New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-28
Soviet Capital
Ignorant U.S..
Is Sending Aid
People Not Informed Relief
Expedition Is Expected
in City to Make Survey
of Famine Conditions
Need Grain for Planting
Moscow Experiences Slight
Physical Changes in 3
Years; Few Shops Open

MOSCOW, Aug. 27 (By The Assoc-
ated Press But slight change in the
physical appearance of Moscow since
the American Consulate and the rem
nant of the American colony departed
three years ago is noticeable Build
ings are somewhat shabbier, holes in
pavements are more frequent and Inc
parks are not SO we'll kept A mich
goat was browsing this afternoon in
the overgrown garden of what was
the American Consulate, but which
now is used as wireless Office.
Banners and signs embellish half of
the great buildings, announcing that
they are used by the government, and
all motor cars bear the Soviet flag.
Streetcars are infrequent, but when
they are boarded are found to be in
good repair, and not overcrowded, as
IN the early days Of Soviet rule There
are few cabs and few pedestrians, ex-
cept in the vicinity Of Offices where
foodstuffs are issued.
Suggests French War Cities
In many ways Moscow suggests the
slightly damaged by the war after the
Germans had left and their popula-
lions returned. 1t has none of the
characteristics Of great city, as the
resumption of free trade has not vet
resulted in the opening of many shops
Milliners, wig makers and corset shops
were not closed-that was conces-
sion which the Soviet government made
to the women of the city. Florist shops
al TOT
shops and small restaurants are re-
opening slowly, but the majority of
business houses still are boarded up.
There is no evidence anywhere of
political agitation. no rumor of sur
prising political hurres. such as char
acterized the first year of the Boil
shevik regime. Youthful Bolshevk
soldiers patrol the quiet streets and
the people of Moscow laugh at reports
Stockholm that famine refugees are
moving upon the capital and threaten
ing the government.
City Hears Little of Famine Relief
Moscow has heard little as yet con-
full text of the Soviet agreement with
Herbert Hoover has not been printed
by the Russian newspapers, virtually
all of which are posted on dead walls
and not circulated. Consequently the
general public does not know that an
advance party of the American relief
administration was expected in Moscow
to-day.
Leo Kameneff, who is directing the
hansen and other international Red
Cross officials who arrived in Moscow
Wednesday, is preparing to facilitate
the movem ents of the Americans, who
will go to Petrograd and the Volga
region Immediately upon their arrival
for the purpose of q preliminary sur
vey.
Meantime Moscows seven or eight
hundred thousand short-rationed cit-
zens are making the most of the bright
days Of late summer, trying to forget
the long, cold winter near at hand,
which threatens to be the worst yet
experienced
Russia's Great Problem
Russia's problem appears to be vastly
greater than the task Of feeding the
millions in the famine stricken districts
Of the country 1t would seem to be-
rather, question of conserving the
productive resources of this district,
which has in the past been known as
"the granary of Europe"
This was the view taken Of the situa-
ton yesterday by Kameneff, who out
lined the work to be done to relief
workers here.
"In the face of the famine dilem-
ma" he said, "the only thing the Rus
sian government can do is to gamble
on the hope of outside aid, and take
the winter store of food grain from all
farmers throughout Russia and use it
as seed for this falls sowing. The only
way to save Russia from impending
disaster is to take grain from the hun
cry and give it to the starving"
The amount of grain needed for
seeding the 1850, 900 acres to be sown