George Matulaitis Journal

229 on March 20th. They expressed their disapproval and said that they would try to have it canceled. On March 21st a Bolshevik came to inform me that probably they would not take the house, since it would be awkward to evict a bishop. “For me personally,” I said, “it is not such a big problem to move out and go elsewhere, but as bishop I have certain responsibilities and need a place where I can attend to them. If you evict me, you will turn the Catholic people against you and may have even greater difficulties than with Father Muckermann. There is no doubt that the foreign press will also report that you have behaved badly toward a Catholic bishop.” On the morning of March 22nd I received a notice that the former order had been canceled. Thank God that everything ended so well. However, since I do not really trust the Bolsheviks, I had already moved my things. About two o’clock at night the Bolsheviks pounded on the gates and tried to get in, but the woman on night duty would not let them in and told them to come in the daytime. They cursed and swore, then took themselves off. During the past few days, a Lithuanian airplane appeared over the city dropping leaflets. Some of these were very clever and amusing, especially those directed against the Red Army. This is a new way of conducting war- fare, and it seems to be having an effect. The Bolsheviks have arrested and imprisoned a number of people during the past few days. They arrested a group of Polish ladies, claiming to have uncovered an organization called the Liga Patriotek [League of Patriotic Women], whose purpose is to prepare for the coming of the Polish Legionnaires and to assist the secret Polish Military Organization. It seems that the Bolsheviks have also arrested about thirty of the wealthiest Jews, including Mr. Mi cha= Meysz = owicz and then his wife as well. They have confiscated several tens of thousands of rubles from him. The whole city is in a state of expectation, waiting for the appearance of an army to fight the Bolsheviks. The Poles are hoping for the Polish Legionnaires, while the Lithuanians expect their own army. It is remarkable that the Poles never mention the Lithuanian Army. When referring to the Lithuanian front, they speak only of the Germans and the Poles. Nor do the Bolsheviks make any mention of