The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-11
REDS FACE GRIM
PROBLEM Of FOOD
AS WINTER NEARS
Spectre Of Starvation Stalks
Threatening Across 1000
Miles Of Territory to Test
Power of SoVietS.

VIBoRG, Finland. Russian Frontier.
Aug II. (By the Associated Presa,)-
Flushed with success and contldent on
Poland's defeat, soviet Russia faces
the approaching winter with tho grim
problem OF food rs Its supreme test
OF power From the Far East TO the
Finnish frontier, 600 miles Of undis-
puted territory-the spectre OF starVa-
ton stalks threatening, as the far
reaches give up n cry for the neces-
stiles OF life from people whose
hearts, long sturdy in the struggle for
a new day." are forced to heed the
demands Of want.
The Associated Press correspondent,
Just arrived here. has observed these
conditions in crossing Russia and ST.
bria, all the way from Nladivostok 10
Moscow. and Petrograd HIS arrival In
Finland followed deportation from
Moscow, because the authorities had
not given advance authorization tor
crossing Siberia. In Finnish surround
ings he is enabled TO send an uncen-
sored account Of tho straits OF the Rus
sian people observed while he and
number OF refugees made tho first trip
OF Americans across Russia in the last
two years,
Every where in all this trip, from one
end OF Russia to the other. the cry for
food and clothing was heard. II was
voiced by the old Russian peasant type
at the Chinese frontier, where the cor
respondent was llTbt brought lHAo ANbN-
sian territory, II was heard again
through the heart OF Russia, where the
crews OF locomotives were clad In rag
ged garments, with sandal-like shoes,
braided from the bark of trees. As
they stocked their engines they begged
for black bread from the little group
OF foreign refugees who We're passen-
gers on the train being sent from Mos
COW TO the Finnish frontier,
The appeal for the necessities OF liv-
ing is universal from the people, ex-
cept from the extra rationed class OF
higher military and civil government
authorities.
Lenine Fears Winter.
To Nikolai Lenine, the soviet presl-
dent, himself, according TO the accept
ed report In Moscow, Is attributed the
statement that the Russian people can
not pass through another winter like
the last. Even now, stories are cir
culated for popular consumption that
Lenine himself Is suffering for want OF
food because OF his inslstence upon
sparing the plight Of the people. The
story goes that he refuses more than
his allotted share OF black bread
three eighths OF a pound daily-which
is the ration today issued to the civil
ian population In Moscow.
Attendant upon the sore plight OF
the people economically, Is an eVer-in-
creasing spirit OF unrest and revolt A
military organization. disciplined to the
core. finds a growing difficulty In car
rying out orders by the mailed fist tao
tics in which il has hitherto been su-
preme.
From east to west, the Bolsheyik
soldiers are militarily trained through
out and differed the same as any 9TH
err regularly organized army Controlled
by the soviet political commissars, they
stand prepared at all times to fix firm
ly upon the people the new social sys-
tenn prescribed In the supreme flats
issuing from Moscow.
At the end OF the second year, the
BolsheNki have assumed direction OF
the proletariat, Russia remains In the
firm grasp of this military regime II
is the same force which has beaten back
invading foreign armies on all fronts,
the same that has overcome all coun-
ter-revolutionary movements.
The soviet leaders are capitalSlng
their victories TO the utmost They
are instilling into the minds OF the pec-
pie that the red forces have defeated
the worlds armies seeking to enslave
Russia and set up another form OF
Tsarist government. They are urging
upon them that the tragic sufferings
and sacrifices will firmly, establish ma
tional security and spread the cause of
social revolution throughout all lands.
In some cases along the eastern from
tier, these pleas fell upon the unwilling
ears OF the peasant pioneer who looked
upon the former car as his little faith
err" incapable OF wrongdoing, and who
believes stu that all Russia's troubles
began with the downfall of Nicholas,
Stringent Methods Used.
In their efforts to avert rising
tide OF counter sentiment, the leaders