The sun., 1918-12-18
Ex-Premier, on Way to
Paris, Seeks Aid in End
ing Terrorism.
MURDERS AT $25 EACH
Lett and Chinese Soldiers
Back Robbers and Looters
Controlling Country.

cor,rs,nr ,s,s. ou RIGHTS reserred.

Copvrscht. 1915; all rights reserred.
LONDON. Dec. 17.-Count Kokovtzoff.
who for three years was Premier OF
Russia under the imperial regime and
Is now in London on his way 70 Paris
to confer with President Wilson, said
to-day to the correspondent OF THE
SUN: -
"There was starvation in Petrograd
from May to November this year. In
the streets starving women and chill
dren of the poor wander about begging
or picking up morsels Of food. viii
not help be given from outside Of Rus
sia for these helpless victims of the
Bolshevist madness?
Before the revolution the popula-
ton OF Petrograd was nearly 100000;
! now It is not more than 100000. No
one knows who is alive or who Is
! dead; no records have been kept since
the end of July and much promiscuous
/ killing has occurred. In one day more
/ than 700 were executed by the Bolshe-
visits, mostly young army officers.
14s ORcers Killed by Chinese.
| "My wife has written TO me since
my departure from Petrograd that 143
officers were shot on November 16 by
! Chinese soldiers who are paid $25 for
each one murdered. The only hope
Hthat Petrograd will escape depopula-
ton through the plague, starvation
and murders Is immediate foreign in
! tervention.
/ "I was imprisoned for eight days
/ last July. Seven of us were kept In a
small room a a temperature or "
degrees, the only excuse for my I'm
prisonment being that some stranger
had written a letter to some one else
suggesting that possibly I might be-
come the head OF a future Government
/ that might follow the Bolshevih.
was released by NJ. Critsky, who was
! himself killed a month later.
"In Petrograd my wife and / paid
$50 daily for such food as was OBJ
( tainable Many children died on ac-
count OF the shortage OF milk. Food
sent to Petrograd was stolen on the
way. There Is no respect for the
rights of property and the people have
no money.
Banks Closed, Funds COnnscate ed
"All the banks are closed and the
industries are controlled by the Gov
ernment; their funds have been con-
fiscated by the Bolshevists. The res
taurants and hotels have been closed
or occupied by Bolshevist commits
sions. One is likely. to be turned out
OF his house or apartment without
ceremony by the Bolshcvists, who nc
longer are supported by any Russians
! other than the worst criminal classes
Lett and Chinese soldiers are their
mainstay and murder and theft keeI
them in power. Every tangible asset
Of industrial Russia Is being ruined
rapidly and all the foreign interests
and businesses Of Russia are being de-
stroyed systematically by the Bolshe.
visits.
Instead OF lifting themselves they
seek to pull the country down to tht
peasant level. to make a country with.
out art or culture OF any sort or edu,
cational or social retirement.
with the Baltic Sea in the hand.
of the Allies 1t is easy now to reach
and save Petrograd. Such help would
be welcomed by all Russians excep
the Red Guards and the men direct
ing their operations.
81. who served Russia forty-twC
years as an official, was compelled 4
flee the country like a thief in tn,
, night when I heard that was abou
, to be arrested. escaping only through
the bribery of my Bolshevik guards