ODESSA TO-DAY

Evening Star, Issue 19664, 17 September 1927, Page 18

ODESSA TO-DAY

LIFE UNDER SOVIET MICROSCOPE EVERY MOMENT TO RE ACCOUNTED FOR During the past few days an important event in the Russian colony hero has been the return from Russia of Lieutenant Stefan Fursoff, who has arrived at Budapest after travelling on foot for seventeen days (writes a correspondent of tho ‘ Observer ’) While working as a miner in Pees, in 1925, Lieutenant Fursoff was chosen by General Slmlgine to undertake an important mission in Russia. His mission took him to Odessa, his native town, and on arriving there he presented his papers to the authorities with tho explanation that lie had been living abroad, but now desired to find work in Russia. After signing a declaration that ho would not work to the detriment of the Soviet ho was given permission to remain. Lieutenant Fursoff found few of his former acquaintances in Odessa,_ which ho described io a representative of the ‘ Pcsti Hirlap ’ as a dead city. Tho port is deserted except for a few antiquated vessels. The only means of communication between Odessa and Kietf is a train-de-luxo, Inch # is reserved for the use of Communist employees and officers of the Red army, who lead a gay life in Odessa; the public is obliged to travel by goods train. The greater part of the houses stand empty, their lioors and windows having been broken up and used for firewood. There are no shops, but several Governmental stores where necessaries aro bought by ticket. PEASANT DISCONTENT.

A -week after Lieutenant Fursoff arrived in Odessa ho was able to travel secretly to Bessarabia and bring back monarchist pasters, papers, and books, which were then distributed in # the villages by monarchist agents; this ho continued"to do for many months. The monarchist propaganda, ho declares, is readily accepted by the peasants, whose motto at the moment is “If a good Tsar comes, we shall have better conditions.” The Soviet promises to the peasants have not been fulfilled. Although they have received land, 50 per cent, of its produce is swallowed up by taxes, and 25 per cent, goes to the upkeep of the lied army. The workmen are badly paid and badly housed. In order to prevent the possibility of workmen engaging on secret errands a record is kept of the time when they leave work, the time when arrive at their lodgings, the time when they leave their lodgings again, and when they re-enter the factories; every moment must be accounted for. Many persons accept high positions under the {Soviet and secretly work for the downfall of Communism._ In the Red army, according to Lieutenant Fursoff, discipline is maintained by terrorism, as the soldiers are not Communists. Recently a number of soldiers deserted and succeeded in crossing the Polish frontier, but were turned back by the Poles; on being retaken in Russia they were executed to a man. After the murder of the Soviet Ambassador in Warsaw all the prisoners who had been imprisoned for a long period were executed. In Odessa twenty-five to thirty persons were executed daily DANGER OF DISEASE. Great ravage is being caused by contagious disease. Seventy-five per cent, of the soldiers are suffering from infectious diseases, and these propagate disease among the population. Doctors and medicaments are scarce, and are only to be had in the towns. No steps are taken to prevent the spread of typhus and other epidemics in the country. When a letter arrives it is not delivered until it has been read by the political Commissar of the village. The power of these Commissars is unlimited ; they are not required to give an account of their actions, and dispense life or death according to their own wishes Lieutenant Fursoff adds that Bela Kun, the former Hungarian Communist leader and present Governor of the Crimea, who is believed to be mentally deranged, is living ;n the villa of the Tsar of Yalta. The villa is protected day and night by a circle of machine guns.