The Washington herald., 1917-08-24
AMERICA TO AID RUSSIA,
MENACED BY RIGA DRIVE
Three Vessels Available To-
day to Send Help to
Stricken Russ-Oficials
Continue Alarmed at Re-
ports from Petrograd.

First aid for Russia will be ready
20 leave the United States after noon
today. At the request of the Russian
mission Edward n. Hurley. chairman
of the Shipping Board, has provided
three vessels which will be available
Immediately for cargoes to Archangel.
the Russian Arctic port, which closes
about the middle of November. Other
vessels will be made Immediately
available as the mission requires them.
Every effort will be made to bolster
up the Russian situation. as far as
the situation can be bolstered by sup
plies from this country
PuEzIe To United States.
Russia, long since christened the
Enigma of Europe" has become
within the last foTty-eght hours the
puzzle of the United States and the
worry of every allied capital from
Tokyo to Rome. News is alarmingly
scarce. Such as has been officially re-
ceived is still guarded in an alarming
way.
The rumor that Riga on the Baltic
and the key TO Petrograd had fallen
reached Washington yesterday. The
State Department was not able to
deny it. The only statement upon this
suggestion was that no official con-
firmation had been received"
Old Regime Active.
At the same time press reports re-
vealed an alarming internal condition
threatening eruption at the national
council called for Moscow this week
There are indications that the old
regime and the bourgeois have Joined
aEainst the cabinet.
This is contingency OF which
Washington has been fearful ever
since the return of the Root mission
The old Petrograd bureaucracy was
one of the most corrupt governments
Of which history makes record. 1t
has been feared here for some time
that those who newly acquired the
power Of government in the vast new
rcpLblic might fall into the old bad
ways.
There has been a notable disposi-
ton 10 exempt kerensky from these
suspicious. The Young leader seems
10 have been recognized as a pure
and forceful idealist. both at home
and abroad
Fear Leaders.
Bat little is known Of the man with
whom he has had 20 surround him
self Washington has been warned
that in calling for the services Of
ncu who knew government in Russia,
Kercns<y might find simself entan-
zled with those who knew only cor
ruption
TE- supply situation throughout the
rcCUbl,c is admittedly desperate. Rus
sil needs not men, but the facilities
tn feed and arm and clothe the men
aie has. The poPulace has been re-
ported in an almost hysteriCsl state
Of fear over the prospect of not only
fJodless. but a fuclless winter.
Vast masses Of the Russian people,
according to Mr. Roots account. are
pcacaabIe and amenable to authority
Rut they have taken their new free
dom seriously and they face the de-
priyations Of their present state with
great mis-isincs.
Threatens Explosion.
a hint that the government in
Which they are beginning to put
faith was working cut only as did
the old government has been. fear
fully anticipated here as a match
which might cause an explosion.
All OF the old discontented elements
have been counted on to lend their
aid in bringing about saIch
catastrophe. Among these are the re-
naming members Of the old bureau
Cracy and the generals whom the new
army and the new cabinet have dis
placed.
These elements have been mentioned
in the press dispatches which de-
scribe the rising of sentiment against
the new cabinet at the Moscow meet
ins
The Russian mission here. headed
CONTINUED on FACE ELEVEN.