The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-10-13
U. S. GIVES LITTLE
To THE RUSSIANS
Millions Go to Suffering People
of Other War-Stricken Eu-
r0pean Nations.
.SLAVS need MUCH CHARITY
Country Has Paid Very Heavily the
Toll Of Conflict and Has Made
But Little Complaint to
Outside World.

New Worthwhile millions of dol
lars have been given by Americans to
relieve the suffering through the war
in France, England, Belgium and the
central powers, Russia has been al
lowed to look after her own distressed
people practically unaided and alone.
Yet Of all the powers engaged in the
great war, Russia has suffered most.
OF all the nations she has suffered the
greatest loss in men killed, wounded
and captured. More of her territory
has been occupied by the enemy and
more Of her people have become refu-
gees.
Americans who have given so gener-
ously elsewhere have given only a
few thousands for Russian relief work
"a record of which this country will
not be proud after the war.
The reasons for this neglect Of Rus
STA are explained by Mrs. M. S. Friede,
wife of M. Sergey Frfede, one Of the
figures in the RCssian-American
trade. Mrs. Friede only recently re-
turned to the United States from
Petrograd, so she speaks fran first
hand information. In addition, as the
founder of the American Colony hos
pital in Petrograd-the one con-
spicuous war charity of Americans IN
Russia-she is able to speak with au-
thority about the relief work that has
been accomplished.
Few Americans There.
at is perhaps not so surprising that
America has done so little to relieve
the suffering in Russia, when one is
acquainted with the facts" said Mrs.
Friede to the writer. when the war
broke out there were not more than
300 or 400 Americans In all of Russia.
IN Moscow, where I happened to be
)tring the early months of the war
md Moscow is the seat of the Ameri-
IAN consul general-there were only
fifteen Americans who were capable
If contributing to relief work. 1t was
Ill they could do to raise about 5000
'Oubles, although half of that amount
vas given by one man. This money
vas spent for presents for the orphans
If Russian soldiers killed at the front
md the celebration which took place
IN the day these presents were dis
ributed attracted at lot of attention
n Moscow. Still 5000 roubles was a
rifling amount for even this kind of
.harity.
Shortly after the outbreak of the
war 7 arranged for the establishment
If small hospital in Moscow" says
Mrs. Friede. However, events
showed that it would be more advan-
ageously located in Petrograd, SO
.O-operated with the members of the
American colony in the capital. AS
there were in Petrograd less than
thirty Americans, the task of estab-
fishing the hospital was not an easy
)ne. An institution with twenty beds
was established and in less than one
year it was enlarged to forty beds.
It is no exaggeration to state that
this hospital, appropriately named
the American Colony Hospital of
Petrograd,' is one of the best con-
Quoted institutions Of it's kind in Eu-
rope. In addition to its beds the hos
pital has workshops for convalescents,
and, needless to say, 1t is always
crowded.
American Ambassador Helped.
'The American ambassador, the at
taches at our embassy, and particu-
larly Mr.. Winship, the American con-
sui at Petrograd, have given freely of
their services in furthering the work
of this hospital. But the institution
has been supported almost entirely by
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