Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-10

I ROBERT ". IMBRIh.
Petrograd is threatened with star
walton and probably the worst winter
In it's history. General and intense
want, woe and suffering seem inevi-
table.
Food is selling at prohibitive prices.
The fuel supply is almost exhausted.
Kerosene and electricity are now
practically unknown there. The wood
supply is about 30 per cent normal
Looking forward to a normal winter.
when the thermometer will fall to a
point 40 below zero, cholera, which has
already struck the city, will spread
rapidly and leave in its wake death and
desolation.
This is the opinion of Robert w. Inn
brie. United States vice consul to
Petrograd. He has just returned to
his home in Washington after three
years of life crowded with adventure.
Method of Escape.
Mr.. Imbrie arrived early this week,
coming directly from Petrograd. where.
for the five-month period ending the
latter part of August, he was the only
American. He was enabled to leave the
city and Russia only by using fake Gre
dentials. There are now no Americans
In that city.
The ruble in Petrograd, according
to Mr.. Imbrie, has fallen in value
from 81 cents to 10 cents. Tobacco
is selling there at s3o pound.
Horse meat brings $1.1O a pound.
while eggs are 35 cents apiece. Sugar.
IL it can be obtained, is Sc a pound.
and flour So pound. Potatoes are
$1.10 a pound.
Shoes valued in the United States
at about $3.50 pair are sold for $50
in Petrograd. Mems neglige shirts of
the $3.50 type in this country are $40.
business establishments in the trade
sections are closed because of condi-
tions. The city is in chaos.
Recently five cases of cholera ap-
10000 were reported. Malnutrition.
due to poor food or none whatever,
and the need of heat have weakened
the physical constitutions of those at
fected by the disease. raising mortal
1ty almost to so per cent
Sent There in October.
Mr.. Imbrie went to Petrograd as
vice consul from the United States
the latter part Of october. arriving
there about ten days before the fall
of the Kerensky regime. which was
overthrown by the bolsheviki. There
were then $50 Americans i'll the city.
All of these had left five months be-
fore Mr.. Imbrie.
BY vigilant watching and careful
naneuvering the American vice con-
sui was able to remain for long
period after his compatriots had left.
He finally got out of Russia through
q ruse. proceeded to Finland, then to
Sweden and finally home.
Mr. 1mbrie witnessed the attack on
the British embassy at Petrograd and
tho killing of one OF his intimate
friends, Capt. romie, a British military
attache. The American vice consul was
driving by the British embassy while
the attack was in progress
Capt Cromie was holding OF the at
tackers to give other members Of the
embassy staff IN the building an op-
portunity to burn the codes. The Brit
5sh captain was peppered with rifle and
pistol bullets, ten entering his body.
Before Mr.. Imbrie could leave the
scene, his automobile was surrounded
by red guards. who demanded creden-
fialS. Mr.. Imbrie showed the men his
faxed credentials and he was allowed
to proceed.
He withdrew 10 suburban town,
where he remained for three weeks
prior to venturing toward liberty. Final
ty he was able to reach the Russian
border and make good his escape.
No Police in City.
There are no police in Petrograd and
the red guards kept the streets clear
OF pedestrians by armed forces. Mem
bers of the embassies entered and left
their headquarters by back doors.
white nights" which furnished day
light practically the twenty-four hours
OF the day. prevented much robbery and
at too 80 NI,n
winter. when darkness will displace the
light evenings, crimes of all sorts are
anticipated.
From January 81 of this year until he
teft Petrograd Mr.. 1mbrie had received
no mail Foa more than. two months
there were no cables. the lines Of COM
munication having been cut.
For two years prior to entering the
consular service Mr.. 1mbrie was con-
nected with the French Ambulance
guerre. He saw service on the Mace
DOMAIN and the Serbian fronts.
When asked the act of gallantry
which won for him the croix de
guerre, Mr.. imbrie said, smilingly:
II don't know why l got it. l guess
the French government ran short of
cigars. 1 don't know Of anything !
did 20 obtain the honor. To my mind
IL was a mistake"
1t has been learned, from other
sources, however. that Mr.. Imbrie an
swered call for an ambulance from
= town in Albania No motor ambu-
lance had before entered the town.
The Washington boy was successful
IN getting through.
His ambulance section was cited
for devotion and courage in danger
Gus service around Monastir." For
thtfty-two hours his section worked
upder fire continually at Verdun.
Mr.. Imbrie was born in Washington
in 1884 He obtained a law degree
from George Washington University
in 1905 and a master-of-laws degree
from Yale University in 1906. In
1s07-lsO8 he was the attorney in
charge of the seamans branch of the
New York Legal Aid Society. and he
practiced law here from 1908 until he
Joined the French Ambulance Corps
in 1915.
Mr.. Imbrie lives at 1901 Q street
northwest