Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-06
MAY STARvE
Grave Danger Of Famine Adds
to Russia's Troubles.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
ST. PETERSBURG, August Sit Is
feared there will be recurrence of the
great Russian famine of few years ago.
when Rev. 7 De Witt Talmage and a num-
Der of Americans visited this country and
distributed provisions with bountiful
hand. At that time hundreds of thousands
Of Russians suffered because of the short
age of the crop and outside relief was glad
ly accepted by the government. Now that
the war with Japan is on it Is doubtful
whether the government will be willing to
confess its weakness and allow outside aid
and assistance, no matter how many people
may be starving in the interior Of Russia.
According to the reports at hand from
the provinces there will be total failure
OF the crop in many districts of central
eastern and northern Russia, and as re-
suit the famine in store for the affected
districts will undoubtedly far surpass the
famines In the years of 1891 and 1897.
From the governments of Vjatka, Kasan-
saraton. Samara, Yekaterinooslav, YAM
boff, Orel and Rpasan the zemstvos report
total failure Of the crops SO far as win
ter and summer corn peas, beans and cat
tie food are concerned. A bad harvest is
predicted from the governments of Moscow.
Novgorod. lula, Kursk, Tver and Tskoff,
while on the other hand southern Russia
has fair harvest
ofeauWlnnerS In the Army.
But the misfortunes in the districts of
central, eastern and northern Russia are
likely to be all the worse, because the men
in the districts mentioned have been called
in as reserves, and all that remain behind
are women. children and old men. incapable
of work and unable to procure bread for
themselves and for their families. In con-
sequence the women of many villages have
revolted and have marched in crowds to the
local police stations. where they declared
that they did not want to die and that they
would not leave the central police stations
until their husbands were restored TO them.
Up to the present time the government has
maintained an attitude of absolute inactiv-
ity toward all of these manifestations, and
it is believed that nothing will be done I'M
til, as usual, it is too late and until famine
and typhus have broken out.
Relief May Be Difficult.
This year. as most of the railroads have
handed over the larger part of their rolling
stock to the management Of the Siberian
railway for war purposes, the provisioning
of the famine districts will naturally In
volve far greater difficulties than usual. as
the railways cannot even cope with the
ordinary trade and commerce, at the same
time taking care of the forward movement
of the troops constantly going on in the
direction of Manchuria. Warnings to pre-
pare for all the eVentualitieS and to buy
being received by the minister of the in
terror from the zemstvos, but the govern
ment does nothing to all intents and sap-
pearances 1t would seem as though. it is
relying upon a miracle to resurrect the
burned up crops.
F Should famine among the peasants OF
large part of Russia be added to- the
troubles growing out of the war with Japan
1t Is believed that rebellion among the
peasants will be increased, and II may be
difficult If not impossible to put down the
uprisings in the future Indeed, it may be
mex. to impossible for the government
to carry on the war with Japan in
case the troops are absolutely required to
suppress rebellions in central, northern and
eastern Russia, caused by famine.
1t Is believed that the representations of
the zemstvos regarding the famine posi-
bilities have been giving the car more
trouble than all the other questions COM
bined and that they We're the subject of
several earnest conferences with M White
before the departure of NJ. Witte for Amer
lea on his errand of peace. If the situation