russia in 1919(1919的俄国)-第15部分
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every one of whom had seen something of the sort in real life。 Samson's
stirring up of the Israelites reminded me of many scenes in Petrograd in
1917； and when； at last； he brings the temple down in ruins on his
triumphant enemies； I was reminded of the words attributed to Trotsky：…
〃If we are； in the end； forced to go； we shall slam the door behind us in
such away that the echo shall be felt throughout the world。〃
Going home afterwards through the snow； I did not see a single
armed man。 A year ago the streets were deserted after ten in the evening
except by those who； like myself； had work which took them to meetings
and such things late at night。 They used to be empty except for the
military pickets round their log…fires。 Now they were full of foot…
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RUSSIA IN 1919
passengers going home from the theatres； utterly forgetful of the fact that
only twelve months before they had thought the streets of Moscow unsafe
after dark。 There could be no question about it。 The revolution is settling
down； and people now think of other matters than the old question； will it
last one week or two？
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RUSSIA IN 1919
THE COMMITTEE OF STATE
CONSTRUCTIONS
February 15th。
I went by appointment to see Pavlovitch； President of the Committee
of State Constructions。 It was a very jolly morning and the streets were
crowded。 As I walked through the gate into the Red Square I saw the
usual crowd of peasant women at the little chapel of the Iberian Virgin；
where there was a blaze of candles。 On the wall of what used； I think； to
be the old town hall； close by the gate； some fanatic agnostic has set a
white inscription on a tablet； 〃Religion is opium for the People。〃 The
tablet； which has been there a long time； is in shape not unlike the
customary frame for a sacred picture。 I saw an old peasant； evidently
unable to read； cross himself solemnly before the chapel； and then； turning
to the left； cross himself as solemnly before this anti…religious inscription。
It is perhaps worth while to remark in passing that the new Communist
programme； while insisting； as before； on the definite separation of church
and state； and church and school； now includes the particular statement
that 〃care should be taken in no way to hurt the feelings of the religious。〃
Churches and chapels are open； church processions take place as before；
and Moscow； as in the old days； is still a city of church bells。
A long line of sledges with welcome bags of flour was passing
through the square。 Soldiers of the Red Army were coming off parade；
laughing and talking； and very noticeably smarter than the men of six
months ago。 There was a bright clear sky behind the fantastic Cathedral
of St。 Basil； and the rough graves under the Kremlin wall； where those are
buried who died in the fighting at the time of the November Revolution；
have been tidied up。 There was scaffolding round the gate of the
Kremlin which was damaged at that time and is being carefully repaired。
The Committee of State Constructions was founded last spring to
coordinate the management of the various engineering and other
constructive works previously carried on by independent departments。 It
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RUSSIA IN 1919
became an independent organ with its own finances about the middle of
the summer。 Its headquarters are in the Nikolskaya； in the Chinese town；
next door to the old building of the Anglo…Russian Trading Company；
which still bears the Lion and the Unicorn sculptured above its green and
white fa=87ade some time early in the seventeenth century。
Pavlovitch is a little； fat； spectacled man with a bald head； fringed
with the remains of red hair； and a little reddish beard。 He was dressed in
a black leather coat and trousers。 He complained bitterly that all his plans
for engineering works to improve the productive possibilities of the
country were made impracticable by the imperious demands of war。 As an
old Siberian exile he had been living in France before the revolution and；
as he said； had seen there how France made war。 〃They sent her
locomotives； and rails for the locomotives to run on； everything she
needed they sent her from all parts of the world。 When they sent horses；
they sent also hay for their food； and shoes for their feet； and even nails
for the shoes。 If we were supplied like that； Russia would be at peace in
a week。 But we have nothing； and can get nothing； and are forced to be
at war against our will。
〃And war spoils everything；〃 he continued。 〃This committee should
be at work on affairs of peace； making Russia more useful to herself and to
the rest of the world。 You know our plans。 But with fighting on all our
fronts； and with all our best men away； we are compelled to use ninety per
cent。 of our energy and material for the immediate needs of the army。
Every day we get masses of telegrams from all fronts； asking for this or
that。 For example； Trotsky telegraphs here simply 〃We shall be in
Orenburg in two days；〃 leaving us to do what is necessary。 Then with the
map before me； I have to send what will be needed； no matter what useful
work has to be abandoned meanwhile； engineers； railway gangs for putting
right the railways； material for bridges； and so on。
〃Indeed； the biggest piece of civil engineering done in Russia for
many years was the direct result of our fear lest you people or the
Germans should take our Baltic fleet。 Save the dreadnoughts we could
not； but I decided to save what we could。 The widening and deepening
of the canal system so as to shift boats from the Baltic to the Volga had
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RUSSIA IN 1919
been considered in the time of the Tzar。 It was considered and dismissed
as impracticable。 Once； indeed； they did try to take two torpedo…boats
over； and they lifted them on barges to make the attempt。 Well； we said
that as the thing could be planned； it could be done； and the canals are
deepened and widened； and we took through them； under their own power；
seven big destroyers； six small destroyers and four submarine boats； which；
arriving unexpectedly before Kazan； played a great part in our victory
there。 But the pleasure of that was spoilt for me by the knowledge that I
had had to take men and material from the building of the electric power
station； with which we hope to make Petrograd independent of the coal
supply。
〃The difficulties we have to fight against are； of course； enormous；
but much of what the old regime failed to do； for want of initiative or for
other reasons； we have done and are doing。 Some of the difficulties are of
a most unexpected kind。 The local inhabitants； partly； no doubt； under
the influence of our political opponents； were extremely hostile with
regard to the building of the power station； simply because they did not
understand it。 I went there myself； and explained to them what it would
mean； that their river would become a rich river； that they would be able to
get cheap power for all sorts of works； and that they would have electric
light in all their houses。 Then they carried me shoulder high through the
village； and sent telegrams to Lenin； to Zinoviev； to everybody they could
think of； and since then we have had nothing but help from them。
〃Most of our energy at present has to be spent on mending and
making railways and roads for the use of the army。 Over 11；000 versts of
railway are under construction； and we have finished the railway from
Arzamas to Shikhran。 Twelve hundred versts of highroad are under
construction
