Page:Lars Henning Söderhjelm - The Red Insurrection in Finland in 1918 - tr. Annie Ingebord Fausbøll (1920).djvu/127

 prisons were emptied of criminals is easy to perceive. No less harm was done to the country in other ways by the financial activity of the Red. The latter, of course, played a very prominent part, for a revolution, as is well known, always makes great demands on the cash-box. In the first place, it was important to the Russian Government to get the State bank, the Bank of Finland, into its own hands. They succeeded in this after some trouble. The bank building was easily accessible, but the keys to the bank vaults were not to be got hold of. It proved, however, that a messenger at the bank belonged to the Red, and he directed them to where the reserve keys were kept. They were found in a safe placed in a vault of earlier construction. The Red called in a whole band of locksmiths with modern housebreaking tools, and so they succeeded in opening the vault as well as the safe. So the Red Government were in possession of the keys. The Minister of Finance had honourably begun his career by burglary, and the accommodating messenger was appointed chief cashier at the bank. The sum the Red got into possession of was considerable; it amounted to over 160 millions at the chief office, and about 25 millions at the branch office in South Finland, which was opened in a similar manner. The store of gold and the greater part of the securities had, however, already long ago been taken to a place of safety in North Finland.

The 185 millions were, however, soon gone, and fresh expedients had to be found. All sorts of "acts" designed to increase the revenue were issued, but were only of little help. The worst hindrance was of course the fact that the private banks were obstinately kept closed, and that the State bank enjoyed the confidence of no one. The money went out of circulation as soon as it had been issued. An order was given, in consequence of