IN THE TRAGIC OF TIE FAMINE

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 3

IN THE TRAGIC OF TIE FAMINE

in. [By J. E. Hfxkek.J This same official reported actually confirmed cases of cannibalism in his district, and of tho eating of corpses which tho starving take from tho cemeteries. He invited me to see for myself all theso horrors ; but until now I have seen enough to test my nerve to the utmost. For just while I am writing these lines on tho top bu ik of my railroad coach I have seen one corpse dragged out of a box car with fiftjjn corpses recently taken from a refugee train at the station. Among these aro little innocents hardly a year old, and a whole family—father, motherland several children—who died of starvation. THROUGH SNOWDRIFTS FROM BUZULUK. TO ORENBURG.

In tie company of two A.R.A. wo->'i era, I started for Orenburg, about 266 miles south- oast of Buzuluk. With great effort oir train pulled through tho mow! if is, and after two days ana nights wo finally got to our destination.

At Orenburg, which is the present capital of the Kirghiz Republic (one of the federated States of the Soviet Republic), the Ara is doing a substantial supplemntary feeding work among the children, ant! gives medical aid to the population large. Fifty-five thousand rations daily arc to be distributed within the boundaries of the Kirghiz Republic; thie is about one-sixth of tho amount! needed, for in this area there arc over 300,000 starving children. From Orenburg are also supplied 20,000 extra rations to four of tho cantons of the Bashkir Republic, which are close to the city of Orenburg. Tho need for speedy help in all of tho famine area is growing daily. Tho whole civilised world must be stirred by this heretofore unknown in magnitude and intensity calamity over a people that has stood great hardships during the period of tho war and revolution. There are, of course, great handicaps in bringing speedy help, for the problem of distribution is difficult, and perhaps even more difficult than obtaining tho supplies. Tho severe winter, with its blizzards and snow drifts, blocks all roads at times for weeks. At the time of this writing my train has stood a siege of tho elements of Nature for fen days, tho passengers suffering greatly from lack of food, water, fuel, and light, for the days cro short at this season of tho year, and to sit in the dark from four in tho afternoon is by no means pleasant. Besides these hardships, the passengers are compelled to dig their way through tho snow drifts, which in places reach ns much as 10ft of heavy snowy As a result of tho fatigue and tho ever-present contagion, two of our 300 passengers died, and two more arc dying, while twenty are in tho isolation car with typhus, ami practically all the rest a:ro more or less ill. Tho inefficiency of many of the railroad personnel, and the lack of technical means to fight the snow drifts, not to speak of the Jack of good locomotives, all this is a serious handicap which costs the lives of many thjusands ir, Russia every dav.

There are, however, some encouraging aspects to this situation, ‘i'irsc of all, 1 •would mention the determir.ir.'on of the central and local government functionaries to overcome this crisis. J'ho Government does its utmost to co-operate and to assist. to tho limit every relief agency: they protect these foreign travellers, anil with a strong band establish order and security,, which is a most important condition before anything can be done at all. But the Government does not depend alone upon foreign aid. They have, mobilised their own resources, which are by no means negligible, although by far insufficient to meet the needs. If I am asked what to recommend to help tho suffering population of Russia I would urge : First, to increase voluntary contributions by every relief organisation working in Russia, and to extend activities by tapping new resources among organisations which until now have done little or nothing. At present all the foreign relief in Russia is helping hardly 10 per cent, of the famine sufferers.

Second, to give sufficient credit, to the Soviet Government tor the purpose of purchasing grain to supply the. urgent need of its famine-stricken people, and to provide seeds and agricultural machinery for the future.

Three, to help cither through long-term credits -nr by taking concessions from the Soviet Government to re-establish the railroad system of the Republic. Only this could make trade with Russia 'possible, and it would mobilise tho food resources of the country to meet tho needs of the next rears.

Four, finally, fear not to deal with the Soviet Government. It is the only Government Russia has, or could have for some time to come. It is firmly established ,and knows its mind. Most of its leaders are strong, energetic men, and whether one likes their ideas or not they are sincere and honest. This impression everyone gets who stays long enough in tho country, no matter bow prejudiced he was against, tho Soviet and Communists. Any further delay in recognising theso facts by the civilised people of the world and by tho Bowers that be moans added suffering to the people of Russia and to the world at large.