RUSSIAN FAMINE

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17227, 18 August 1921, Page 7

RUSSIAN FAMINE

THIRTY-FIVE MILLIONS AFFECTED.

AN APPALLING PBOBPEOT.

(By Cable—Press Asooeiaiaon—GApyrigM.) (Australian and N.,u. Cable AssociaVionO (Received August 17th, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 16. Replying to questions in the House of Commons, Mr Cecil Harmsworth, Under-Secretary for Fon-ign Affairs, said 1 the British official agent in Moscow had just reported confirming the extent and gravity of the Russian famine. Thirty-five million people were affected, and the nunvbor was constantly increasing. Lnrste masses of people were trekking to Poland, Turkestan, and Siberia in an attempt to escape from stnrvntion. Poland could not accept refugees, and those going in oth-r directions were faced with the difficulty of crossing the foodless nnd shelterless steppes. Nearly one-third of the refugees consisted of foodless children in a most pitiable condition.

PABENTS ABANDON CHILDEEN.

(Received August 17th, 9.10 p.m.) BERLIN, August 16.

Parents in Samara, on tho Volga, 650 miles east of Moscow, are hav'm-z their children on the doorsteps of the houses of Soviet officials and institutions. A children's colony has been established, to which the waifß and strays are being sent, but the mortality is appalling. It amounts to this— are gathered up from the streets in order that they may not die before the people's eyes.

AMBBIOAN BELIEF COMMITTEE.

PARIS, August 10. A telegmm from Revnl states that Dr. Nnnsen has be;<n appointed head of the American Relief Committee in Russia.