The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-22
F(JC|T|VES
SACK CITIES
IN POLAND
Col. w. N. Haskell Named U. S.
Director of Relief-Hoover
Planning Russian Trip.
BY International News Service.

by International news service.
COPENHAGEN. Aug. ga
horde Of 100000 famished Russians
-fuEitives from the famine zone
have crossed the Ukrainian-Polish
frontier and are attacking and
plundering the populations Of vii
lagos, according TO reports receiv-
ed here today. Sanguinary fight
ing between the fugitives and the
villagers was said to be In progress
Americas share in the feeding
of millions of Russians is to be
directed by Col. William N. Has
kell. who directed relief work in
Armenia and who today resigned
as acting director of sales, War De-
partment, to assume his duties as
supervisor Of the famine relief work
of the American Relief Admins
tration in Russia.
Hoover Going to Russia.
Colonel Haskell, 1t was stated this
morning, would leave the United
States for Russia in company with
Secretary of Commerce Hoover within
the next week ten days, accord
ing to present plans. .
Colonel Haskell finished cleaning
up his affairs at the War Depart
ment shortly before noon today,
when his resignation became effec-
tive, and is devoting the remainder
Of the day to putting his personal
affairs in order. He IS arranging for
the sale or rental of his home at
1921 Sixteenth street northwest.
Broad Experience.
The problem which is facing Col
onel Haskell Is one OF the largest
single pieces of relief organization
work ever attempted. His expert
ence in Armenia, where he was high
commissioner for England, France,
Italy, and the United States, was of
almost the same nature, though on
a far smaller scale.
In the case of Armenia only GER
tain portions OF the population were
in desperate need of food, those who
had the means being able to purchase
enough to keep themselves in good
condition.
According to present indications
from Russia, however, the entire
populations of great areas are in
dire need of food, which must be
supplied from abroad.
Colonel Haskell's appointment as
high commissioner to Armenia was
made by the peace conference in July,
1919. At the same time, at the sug-
gestion of Herbert Hoover, he was put
in charge of all American relief &C
tivities in Transcaucasia and Russian
Armenia, and was made director OF
the Near East Relief for the Caucasus.
His brilliant record in the Near
h
pointment. He resigned as high COM
missioner in July, 1920, and soon after
ward returned to this country. He
was made assistant director of sales
for the disposition of surplus army
supplies. and has for some time been
acting director of sales.
West Point Graduate.
Colonel Haskell, who was graduated
from West Point and commissioned a
cavalry officer, was commander of the
famous Sixty-ninth New York regi
ment during the Mexican border trou
bles, and when this unit was changed
to the 165th regiment, he led Y to
France.
The shipment of food to Russia is
TO begin as soon as ships are ready al
New York, officials stated this morn,
ing. Surplus supplies from ware
houses abroad are already moving in
to Russia under the working agre y
ment negotiated at Riga between Wal
ter Lyman Brown, European director
and Litvinoff, the Soviet representa-
tive.
Famine areas near Petrograd and
Moscow, the most accessible, II was
believed would be the first tn receive
American rations, shipments from
New York coming via Danzig. Later
II was thought supplies could reach
some Of the stricken areas quicker
through Black Sea ports.
Secretary Hoover estimated the cost
OF Russian relief, when II is we'll un
der way, at $1,25O,000 or $500 900 q
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