FAMINE IN RUSSIA

Southland Times, Issue 19295, 5 August 1921, Page 5

FAMINE IN RUSSIA

PEASANTS BURNING VILLAGES DEFENCE OF MOSCOW. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) COPENHAGEN, August 3. Hunger-stricken Russians are setting fire to villages as they evacuate them and trek to other parts of the country. Trenches have been dug round Moscow against masses of peasants marching thither. Reports are current that the Petrograd garrison again mutinied owing to the curtailment of rations. The Esthonians are sending troops to protect their frontier. They are also establishing stations at which they will feed the starving. STRANGE SCENES AT PETROGRAD. VALUABLES BARTERED FOR FOOD. LONDON, August 3. (Received August 4. 11.5 p.m.) The Famine is responsible for strange in Petrograd. On the arrival of boats the officers and crews are besieged by starving Russians willing to barter goods of the greatest value for foodstuffs. In one instance a captain received a grand piano for two bags of flour. Investigations of clothing which fell to pieces in laundries established the fact that it was made of paper. It is believed that large supplies of paper suits were imported from Germany. * NO FOOD FROM GERMANY. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OFFERED. BERLIN, August 3. (Received August 4, 11.5 p.m.) A committee formed to consider Russia’s request for assistance decided that Germany was not in a position to supply foodstuffs, but was willing to devote her highly developed pharmaceutical industry to the prevention of the spread of disease. It was decided to despatch five doctors with medical lupplies.