The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-23
FLEE REDS, FIND
TORTURE ON SEA
Thousands of Refugees From
Crimea Attacked by Disease
and Insanity on Ships.
SUFFERING Is APPALLING
Pleas of Victims Heard All
Along Bosporus-U. S.
Relief at Work.
SUFFERING Is APPALLING


dition of the refugees who fled from
the Crimea with Wrangel, aboard
| ninety or more ships strung along the
Bosporus is appalling, and a terrible
catastrophe is feared unless the
promptest measures are taken to land
the thousands who are writhing in
misery and in pain. The correspond
ent visited several of these floating
hospitals and madhouses" to-day and
returned to shore with forebodings Of
impending calamity. None of the
refugees has as yet been taken ashore.
excepting the sick, diseased and in
sane, the latter OF whom have been
extremely numerous.
[Reports by American relief work
ers say 100000 men. women and chill
dren are on these ships.l
AS the correspondent rode across the
Bosporus an unpleasant smell from the
ships was waited to him despite
strong. cold sea breeze. An American
relief officer accompanied him. AS soon
as the pair boarded the ships the cloth
ing of both was virtually torn off by
half maddened refugees who begged to
be taken to land on the hills which
Lorder the Bosporus
offer Jewels for Crust of Bread.
Men, women and children. regardless
of age or sex. are herded together
promiscuously on the ships day and
night, in state of appalling filth and
NFa,. nf qf q "a
demeanor and appearance. despite their
bedraggled appearance, offered to bar
ter their valuables. jewels and furs for
a crust Of bread or q glass of water In
some cases the refugees have been
without water for eleven days.
The correspondent heard that there
had been numerous suicides OF desperate
refugees going insane during the night
hours. They spoke Of ghostly tempta-
ton and the sobbing call OF the sea at
night. when they were dying with thirst
Many OF the refugees were restrained
from jumping overheard, while many
succeeded.
The American navy is assisting in
transporting sick women to hospitals
and the Near East Relief also has been
relief nurses were moved to tears by
maddened mothers offering their chill
dren to visitors and the scenes Of
separation have been beyond description.
The death rate has been abnormal. as
the result of the biting cold and the
lack of food. The American Red Cross
IL Offering $4,000 rations daily and
several Americans are offering dona-
tions and subscriptions.
Beyond French Comm fssion.
The French Government commission,
which is In full charge OF the relief
work. is incapable Of dealing with the
situation and is appealing TO the Near
East Relief. whose funds are limited
The fear was expressed by the ships
officers that cases of cannibalism would
occur unless food supplies are received
promptly. In many cases they had to
fight off maddened men from Staying
children, they declared. The American
hospital In Stamboul Is crowded to suf-
location, and the American Red Cross
Is giving all its available medical sup
plies.
The first story OF the downfall of Gen.
Baron Wrangers army was given the
correspondent to-day by one OF the
baron's own officers who has just ar
rived here. His defeat was ascribed by
the officer to the overconfidence OF
Wrangel and lack of appreciation of the
strength OF the enemy forces
The operations across the Dnieper i'm
October. the officer said, had shown the
Bolshevik concentration to be more con
siderable than had been anticipated, and
this induced Gen. Wrangel TO give
UP his positions In Taurida and
withdraw within the Crlmean fortified
positions, where he awaited the Boil
shevik offensive.
The Bolshevikl. taking advantage OF
the freezing OF the Putrid Sea. crossed
and outflanked Wrangers advanced po-
stlons across the isthmus and advanced
the main body Of their artillery without
difficulty 10 Perekop. where their SUI
periority in guns gave them the adj
vantage in frontal attack on Wrangels
principal lines.
PARTS. Nov 2s-The Greek Govern
ment has agreed to receive and care for
30. 600 Crimean refugees according TO
an Athens despatch to the Greek Lega-
tion here to-day.
Bosrox. Nov. 22--The need of lnme-
dlate relief for 100 900 Russian refugees
now at Constantlnople was urged in
cablegram received to-day at the head
quarters OF the American Board OF
Commissioners for Foreign Mlssiens. IL
read
"One hundred thousand Russian refu-
gees now in harbor; situation desperate.
Relief measures In hands OF French. who
appeal strongly to Americans and others
for help Admiral Bristol, Red Cross
and local Americans giving all aid pos
siblc. We urge your cooperation TO Sc
cure immediate action by American
Government"
Two hundred children OF officers OF
Gen. Wrangers staff have been sheltered
IN the Near East Relief Trachoma Hos
pltal at Constantinople. according TO
cable dispatches received by the or
Eanization.
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