CITY OF DEAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1920, Page 5

CITY OF DEAD.

PETROGRAD'S PLIGHT, STARVATION, FILTH AND DISEASE. By Telegraph—Pres3 AsMi.—CopyrisM; London, Oct. 9. Professor Zeidlir, the former head of the Petrograd Red Cross, who is now a refugee in Finland, has appealed to the American Red Cross for help for the Petrograd population, which is rapidly decaying. One of the, nationalised wood yards is entirely occupied in manufacturing coffins, making 3000 per month, which is insufficient. The startling mortality is due to starvation diet, the entire absence of fat giving faces a waxlike pallor, resembling a city of the dead. The people consume enormous quantities of substitutes for tea and coffee and drink plain water in order' to fill their stomachs and induce satiety, thus causing bloated and distorted features and dropsy and pufflness. The city is indescribably filthy. The principal mortal diseases are spotted fever, typhus, dysentery and smallpox. The hospitals and clinics are overflowing. The Ministry of Health recently ordered a mobilisation of all doctors to combat disease, but as the troops are infected with spotted fever and Intermittent typhus the situation is thus complicated, necessitating three of the largest hospitals being devoted to the sole use of troops. Improper feeding greatly increases mortality in the hospitals. Black bread, frozen cabbages and herrings form the principal diet, those very ill receiving horse flesh "beef tea" and gruel. No eggs or milk are available. Doctors declare that scientific life has been destroyed, it being impossible to obtain chemicals, medicines or surgical instruments.

Professor Zeidlir concludes: "Petrograd is faced by the worst winter in her tragic history. Death stalks on every side, waiting for his ally King Winter to help in the grim job of hewing down the hungry and sick, who are dyings in thousands in streets and houses choked with filth." , REPATRIATION OF PRISONERS. Moscow, Oct. 10. A wireless message foreshadows imminent repatriation of British and French citizens remaining in Russia, thus indicating Tehitcherin's determination to accede to Lord Curzon's Note. Prague, Oct. S. A Czech delegation is leaving for Riga to negotiate relations with Soviet Russia and exchange prisoners.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.