THE RUSSIAN FAMINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17880, 7 September 1921, Page 7

THE RUSSIAN FAMINE.

DIFFICULTIES OF RELIEF.

SOVIET OBSTRUCTIONS.

SOUTH OR NORTH FIRST.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright,

(Receivo.l 11.30 p.m.) A., and N.Z.-Keuter. LONDON. Sept. 6.

Well-informed circles are not optimistic regarding the nature of the reply of the Russian Soviet Government to a request sent by wireless to permit a commission i© proceed to Russia to supervise famine relief work. The International Relief Commission is anxious to begin its labours in South Russia, where the famine is worst, and gradually to work northwards, but the Soviet Government insists on relief being centred in Petrograd. Doubt is expressed whether in the latter case relief would penetrate beyond there. The official Russian trade delegation in London meanwhile declares that the Period of worst distress has temporarily Passed, but it will recur between the time when the surplus of the September harvest is consumed and the next crop is gathered, unless help is forthcoming. It is estimated that the peasants in the famine acres will require 300.000 tons of grain to tide over the interval. The Riga correspondent of the Morning Post says that the famine cri.nis is growing in norror. The efforts of the American relief organisations are undoubtedly prompt and energetic, but they resemble an attempt to scoop up the Atlantic with a ten spoon.

The Soviet newspaper, Pravda, candidly reveals what observers have long realised, that supplies are likely to go, in the first instance, to the Red Army. While the Soviet authorities assured Dr. Nansen of their ability to transport enormous quantities of foodstuffs, an expert, writing in the Pravda, points out that the southern railways have 23,000 trucks and 700 locomotives idle owing to lack of fuel. The railways would be unable to transport foodstuffs even if they were immediately available.

FEAR OF COUNTER REVOLT.

PRECAUTIONS IN PETROGRAO. Renter. STOCKHOLM, Sept 5.

Advices from Helsingfors state that the Soviet troops on the Finnish frontier have been strongly reinforced. •

The activities of the Extraordinary ' Commission for oombating the counter- ' revolution hare redoubled in Pefcrograd, : i where strong military detachments with , B,rmoured cars arq patrolling the streets, j — RUSSIAN ACTRESS DEAD, j

PRIVATIONS IN REVOLUTION. Renter. DONDON, Sept. 5.

The death occurred at Hove to-day aS the Russian actress Princess Bariatinsky, as a result of privations during the revolution in Russia, from whence she narrowly escaped upon the advent of the Bolnheviks.