“SPOILING FOR WAR”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18353, 22 March 1934, Page 9

“SPOILING FOR WAR”

RUSSIA AND GERMANY YOUNG TRAVELLER’S VIEWS *, A revealing story of conditions in Soviet Russia is told .by Mr St h de Perigo, a young man who has passed through Wellington in the course of a walking tour of New Zealand. Mr fit. dc Pcrigo, who uutil recently held a commission in the King’s Royal Rifles, is touring the world a-foot. During his stay in Russia he secured employment and was able to study the lives of the wprkers. The Russian worker, according to Mr <le Perigo, is little’better than a slave. Those iti charge exorcise the power of life aud'death over the masses, and should any official have personal dislike for any worker, that man is extremely lucky if he is ever seen again. No inquiries arc made, and no questions asked. The Ogpu has ordained it—it is for the good of the people. , Religion in Russia is not recognised, and any worker foolish enough to embrace it will probably lose imost of his privileges. “The favorite - punishment is slow starvation, ’’ said Mr de Perigo to a Dominion reporter. “Modern Russia is a hell on earth.’’ There was no doubt that Russia was preparing for war, he .continued. She ■was, contrary to popular belief, working in with Germany. “It is generally supposed that the Nazis are the enemies of communism,’’ said Mr dc Perigo, “but it is a ■fact that there arc German' officers training the Russian soldiers. . . . Both ; Russia and Germany arc spoiling for war.’’/ ... The most apparent thing in Europe ■to Mr de Perigo was the imminence of war. , Poland and Austria could nut escape being drawn in on the side of Germany and Russia in tin* event of (matters, coming to a .head. It. would he a case of fighting or being annihilated.