RUSSIA’S SUFFERING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10985, 22 August 1921, Page 5

RUSSIA’S SUFFERING

BIG CHILD MORTALITY PARENTS DROWNING THEIR OFFSPRING. FLIGHT OF COMMUNISTS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 1 August 21, 11.5 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, August I<J. A Reval message states that M. Lunacharsky, the Soviet Comifiissary of Education, declares that crowds of children deserted by their parents are living on the banks of the Volga, where there were many deaths, due to starvation. Some parents are drowning their children rather than witness gradual starvation. Communists in districts untouched hy the famine have begun flight, fearing violence from the wandering starving masses. OUTSIDE FAMINE AREA PLENTY OF POTATOES AND CORN. (Received August 21, 11.5 p.m.) 'LONDON, August 20. The Russian trade delegation in London states that the harvest in the provinces outside the famine area should be satisfactory considering the difficulties and old-fashioned methods of agriculture in vogue. The White Russian provinces can export to the famine area 48,000 tons of potatoes and 8000 tons of corn. The total cholera cases since January is 71,871. WORST HARVEST ON RECORD SOME CROPS COMPLETELY ' FAIL.

Pu b!icbed In "The Times." • LONDON, August 19. The Riga correspondent of the “Times” reports that the latest figures show that the Russian harvest is twice as bad as the previous "worst, and there is also a smaller area under cultivation. The crops in eight provinces have completely failed. Sixteen million 'inhabitants are affected, and the deficit is over thirty-six million poods (36 pounds). The immediate needs of the country are between five and eight million poods, and seed is needed. The Ukraine and Siberia are the only 'possible sources of relief inside Russia. The Soviet of the Volga has offered a prize of a million and a half roubles for the best hunger-bread containing a maximum of 12 per cent, of cerneals, the remainder to be bank, edible with plants, and other substitutes.