New-York tribune., 1919-10-20
Vienna a City of
Absolute Begggars,
Says Plea to u. S.
''Hospitals Closing, People
Starving, Industry Idle.
and Loan From America
Alone Would Save Us"

VIENNA, Oct. 10 (By The Associated
Press).-Burgomaster Reumann yes
terday gave out an appeal to the
American people to come to the relief
of this much-tried city" before it is
too late.
After rehearsing the hardships
which the populace has undergone dur
ing the last five years, the burgomaster
predicts the most terrible suffering un-
less aid Is brought, declaring the city
must live hand-to-mouth existence.
1--WE have been rendered absolute
beggars-a city Of mendicants," he
said. There is nothing but despair
facing US. Metbodical provisioning of
Vienna ceased months ago. The Au-
strian grain supply barely suffices for
upper Austria, while the rest Of the
country is wholly dependent on i'm
portations.
"All of the stocks Of Entente origin
have been exhausted and no new con-
tracts have been made because this is
impossible for lack Of credits. Forage
for animals also is exhausted, SO that
we face q complete breakdown of
transportation in the city.
Meat Supply Fails
"Our meat ration recently was fixed
at three ounces pr capita weekly, but
even this amount is unavailable, and
intervals Of weeks frequently occur
between meat distribution. Fresh milk
Is available only for infants, and for
them only in very limited quantities.
The stock of condensed milk is ap-
preaching exhaustion. Eggs, beans,
sugar, coffee and potato supplies have
been exhausted.
"Clothing and shoes are a non-ex-
istent quantity for the masses. There
has been no importation of fax or
cotton since the beginning of the war,
and factories producing substitutes Of
paper or fibre for clothing have been
closed for lack of coal. Clothing stocks
Our citizens are herded like cattle, rs
per cent of the families in the city
now living in one or two rooms.
Hospitals Being Closed
Neither the industries still going
nor the transportation and power
agencies know from one day to an
other whether they can operate the
next. There is scarcely a chance that
more than q small percentage of the
people will be able to cook their meals
during the winter.
Our hospitals are about to be closed,
one after another, so we are prepared
for a terrible death rate Our schools
~ xx,if f,,oJ NJ ko n1o
"The number of unemployed in
creases daily, and it now seems certain
that within a few weeks there will be
no railway transportation whatever
within our country. The great depre-
citation in our currency makes impos-
sible the purchase of fuel or raw ma
terials from abroad, and thus to re-
sumo our industrial life. Only a for
eign loan can save us, and we appeal
to America"
Beggars Swarm Streets
With the temperature just above
freezing, large part of the popula-
tion now is seeking the coffee houses,
where they herd all day to avail them
selves of the warmth generated by
their bodies. Swarms of beggars of
all ages and both sexes infest tho
streets, many of them shoeless and
clad in rags. Even the best hotels are
entirely without heat, while prices
asked for the meagre food supply OBJ
tainable mount daily
The correspondent made a tour of
the shops to-day, comparing the cur
rent prices with those of one month
ago. He found that clothing had more
than doubled in price In some shops
Austrian money is refused, the shop
keepers demanding payment in foreign
money at rates higher than those in
London.