Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-09-01
Millions
ToPerish
In Russia
Despite Help From
Other Nations Vast
Hordes Are Doomed
to Die From Hunger
BY Harry L. Rogers.


Washington, Sept. There
seems to be not the slightest doubt
that millions of Russians will die
this winter Of hunger and disease,
despite the best efforts that the
American Relief association and
kindred organizations may put
forward.
More than 100000 inhabi-
tants are already directly affected
by the famine, official reports to
the state department show, and
these conditions are expected to
become worse and worse as the
small stocks of foodstuffs on hand
dwindle, and the cold weather
adds its terrors to those of hunger.
The bolshevist authorities are
saying little Of those twin plaques,
cholera and typhus, which are
stalking with giant strides
through the ill-fated country, but
apparently reliable information
here indicates that these dread
diseases may soon rival the famine
In the number of their victims.
Moscow officials now admit
$4,000 cases Of cholera, with tacit
acknowledgment that the disease
is on the increase. In the period
from January to July is official
soviet organs In Moscow reported
1900 cases, of which more than
5000 had occurred in the single
month Of June. AS communication
with even the more accessible dis
tricts Is notoriously poor, 1t is re-
garded as certain that the actual
number of cases is vastly greater
than the official reports would in
dicate.
That the present situation is
fraught with danger for the boil
shevist regime is regarded by Off
cials here as automatic. The rule
of Lenine and Trotzky it is pointed
out, has been the rule of sman
but dominantly militaristic minor
fly over huge but exceedingly
docile majority.
The inevitable tendency of the
Russian peasant, 1t is pointed out,
is to hold the bolshevist, whom he
has always regarded with suspi-
pcion at best, responsible for the
evils which now beset him. Cou-
pied with this feeling is his pre-
G1udice against the Jews, which is
both religious and racial. Because
|eof the fact that many official posi-
'tions OF importance in the bolshe-
visit regime are held by Jews, he is
apt to merge his antipathies, and
predictions OF general attacks up
on both the soviet government and
upon the Jews as race are con-
tanned In reports of many observ-
ers now coming out OF Russia.
Officials here believe the soviet
authorities are fully aware Of the
dangers which threaten their gov
ernment as result OF the pres
ent conditions in Russia. 1t is for
that very reason, they say, that
the bolsheviki were SO eager to
gain control, II possible, of the
distribution of the relief. The
American prisoners who have Just
arrived In the Baltic states have
reiterated to government officials
and to officers of the various re-
lief organizations, their belief that
Americans should have absolute
supervision OF the distribution OF
supplies.
II the soviet officials are allow
ed to distribute the relief, they
assert, only soviet sympathizers
would receive the relief and the
real Russia people would be allow
edt o tsarve, as there cannot hope
to be sufficient supplies for all.
Many administration officials have
shown resentment of the attitude
taken by some OF the soviet au-
thorities and much OF the soviet
press. II anything Is to be judged
from the views expressed In the
soviet press, they declare, the com
munists apparently regard 1t as a
favor that they should allow the
United States to save the Russian
people from starvation.