New-York tribune., 1921-08-04
Trenches Dug and Cns
Mounted Abou. Capt. II
to Resist Attack: FL
of Soviet l. Predicted
Fugitives Leave
Children Behind
10000 Deserted i'm One
Province; Food Trains
Looted, Towns Burned
By Joseph Shaplen
Special Cable 10 The Trihu,se

Copyright. 1927. New York Tribune Inc
BERLIN, Aug. 3.-Red troops
sent to halt the SIX million hunger
driven peasants advancing over the
provinces of Tambov, Voronezh and
Penza toward Moscow, have Joined
the peasants and are now moving on
the capital of the Soviet republic,
the Tribune correspondent was in
formed to-day by a source in close
touch with conditions in Russia. The
government is hurriedly preparing
for the defense of the city.
The peasants are moving chiefly
in four directions-toward Moscow.
Siberia, the Caucasus and Ukraine.
The peasants of Western Russia are
now all on the move. and famine
stricken mobs have reached Smo.
lensk.
Troops sent to halt this advance
thus far have failed. The situation
in Samara and Saratoy provinces is
most critical. Driven almost insane
by hunger and cholera, the peasants
are deserting their children, the
number abandoned in Samara alone
reaching sixty thousand.
Soviet Downfall Forecast
Stories brought out Of Russia bv
refugees all agree that while il is still
impossible to determine the real meas
ure OF this catastrophe, aftee four
years Of Bolshevik rule, one fact is
certain-that the disaster is bound 10
reach proportions which the world
never has seen before and that this
will bring the downfall of the Soviet
regime
Maxim Gorky, the leader in Russia's
attempt to get help from Western
nations, is expected to reach Helsing-
fors this week, whence hc.wil leave
Immediately for Western Europe and
possibly America to direct relief cam
paign propaganda
The greatest difficulty confronting
any large effort toward relief is the
fact that the last threads which had
seemed to hold Russia together now
are broken, and every province. citv
village and individual now thinks only
of itself
Such food trains as are being sent
through are being held up and looted
by moDs which easily overcome the
military guards. The Soviet has issued
decree providing for hard labor by
all residents in the provinces not
stricken by famine and disease who de-
n a..
Gently adopted by the government, and
me same punishment is applicable to
those charging speculative prices All
trains consisting Of more than FIVE cars
must now be accompanied by heavy
guard, on orders of the Soviet Fever
ish efforts are being undertaken TO
stem the tide
ne Soviet press apparently is seek
ing to distract the attention of the
Russian population from the famine by
shouting that a new military invasion
IS threatening the country. Thus Kari
Radek, writing in The Izvestia, speaks
Of the impending attempt Of imperial
lsts 10 utilize the famine in Russia to
bring about new Intervention by the
Entente"
Soviet Press in Desperate Plight
The columns OF the Soviet press re-
feet the whole gamut Of political
slander and demagoglsm in which the
Bolsheyiki have been indulging for the
past four years. Deprived of its old
and anti-blockade
slogans, the press seeks 10 keep them
alive by screaming at the top of its
voice Whether this VIII save the gov
ernment VIII be shown b. the develop
ments of the next four weeks
Leonid' hrassin. who has led the ef-
fort OF Russia TO establish trade with
the outside world and VINO signed the
commercial treaty with Great Britain.
announces that the Soviet hasSabandon-
ed for the present It's efforts to place
foreign orders for anything except
food. krassin is one Of the leading
members OF the relief committee Of
sixty-three in Moscow
LONDON, Aug 3 BY The Associated
Press -Hunger-stricken people in the
famine districts OF Russia are setting
fire 70 their villages before deserting
them for other parts of Russia. accord
ing to Helsingfors dispatch to the
Central News Agency. Many villages
are said to be in flames.
From the same source it was re-
ported that great preparations were be-
ing made 10 deal with the masses of
peasants now moving toward Moscow.
Many trenches have been dug about
N4fC 10y anu tlACD HdF maleTlel. m
cluding field guns, has been installed,
the reports said.
Other kilograms received at Hell
singfors reported that the Petrograd
garrison had mutinied again
Tchitcherin Charges Exaggeration
Famine conditions in the Volga Prov
inces of Russia are very serious.
George Tchitcherin, Bolshevik Minister
Of Foreign Affairs has declared in a
wireless dispatch to Vienna. SAYS The
Daily Herald. NJ. Tchitcherin, how
ever Is salo TO have aeclar,u rnat rae
icfelgn capltahsttc press Is wildly ex-
aggerating the facts to suit Is own
purpose
There is great misery IN ths
stricken DISTRICTS the newspaper
quotes the dispatch as saying, "bnt
sQme of the frighfful tales circulated
throughout western Europe emanata