for German-Austria in the old Austrian Parliament (elected in 1911 on adult male suffrage) have just remained together as the "National Assembly," pending fresh general elections, which will take place early in 1919 on the basis of adult suffrage, both men and women. Fresh election 1 ! for "tho Provincial Assomblies on the same democratic basis will also take place; meanwhile these bodies have added to their members, lopresentatives chosen by the working-class organisations and a number of women. Most of the greater municipalities—Vienna as the first—have done likewise. The National Assembly, tho Government nominated by it, the Provincial Assemblies, and the municipalities between them govern German-Aus-trin. Is this Bolshevism, such as is alleged to bo rampant in Vienna? Left Defenceless. The "Working Meir's and Soldiers' Council." as a governing force, or as an organ of control, is unknown in Ger-man-Austria. In the first days after the breakdown of tho old order a Soldiers' Council was formed in Vienna, which did eoine service in exercising moral authority over the disbanded soldiers streaming T;ack to tho capital. At present it has ceased to play any considerable part. Tho wisdom of its former rulers left German-Austria absolutely defenceless at the moment of the military debacle. Not oulv was there no army, but any organised band of marauders might have sacked and burned down Vienna. This calamity was averted by the unitod exertions'of all the self-governing authorities and by tho great influence exercised ever the working classes by the Socialist and trado union leaders. The wholo regular polico force of Vienna numbers oniv 4100 men. In aid of the polico a "Stadtschutavaclie" (Town Guard) has been started with a membership of over •1000. and as a modest substitute for an army there is tho "Volkswehr" (People's Guard), formed by the voluntary enlistment of former" soldiers. The latter organisation numbers some 10,000 men.

Footballer in Command. A special branch of the "Volkswchr" is the much-abused "Bed Guard," which sprang into life in tho first days, when revolutionary excitement ran veyy high and counter-revolutionary movements were much feared.' It was for a time a useful receptacle for those elements whom it was considered belter to keep loesther under some kind of discipline. Now the Tied Guard is gradually being filled with reliable elements amenable to tfocinlisl control. The original lenders —craw Cabaret poets and other longhaired irresponsible gentleman—liavo already been weeded out. The present Commander of the Guard is Captain Frey, a journalist on the staff of the Scci'nlist "Arbeiter Zeilnng," one of the best-known Continental footballers, who has served with great distinction through the war. Further developments with the object of purifying the Guard are imminent.

But the proof of tlio' pudding is the eating. And if, us evidence of the orderliness of Vienna, my testimony alone is not acceptable, 1 would point to tho reports of the majority of Entente journalists who have visited Vienna, and to the published statements of neutral diplomatists and Red Cross delegates. And, I am sure, some of the English officers mm- in Vienna and some'of (he English people who have lately left Vienna for England will all say Hie same thing, namely that Vienna is oriVrlv am! diiJct. That, in spite of great il'strivs. life n» dwuierty are safe. There are no riots. " Criminality is certainly nu hy.diov Uian during the last two years of war. There are about 50.000 men out of work, lack of coal being (ho main cause; but Hi? men are, for the I'roater part, trade unionists, and-any-thing but Bolsheviks. There have been no strikes since the end of the war. No one is molested in the street. Even those shops that cater for the rich and the wnr-nrofiteers and openN expose enormouslv-uriced noods in their windows, fail to provoke tho people, as assuredly they wound in most other towns.