CZECH WHO FREED SIBERIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1918, Page 4

CZECH WHO FREED SIBERIA.

COE. GAIDA AND THE ALLIES

“ The Daily Mail” Correspondent in Far East.) Clovtannaia, Via Harbin, Manchuria, Sept S.

It is impossible to spend any length of time with the Czech Colonel Gaida, the deliverer of Siberia, wiihout carrying away a vivid impression of contact with a singularly strong personality. Sallow- complexioned, he wears his hair—a coincidence, of course—a la Napoleon, athwart a broad forehead. He has the merest suggestion of a moustache. In conversation he carefully weighs his words, and after committing himself he is then immovable.

Like most good leaders, he enjoys the affection of his troops, who think him a wonder-worker and are never tired of discussing him. A Czech, asked what were the political ’ opinions of Colonel Gaida, promptly replied, “Gaida has no political opinions.” He is simply a soldier.

“ The situation is promising,” he said. “The Russians themselves are raising forces. The number in being already is not insignificant and may easily be trebled, but they are almost devoid of clothes and equipment. What will happen in Russia largely depends on the Allies.

“ Two things are vital to the saving of Russia—one, the Allies to come iu with a unified policy from which there is a total absence of distracting consideration of particularistic interests ; two, a firm resolution of non-interference in the internal affairs of Russia, but a whole hearted concentration on the military problem. “ The internal pacification of Russia can now safely be left in the hands of the available Russian forces, which, in my opinion, are quite competent lor ihe task.

“Whatever central Government emerges no good will be achieved unless the principle of a military dictatorship is sustained, to which everything is subsidiary. The sentiment ot "the people favors such a dictatorship. Ido not refer solely to the educated officer classes and bourgeoisie, but to the great mass of peasants, who, besides bringing in their 19 and 20-year-old sons 111 response to the Omsk Government’s mobolisation order, are offering their 21 and 22-year-old sons, and are asking officers, ‘Why don’t you wear your former uniforms?’ PR ASA NTS’ AWA KENING. “The peasants are cured of any Bolshevism they possessed. They have seen for themselves what Bolsnevism means in an economic sense, which touches them. Short of all commodities and agricultural implements, they sadly realise the impotence of the Bolsheviks to help them.

“ While Russia is working out her political salvation, it is for the Allies to assist her military effort with money, and guns, and men. Personally I am convinced that a more homogeneous Allied Army would be better. International driblets are worse than useless and certain merely to irritate Russian feeling. There should be big All ied forces or none at all. The more Allied troops there are the sooner will be reconstituted the Russian front.

“ On any front we constitute that which menaces the German hold on the Ukraine with ils food possibilities and the Donelz basin with its mineral wealth must be the most important sector for the Allies. Murmansk can be held with small forces, but towards the Ukraine there is need for big forces, since Germany will not release her grip without a desperate struggle, and therefore may be forcibly compelled to divert troops from the west. She is already employing Regulars there, whereas on the Volga and and the Urals she is relying on prisoners, Red Guards, and Lettish regiments.” RUSSIANS UNITING TO FORM SINGLE GOVERNMENTVladivostok, Sept 14 All have been encouraged this afternoon by the receipt of the first direct telegram from Ufa. west of the Ural Mountains, previous messages having come by a roundabout way.

The telegram was sent by M. Avksentieff. a former Minister in the Kerensky Cabinet, and is addressed to Col Gaida, the Czech commander, and the commanders of all the Allied troops who have entered Russian territory. It contains the important tidings that leaders of Cossacks belonging to districts as far apart as Irkutsk, Astrakhan, Orenburg, Semiryetchensk (north-east of Afghanistan), with Tartars, have met at Ufa. Members of the All-Russian Constituent Assembly, which the Bolsheviks dispersed in January, representatives of towns in Siberia and the Volga district, the Ural and Esthonian governments, and representatives of various political parties were also present.

The object of the conference was the formation of a single Govern - ment for Russia. M. Avksentieff was chosen as chairman. The gathering greeted the Allied troops who are fighting for the deliverance of Russia from the yoke of Germany and for the re-establishment of the Russian front. It was acknowledged that the Allies’ declarations showed that they had no idea of interference in the internal affairs of Russia.

The composition of the gathering indicates that to a large extent Russia has been freed from the Bolsheviks and that there is a growing capacity among the different political factious and nationalities to find a common platform for resuming the fight against the Germans.