The Washington herald., 1920-12-31
REPORTS
SOVIET TOTTERING
Time Diplomatists Get
New Hope by London
Reports.

Every week or so. it is reported
from London. the colony Of Russian
anti-Bolsheviks. czarist nobility and
refugee bourgeois welcomes a new
member, fresh from exciting expert
ences in frontier running and bearer
of new tales of the imminent col
lapse OF the Kremlin spiders web"
Their stories of internal conditions
in Red Russia replenishes optimism
in wrangelite, Kerensky and Rus
sian Liberation Commissions, and
stirs hope anew in the virtually in
tact but stranded diplomatic ma
chinery of the former Russian gov
ernments.
About once a month a courier
from Moscow or Petrograd reaches
London bearing briefly written mar
rations of events and gossip to the
exiles. These reports are always
highly interesting and frequently
bring to light big stories of hap
penings that have failed to reach
the outside world. More often they
are the unimpassioned detail of ter
rible incidents and colorless de-
scription of horrible conditions. The
latest White Russian newspaper"
mas Jusl ECdCHCN AShoOhs ~
out of Russia by a fleeing professor
from a Petrograd university.
The professor does not wish his
name disclosed. as he was forced
to leave his wife and daughter in
Russia and fears reprisfls. The re-
ports are apparently written by per-
sons on the inside Of the Soviet re-
gime, Us forecasts of events are Of
ten faithfully given.
"Lenin will soon move the seat of
Soviet government from Moscow to
Petrograd." says the latest report.
"as the more destitute population
of Petrograd Is less liable to attempt
an uprising.
Recently birch bark shoes were
issued to four regiments leaving
Moscow for the Wrangel front. The
troops mutinied and demanded
leather boots. They surrounded the
Kremlin, but were overcome by de-
tachments of Lettish soldiers. Ev-
cry twentieth man was shot.
"Bolsheviks have arrested 2.00o
officers, including several high stan
officers
The anniversary of the Bolshe-
Wiki government passed quietly.
Demonstrations were attended only
by red guards and sailors and those
by order. No private workers or
others were present.
Because Of lack of fuel all bath
ing establishments are closed, peo-
pie not having baths In their fiats
are given a coupon which entities
them to take bath in any hat they
desire
Professors and artists now re-
ceiye wages in foodstuffs. Hence
they are better fed than most of
tho population. The army ration
ts sonetimes allowed brain workers.
The cost of food coupons has in
creased from 1900 rubles to $500
Nc food can be obtained without a
food coupon. except at the Illicit
markets, where ii costs five times
the general prices. The Norwegians
have given scientists, artists and
professors a present of one-fourth
pound rice, one piece soap and one
herring each. The gifts were
deeply appreciated"
"A dispatch from Petrograd saws.
Food situation growing worse
Peasants either have nothing IN
send to cities or refuse to do 80
Reported here South Russian peas
ants shooting commissars, seizins
lands and hghting guerilla warfare.
Tchitcherin has sent a commission
south to get facts. Lettish detaeh-
ments are well fed and pampered.
Cinnamon are used only for execu-
tioners."