New-York tribune., 1920-10-07
Red Cross Reports People
Are Without Food, Fuel
Or Lights; Suffering
Almost Beyond Belief
Disease Stalks i'm
Homes and Streets
Hospitals Without Heat
or Medicine; Epidemics
Kill Thousand a Month


Press).~-A graphic description by an
eyewitness Of the fearful conditions ex-
istlng IN Petrograd is given by the Fin
h'sn Ked Cross in an appeal just issued
TO the Red Cross societies of the world.
IL Is accompanied by documents pre-
pared by Professor Zeidler, formerly
head of the Petrograd Red Cross. but
now refugee in Finland.
The documents which reached the
faris bureau Of the American Red
Cross to-day tell the story of the agonv
Oh dying city. Petrograd's present
population, based on the food cards,
is now 100000 to 100000, and the cap
ltal OF the czars is described as having
shrunk to onefourth its pre-war size.
lhe report says:
Death stalks on every side waiting
Tor winter to aid in the grim work of
moving down the silent, hungry, sick
and dying thousands. With streets and
houses choked with filth that is al
ready spreading spotted and intermit-
tent typhus, the cold weather will finish
l.
nal typhus.
Houses Wrecked for Fuel
The fuel situation was never so bad.
Wooden houses have been torn down
Tor fuel. The material is distrib-
uted equally among tbc population.
but during the nights the more ener-
getic citizens steal the quota Of wood
from the others.
lied. One of them has been given up
entirely to the manufacturers of 10000
coftins monthly. But even this number
is insufficient. People have not time
to bury the dead, and the bodies take
their turn, waiting several days.
only one important tramway line is
IN operation, and that runs to a sub
urb Attempts to repair the streets,
which are full of holes owing to burst
ing water pipes, have failed because the
wood blocks for pavement have been
stolen for fuel. Lighting is allowed
cnly two half hours each day. Kero-
sene costs A50 rubles a pound There
are no candles. Most homes are in dark
ness. There is no means of transport
ing things by waterway, because the
barges We're long since demolished for
fuel The railway transportation is
devoted almost exclusively to the dis
tribution of -four.
only 200 people are permitted to
leave Petrograd daily by passenger
train. W0rkmen receive half \ pound
of bread daily, and sometimes other
food is given. The prices of foodstufs
continue 60 rise to incredible heights.
Many products have almost completely
disappeared from the markets.
Faces Disfgurcd by Famine
"The mortality has reached start
ling rate owing TO the lack of food and
insantary conditions of houses and
streets Fat mas left the ma, ority of
the population long ago. At present the
muscular tissue is consumed. The faces
of people have taken on wa%like color
In order to fill their stomachs with
something they drink different substi
tutes for tea and coffee, or great guam
titles Of plain water, resulting in puff
ness and dropsy, which change the ex
quaintances are unrecognizable.
"Thc decay Of property is aided not
only by the colossal prices of material 5
and wages-the slightest repair work
costs not under 100 900 rubles-but
also to the fact that house porters are
abolished, partly as a bourgeois sys-
tenn and partly because the porters
are needed for wood cutting. At pres
ent houses are looked after by beggars
and committees composed of INDECENT
Communists.
"Indescribable dirt and filth is on every
side within the houses. When plumb
ing gets out of order it remains un-
repaired. Whole houses become filthy
from top to, bottom and it becomes i'm
possible to I've in them. These houses
arc then barred. and tenants move into
other houses, which are neglected sn
the same manner.
"Thorc is no fuel. no hot water or
baths, no janitor, doorkeeper or serv
ants for cleaning yards, streets, build
ings or for the removal of garbage
Continued on pag, sever)