Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-22
SHADOW OF NEW
REFUGEE PROBLEM
FALLS ON RUSSIA
Influx of Thousands of DeSti-
tute RumanianS Presents
Most Difficult Situation That
BeIIigerent Has Faced
CBy Associated Press.)

PETROGRAD, Dec. 19.-(Via London,
Dec. 20.)-The passage across the Rus
sian frontier of thousands of Ruma-
mans who have abandoned their houses
and property in the face of the invad-
ing Germans and Bulgarians has cast
the shadow of a new refugee problem
on the Russian empire. These refugees
have been pouring into odessa, kiev
and other southern Russian cities in n
destitute and helpless condition and
present a problem which threatens TO
be more difficult than any which has
confronted a belligerent power since the
invasion of Belgium
Russia has only partially succeeded
in colonizing the millions Of homeless
Poles. Jews and members of other races
who fed 10 the interior during the hrst
year and a half of the war. This is
naturally the worst time of the year in
which to care for refugees and the
economic readjustment which the pres
ent political crisis has emphasized adds
TO the difficulty of clothing and sup
porting a new nation. The magnitude
of Russia's economic burden is appre-
ciable when IL is considered that the
country has received already, since the
beginning OF the war, a refugee popu-
Iation far exceeding the combined citi-
zenship of the Scandinavian countries,
while the resources of the country have
been taxed to the utmost to provide for
the wandering peoples whose homes
have fallen within enemy lines ane
whose means of livelihood are either
temporarily or permanently forfeited.
The wretched condition of the refugees
has been steadily improved through
the systematic effort of the Russian
government working through the vari-
ous refugee committees. These COM
fnittees looking behind the immediate
necessities are succeeding in distribute
ing. the migratory population through
out the interior encouraging their COLO
nization in fertile agricultural, districts
and giving them work in making boots,
ali sorts OF clothing and other inme-
diately marketable articles. A great
number of these refugee products are
now in use by the, military and civil
population Special schools have been
organized in many parts of the country
for refugee children and every means
taken - prevent. the war victims from
becoming a burden to the state.
The American relief committee, head
ed by Thomas Whittemore, working in
conjunction with the Tatiana commit
tee, organized by the empress, has made
valuable contributions to the relief
work and is now devoting its energies
to meeting the Rumanian problem.
Temporary barracks and numerous food
kitchens have been established at all
distributing centers to receive the in
coming Rumanians.
From these places the Rumanians
will be sent to the interior. Despite
all efforts, however, the enormity of the
task has defeated all efforts to ade-
auately handle the gigantic migration
of people brought about by the war.
The refugee ranks have been inevitably
thinned by disease and many have
fallen victims to cold, lack of proper
food and clothing and the unsanitary
conditions which are bound to accom-
pany the sudden unloading of a vast
additional population on a country al
war - .----H. 'r-. rs.. T :