Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-30
MONTENEGRO HAS
But L|TTLEFO0O
Archbishop Of Antivary Reports
to Vatican That People VIII.
Starve Unless Helped.
AUSTRIA is HARD PRESSED
Assistance Refused, and People
Are Hung for Crimes Com
'mitted to Cause Arrest.
BY CAMILLE CIANFAnRA.


ROME. September 2s.-MonsiEnor
Dobrccicn. Archbishop OF Antivary, has
just forwarded to the Vatican a de-
tailed report on the food and supply
situation In Montenegro. The report
which Is in the nature OF an urgent
appeal to the Pope, says in substance
that unless ething Is done and
done Immediately to relieve the si:ua-
tion whatever is left OF the little king
dom's small population lis likely to
die Of starvation in the course OF next
winter. Death by starvation, especially
among women and children. is already
very common. In the city of Niksich
they average about twenty a day and
the same Is true for the mountain dis
tricts OF P~ousoritza and Danno-Grad.
Some time ago the MontencErin ex.
lies In Paris issued an appeal to tho
allied nations e%ntreating them to ar
range for the rerictualing Of Monte.
negro unless they preferred to remain
inert spectators of a catastrophe that
Will wipe out OF existence nearly a
half million OF old men. women and
children. Busy as they are with the
solution OF their own food problems.
the allied cabinets have not as yet
taken UP the question. and perhaps
will not be in a position to do much.
My Vatican informant says that
Austria has already declared that as
the food situation In the dual mon
archy is far from being bright. very
little can be done for Montenegro. An
idea Of how desperate the situation il
.nay be derived from the fact that. bad
and precarious as living conditions
are In Austrian coIcentration' camps.
b,,,JroJu nj Tnrtapcrrtn f,~IIIoo hovs
been begging TO be arrested and de-
ported. Blu, even this Austrian off,
cials have refused to do. and when
hunger drives some unfortunate man
or woman to c1mn:it crimes in order
Ia be arrested and >hus fed at the
expense OF the State, Is the hang
man that puts an END ~ his sufferinEs.
The Archbishop's report states that
owing 10 the prolonged drought Mon
tenesro's chief crops, potatoes and
Indian corn. are n sad failure. and
that whatever will be gathered will
L.: IDLY furnish enouSh seeds for the
next season. To-day the population
II subslstinG chiefly on roots and leaves:
Life in every town and city is indie
scrihahle. From morning to night
Gro wds OF emaciated women and chill
dren in rags squat in front OF the bar
racks Of the local Austrian garrison
awaiting to receive whatever the SOL
diors can ,pore from their scant ra-
;ions.
Archbishop Dobrecich's report. to-
-c;her with other direct Information.
rave sadly Impressed the Pontiff. who
:as already taken steps to alleviate
to suffering of .he Montenegrin popu
lttiun through ire Intervention Of the
NiL.g OF spain At the request OF the
Holy Sec Spain will ask the allies to
b. authorized to resupply Montenegro
under n plan similar to that adopted
by the United States for the rc%victual-
ing OF the Belgian population. A
mixed commission will superintend the
distribution OF foods to prevent its
transportation into the border prov
inces of Austria. where a like situation
is said to exist.
This plan involves the opening OF
the Adriatic to the navigation of tho
commercial steamers OF a neutral ma
ton. and. consequently. the difficulties
in the way are many-delicate and difff-
cult to. remove. The Vatican Is using
all its influence to avert he catastro-
phe, and. II is said, has already secured
the good will and cooperation OF Aus
tria. The part Italy will play In
the solution of the Montenesrin food
problem will be tho subject Of a Ions
debate as soon as Parliament recon-
venes. Four interrogations have al
ready been addressed to the govern
ment.