Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1918-09-26
DISTRESSING
CONDITIONS IN
PETR0CRAD'
Letter From Former James-
town College Student.

The following interesting letter
has been received from X. E. B1rk-
haug, graduate of Jamestown col
lege and one who has taken up T.
M. c. A. war work. He went to-
Russia via Norway, where he visited
his father, who is physician IN that,
country.
The letter was written to friends
here. Mr. Birkhaug is studying the.
Russian language and has an unus--
al opportunity of acquiring first-hands
information and studying the eoudE.-
tions in Russia.
The LetteI
After all kinds of interesting and
exciting experiences on the long road
from Ward, Norway, over Murmansh.
and Kola down to this metropolis, we
have finally arrived in good spirits:
and somewhat tired condition. The
tedious journey from Murmansk to-
Petrograd was made in freight-ear.
without any seats but the floor
whereon to rest our weary limbs. The
ordinary capacity of the car in peace
time was room for twenty-five per-
sons. We made the trip with forty
five peasants, Red Guards, Tim.
French Diplomatic corps, one Greek
legation attachc and three Ameri-
cans. And yet. in all the naturz..
misery of such commodity and the.
unsanitary condition Of these pea-
SAINTS and Red Guards, we found our"
happy corner, made our tea, cooked
playing chess, reading journals by
the dozens, and conversed with thss.
peasants. shall not venture to re2
late the stories told us in the cuursea
of the four days we travelled toa
gether. The situation after. the,
last Revolution is widely e1pertenced.
throughout the country, the peasants
are begging for bread whIsli 4 IT,
mot to be had for any price,, d1sm-
ganizatdon evident, ON every turn OF
the road; factories closed, huge ntoaHsf
of workers and peasants discussing
politics while the country is pIund
cred by the Germans, etc: The fn-
tellegentsia are suffering, yesterday
35 better-class people succumbed for
lack Of nourishing food; streets COW
cred with begging people and sur
prdsing to find SO many better chsr
people among these starving masses.
Passing along on the Nevski Pros
pect yesterday / saw q beautiful
young iady;;Swith famished, deztk-
lily look on, her face, leaning against
the wall, crying with a shrilltnE
voice: "Ya vest hochu!" Ct want
something to eat!) as she fell to the.
ground in faint. Food is too deaK
to be bought. For our simple cost
we pay 10 roubles day or $35.40-
The banks refuse to pay the Intelle--
gentsia more than 500 rubIes n.
day.
The twelve invalid officers ex-
changed from Germany and sent
along with our party to their homes
in Russia were great studies 1
never got infatuated with any people
so much as with these cripples Tor
life. The association gave them n
royal time and in return we got their
friendship which will mean ssezF.
deal in our work. We are hoping for
the best through the worst. Things
are bound to change sooner OF later :
President Wilson has sent us per-
sonal message ordering us to stay.
no matter what comes UP until Inn
minent danger threatens. IeaSe
headquarters in Moscow I'm q few
days to take up regular field work
among the Russian soldiers Orr
equipment is splendid.
Best regards to Mrs. Chase, Camp
bells, Osbornes and other JamestOwn,
friends. We have no outside eOn
munications. Don't know anything
about the western front. 20 tenn
pora! O mores!''