BOLSHEVIK RULE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1919, Page 10

BOLSHEVIK RULE.

SALVATION ARMY TESTIMONY. A TYRANNICAL MINORITY. "Tt is easily understood that under the present, Government no freedom for religious or social work can be expected. What makes this most sad is the fact that the Government does not represent more than perhaps one-tenth of the whole population, but by machine-guns and bayonets they hope to keep the other nine-tenths in a state of terror, and drench all opposition in blood." This is the last paragraph but one, of an illuminative account of life and work in Russia, by Colonel Karl Larsson, of the Salvation Army, appearing in All the World, a Salvation Army review. All Swedish officers <jf the Salvation Army were ordered to withdraw from Russia by General Booth, when relations between the Swedish Govenment and the Bolsheviks were ruptured. But there are still thirty Salvation Army officers at work in Russia, and Colonel Larsson keeps in touch with that country. Regarding his own experiences, lie writes: "Though the situation in Russia is claiming the attention of the whole world, very few people seem to have any clear idea what is really happening. Th.i revolution two years ago was greeted with satisfaction, not only by the majority of the Russian people themselves, but by the friends of liberty everywhere. One of the greatest of nations, after age-long bondage, received freedom without parallel. There was joy throughout the whole of Russia in those days. What processions in the streets, and demonstrations were arranged to give expression to what the people felt! What bright hopes for the future were entertained by millions! Nobody with any interest in Russia could look at the spectacle without sharing with the people their joyous hope and wishes for a glorious future." The Salvation Army, which had already been some years established at Petrograd, under the Tsar's regime, was encouraged by the change to embark on still greater activities.

"Everything looked hopeful, and we expected, with God's help, to be able to build up a wonderful work among tno dear Russian people." "A TERRIBLE TYRANNY." "But this dream could not become a reality without further struggles. Unhappily enough, not only for us, but also for the people, other forces set to work which brought the new-born liberty into the greatest danger. vThe political party called the Bolsheviki- came upon the stage, and, by hiding its real intention behind an attractive programme, succeeded in getting bold of the reins of government. Very few of the common people then understood what they have since had to learn by a fearful experience, that this meant a terrible tyranny." In September of last year, with bis family, Colonel IJirsson arrived in Petrograd. Up to then matters had not become specially serious, apart from the struggle created by the growing difficulty in securing food for officers. Many of the Salvation soldiers had also, owing to lack of work in the factories, been compelled to leave Petrograd for the provinces.

"We had just taken a new headquarters, which also included a good centra] hall for our meetings, at the second corps. We had also on our programme as an item of great interest the opening of our work at several places outside Petrograd, the most important of these being Moscow. But our difficulties began.

'A few. months' experience on the spot taught me that conditions in Russia wore becoming more and more desperate, not only for the formerly well-sit-uated folk, but for almost every one. Ao description can so convey matters fis to be properly understood. What is now the rule in Russia is the very opposite from .ill we have been taught or experienced to be the right thing. All property, including estates, farms, and houses in the cities, aa well as in many cases also furniture, clothes, and all that is within the premises as well, has been 'nationalised'; that is, without any compensation, taken as State property. "If a building is wanted for any purpose, as office rooms for a committee, or as club rooms or dwelling-house for a commissarie, the tenants are ordered out within three days, but they must not take their furniture without special permission, which ls: not ahvnys granted; almost all well-to-do people have thereby been brought down to a degree of starvation. I know noble families where only one meal daily cun be allowed, and others are crowded together in. one room, daily expecting to be arrested or exeented. Worst or all is the fact that no escape is possible except with great danger, as Hie authorities do not allow Russian citizens to go abroad. The sufferings that thousands have had to meet and still endure are very great, POOR TREATED CRUELLY. "Although the present Government boasts of being the Government of the proletariat,' the poor classes suffer move than formerly. In reality, the Government takes very little ■ interest in the really poor. They are treated more cruelly than ever. And as foodstuffs become more and more expensive, and in many cases cannot be obtained for money, it can well be understood how a family with but a small income will suffer. Everything costs at least ten times more than before the war.

"The whole population is starving, typhoid fevor is making great inroads among the unhappy 'people, and the bitter cold is doing the rest. , "To carry out Salvation Army work under such condition® is hard enough. When people are invited to our meetings the usual answer is: 'We are too hungry to come to any meetings.' And even if money could be obtained, which in Russia at present cannot be expected, very little foodstuffs can be purchased by which the people can be fed." Meetings of the Army are not formally forbidden, and consequently they are continued, but under the very greatest difficulty and even at grave personal risk. The buildings are frequently taken, and heavy rent is collected by the Bolshevik authorities on buildings tuat the Army has secured.

Colonel Larsson writes: "The peasants themselves are only too glad to have the Gospel preached to them. INTOLERANT ATHEISM. "The Government is atheistic, and does not want religion to lie preached. Even if it is not always openly sUted the aim is the same, and difficulties are created on the false pretext that we are counter revolutionaries. Bibles are confiscated, and the sale of religions books is stopped. Religion is not wanted. Yet, in spfte of all, I believe we Irave been allowed to do more than any other society.

"Difficulties are also placed in the way of social work hsing carried on.

According to the modern doctrine put into force by the Bolsheviks, all social' work niust be done by the State, and nobody else is to be allowed to deal with suah matters. Such effort as rescue work is regarded as quite unnecessary. Nearly all children's homes have been taken by the authorities. Our two homes for refugee children are, however, still under our control, although daily threatened. The chief thing seems to be that no religious in-, stnu'lion or influence is allowed,"and we cannot, of course, do such work without this. NO RELIGION FOR CHILDREN. ''The State-governed homes for children have no religion whatever. The children are, instead, now and then brought to a teacher. The general administration is bad, the work being left in the hands of people who do not care for it, the result being, that children are dying in masses for want of food or of diseases of different kinds. "The Stall'-Captain 3ays that what is making the most depressing impression is the absence of light. 'We have purchased a candle, and as that must be used in the. kitchen when the food is prepared we all gather there, standing around the light trying to do some little work we have to do. The electric light is only served between eight, and eleven or half-past ten at night, and, seeing it is dark also in the mornings, nobody feels disposed to get out of bed. No light in (he streets, and so we cannot visit or sell our paper. Lately we have got bread again, but not sufficient. We have all been in good health, but many people are dying from typhoid fever, which is spreading in a terrible degree. At the hospitals tho conditions are beyond description."