RUSSIA UNDER BOLSHEVISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17533, 27 January 1919, Page 5

RUSSIA UNDER BOLSHEVISM

EXTENSIVE NATIONALISATION.

LONDON, January 22. The Manchester Guardian's correspondent, who was engaged on the Friends' Relief Mission to Russia in 1917 and 1918, gives an interesting review of economic conditions in rural Eussia under-Bolshev-ism.

He says that the co-operative societies have now secured a virtual monopoly of trading, and are putting the small traders out of business. These societies got credit (in the financial sense) from the Soviets, and are regarded by the railways as a Government department. The profits are reduced to a minimum, and are devoted to education, including classes in modern languages, history, and bookkeeping. The Bolshevists commenced with an ambitious educational programme, and aimed at establishing a school in every village; but this project was'abandoned owing to lack of teachers. Instead of it, the Bolshevists started training colleges for. teachers, and are financing these colleges. This immense enthusiasm for education was the great Bolshevist asset. The Boy Scout movement was also flourishing. The Soviets control most of the factories and forests. The Bolshevist leaders for a time gave the Soviets control of sections of the railways, but this scheme soon failed, and' complete disorganisation followed, so national control of the railways was resumed.

•Regarding the ownership of land, there is a difference of opinion. The Bolshevist leaders desire to manage the large estates through their own experts, but the peasants do not desire nationalisation, but village ownership. The Bolshevists have secured taxes by levies on capital—from which no one is exempt—and by commandeering stores and selling them at high prices. Justice was secured by the election. of older men as magistrates. The Red Guards sometimes overrode the magistrates, but on the whole reliable law courts resulted, which were more just than the police administration of the old regime. There was no'blackmailing in connection with illicit vodka stills. The Bolshevists simply confiscated every still, and deprived the maker of supplies of grain.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON, January 23. . (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p.m.) The Morning Post's Amsterdam correspondent confirms the report that General Hindenburg will command the expedition against the Poles. A REQUEST FROM POLAND. WISHES TO JOIN ALLIES. AMSTERDAM, January 22. A Warsaw telegram states that M. Paderewski has telegraphed asking the Entente Governments to accept Poland as an ally. He appeals to Mr Lloyd George to assist her to quell anarchy on her frontiers.—A. and N.Z. Cable. FIGHTING AT ARCHANGEL. BOLSHEVISTS ATTACK ALLIES. NEW YORK, January 23. A message dated January 23, 12.30 a.m., from Archangel, states that the Bolshevists are heavily shelling the American and Russian armies in the Ust Podenga region There is heavy fighting.—A. and N.Z* Cable. / ALLIED FORCES RETIRE. WASHINGTON, January 24. (Received Jan. 26, at 11.5 p.m.) General March announces that the Bolshevist attacks on the Archangel front compelled the retirement of the Allies, whose losses, however, were small.—A. and N.Z. Cable.