MISERY IN RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1921, Page 5

MISERY IN RUSSIA.

CHAOS BECOMES WORSE.

CHOLERA SWEEPS COUNTRY.

PEASANTS EATING WEEDS.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received August 5, 7.50 p.m. London, August 4, A special correspondent of the Times says the famine in Russia presents a catastrophe recalling the darkest ages Though there will probably be corn enough, if it is properly distributed, to keep alive the starving millions, the hopeless disorganisation, leek of transport, revolts in Ukrainia and Siberia, and the paralysis of economic initiative through Sonet misrule all make it impossible to check the disaster. It is impossible to foresee the consequences for Russia and Europe. The Soviet’s non-party relief committee cannot do more than slightly mitigate the suffering. The ramshackle structure of the Soviet Government reeling and the population is panic-stricken, and the combined result is chaos. Amidst the devastating dr ough* cholera, which swept from the mouth of the Volga throughout the faminestricken area, has been spread further by the wandering peasantry, added to the fact that no sanitation exists in the towns. The sufferings of the peasants in the country are appalling. Men, women and children are eating grass, leaves and weeds, making cakes from acorn flour, eating the bones of animals ground to powder, and devouring even offal. Great hordes of panic-stricken peasants are moving aimlessly about the country, sickening and dyirg m their tracks. Even the model German settlements on the Volga are breaking up.—Times Service.

FRANCE READY TO HELP.

SUGGESTS AMERICA TO CONTROL.

NO RECOGNITION OF SOVIET.

Received August 5, 5.5 pjn. London, August 5.

Th? Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent states that th? Government has intimated to the United States its desire to assist in feeding Russia, and suggesting that America should direct and control the feeding operations, the Allies collaborating. The Government makes a reservation that food intended for famished peasants shall not be permitted to pass into the hands of the Soviet .soldiery or functionaries, and stresses that any cornmunicatiors with Moscow must not be interpreted as recognition of the Soviet Government.

Allied co operation will not be accepted by the Moscow International, which has issued a manifesto definitely demanding that the communistic parties in every country shall undertake the task, and appealing to the worlds workers. Kerensky informed M. Briand that the famine was the result of the political regime since 1916. Cultivated land had been reduced by 46 per cent, and cattle by iudf.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Received August 5, 7.30 p.m. Paris, August 4.

From purely humanitarian motives M. Briand is seeking Allied co-operation in assisting America to succour Russia. Russians in Paris, believing *he Soviet is lettering, rejoice, but nevertheless French opinion has often previously foretold the Soriefs collapse.—Times Service.

OUTLOOK MORE ACUTE. TEN MILLION REFUGEES. Received August 5, 5.5 p.m. Berlin, August 4. The Lokal Anzeiger's Copenhagen correspondent states that the situation in Russia is becoming increasingly acute. It is estimated that ten million refugees .ire approaching Moscow, leaving behind their houses and contents in the burning villages. The Soviet has taken elaborate precautions to prevent the refugees entering Moscow, which is surrounded by troops. Serious disorders occurred In Petrograd, where *he soldiers mutinied again. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.