Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1920 — OFFICERS SEEK MORE OF WAR [ARTICLE]

OFFICERS SEEK MORE OF WAR

Britishers Seek Military Service in Other Lands. RUSSIA MOST AHRACTIVE Soldiers of Fortuno Are Joining With Russians, Poles and Czecho-Slovaks —Demand in Russia Is for Those with Technical Knowledge Who Can Serve as Instructors—Poland Also In Field for Instructors. Hundreds of British ex-officers are seeking new fields in which to fight. British soldiers of fortune promise to be as common on the continent as they were in the days of the Thirty Years’ war. . Russia at present holds out -the greatest attractions for the adventurers. After north Russia come Esthonla, Poland and Czecho-Slovakla. All foreign governments engaged In small wars or In licking their armies Into shape are offering posts to demobilized British officers. On the books of the Russian embassy are the names of more than 100 officers who have volunteered to serve. The demand is for those with technical knowledge who can act as instructors. At the moment the only front to which the Russian government Is sending officers Is to north Russia, so recently evacuated by British forces. _ Shipping, Difficulties. -Shipping facilities are surrounded with difficulties, but they are being obtained. On that northern front, before the British left, the bolshevlsts sought to lure British officers to their service.

A pamphlet was issued offering them large salaries. Russian authorities are still considering the matter of pay. As the matter Is arranged at present British officers, excepting In case of flying officers, will receive the Russian pay of their rank, which in most cases Is hardly more than SSO a month. The Esthonian government has engaged several officers to conduct aerial operations and their pay is even higher than that in the British air forces. The drawback Is that the adventurer is paid in the currency of the country for which he fights and It may or may not be redeemable In future years. North Russian government rubies, until the British forces left, were guaranteed by Great Britain. The currency of Gen. Yudenltch and of the southern armies In Russia was hardly In the same category, but chances of redeeming their money are not deterring the seekers after war. Poland In Field. Poland is newly arrived to the field of competition for foreign officers and positions as Instructors are being offered to demobilized British officers. The monthly pay Is at the rate of 800 marks for a captain and 600 marks for a lieutenant. Thirty days leave to gin gland a year and assurance of medical care and assistance are included in the conditions. The Polish war office has opened a special department at Warsaw to deal with the affairs of foreign officers. ‘ ■ ■ A visit to the Czecho-Slovak legation in London reveals that .twenty ex-of-ficers of the British army have applied to Prague for service to the Czech Army The trouble with all foreign governments at this moment Is their lack of ready funds, but that is an old story. Soldiers of fortune were continuously impecunious. South America may provide a better field for the adventurers. Mexican armies have had and still have many British officers fighting for them.