The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-13
AMERICAN TELLS
OF EXPERIENCE IN
HUNGRY RUSSIA

NEW YORK. Nov. l3.-Andrew A.
Granstedt, until recently a first lieu
tenant In the American army. on spe-
cial duty with the American Relief Ad-
ministration European Children's fund
in Russia, reported at the New York
office Of that organization recently. He
was forced by Illness to give up his
work on the Baltic, n is on his way
70 rest and r~eeuperate at his home in
From May 30 to Sept. 6, Lieutenant
Granstedt was with Yudenitch's army
In the advance toward Perrograd, and
had charge Of the establishment Of
children's relief kitchens in the com
munitles liberated from the Bolsheviks.
AT the instigation OF the Americans
Of the Hoover Relief organization, Yu-
denich set up a department of trade
and commerce in the scratch govern
ment created in the small segment of
Northwest Russia which has been re-
claimed from Red rule. In reality, this
department Is simply q relief section
Of the generals staff, and about the
only active duty it has performed has
been the distribution of American sup
plies in the reclaimed area.
In the three months he spent with
the White army, Lieutenant Granstedt's
operations extended from Narva, on the
Gulf Of Finland to Pskov, about $50
miles south. In the towns along that
front, he started in all 81 kitchens for
feeding children the one good meal a
day, which is the basis of operations
by the American Relief Administration
European Children's fund. Some Is, 900
of the most needy children were fed.
A large proportion of these We're ref
ugees from Bolshevik R~ussia-starved,
frightened kids, many of them with no
living relative.
Reval and Pskov were the two main
concentration points for refugees. Lieu
tenant Granstedt was in Pskov late IN
August when the Bolshevik forces at
tackled the city. After a day and night
of Smelling, the stubborn resistance OF
the poorly-armed and underfed White
defenders was broken, and the city was
| given up. The children's relief kitchens
were evacuated under Bolsheyik flre
A previous attempt, in July, to take
Pskov failed, In spite Of Trotzky's
promise to the Red soldiers of extra
issues of cigarettes and pork and sugar
If they should take the city.
Pskov is characteristic of the Rus.
sian cities which have fallen under the
blight of Bolshevik rule. The city used
to employ nearly 1900 union workers
it was a busy and prosperous railway
| junction. with considerable manufac.
turing. In July and August only 4S;
men were employed, and during one
whole month only b2 Calls we're mbut
on the union for workers,
1t is a sandy, timbered country, much
cut up by lakes and swamps, thai
| stretches south from the Gulf Of Fin
land. There is not enough land in cul'
tivation to feed the people; there Is nc
market for the timber, and the nearest
food supply lies west OF the boundary
of Esthonia, which is jealousy guarded
by the Esthonians,
After Yudenitch's army had pushed
we'll clear of the eastern boundaries o.
Esthonia and Latvia, the troops iron
these two new Baltic states began t:
withdraw; and the failure to take Pet
rograd is mainly due to these defec'
tions-and to the refusal Of the Finn'
to join in the offensive. Between tn,
E%sthonians and the Russians consider
able feeling exists; 1t Is evidenced b,
the high prices demanded by the Els.
thonians for the limited supply Of pc