The New York herald., 1921-08-12
CRANE SAYS RUSSIA
NEEDS SPEEDY help
EX-Minister to China, Now
in Riga, Asserts Millions
Are Famine Victims.
OFFERS RELIEF PLAN
Trip Is Made From Pekin
Across Siberia and So
Wet Territory.
COST 1OO.OOO,OOO RUBLES
Former Envoy Spent $4,000
for Party, Besides Trading and
Giving Away Merchandise.
COST 1OO.OOO,OOO RUBLES
By the Associated Press.

ftIGA, Aug. l1.-RuSSia needs great
and immediate help" said Charles r.
Crane, former American Minister 10
China, who is in Reval on his way
TO the United States after having come
from Pekin across Siberia and through
Soviet Russia.
Mr.. Crane was speaking to-day On
the subject of general conditions in
Russia, of which he had gained knowl-
edge during his trip. He declined 70
discuss his views on the Russian po-
ntical situation, but he said he favored
aiding the famine stricken country,
preferably through a consortium plan
such as was adopted in China.
Millions" Mr.. Crane said, "are suf-
fering from famine. due to the drought.
They need seed Immediately for plant
ing and grain to save them from
starvation. The situation can be ade-
quately managed only by some method
like that successfully used in China
AS the transportation system is bad
and daily is growing worse, any plan
for relieving Russia should contem-
plate the distribution OF grain by as
many routes as is possible. Grain
should go in through both Novorossysk,
on the east coast of the Black Sea. and
Mariupol, on the north shore of the
Sea of Azov."
hallway Men Win Aid.
Referring to the railway situation in
Russia. Mr.. Crane. quoted a story Of the
American engineer, John +. Stevens.
head of the American Railroad Commits
sion to Russia. in which Mr.. Stevens
described the Russian trains like
strings OF match boxes coupled with
hairpins and drawn by samovars."
Mr.. Crane said, however. that the Rus
sian railway employees. Notwithstanding
their troubles and hardships Of the last
four years, had stuck faithfully to their
task. and that as bad as the railroads
were they were better operated than
the industries. He added that the rail-
way men surely should receive aid.
There was practically no medicine
in Siberia. and clothes and shoes are
needed Mr.. Crane continued. Every
where in Siberia we found the hospitals
running on the remnants of American
and Red Cross materials.
THE people are now trading their
last scraps OF civilization in the street
market As an example. / saw one girl
trying to trade handful OF old talk
ing machine noodles for food
There was plenty of food along the
line In Siberia, but Petrograd is Sc
riously menaced. lacking -four and fats.
Also there is a great scarcity of fuel.
Governess In Petrograd.
Il found in Petrograd Miss Lizzie
Bach, an American governess, who has
been there for many years.
Mr.. Crane said he thought il relief
work was undertaken many Americans
would be glad to stay in Russia and as
sist In the work.
In Mr.. Cranes party are his son, John
o. Crane Donald NJ Brodie. Mr.. Cranes
secretary; Morgan Palmer of Platts-
burg, N. Y, long in the service of the
Chinese railways: Paul M. Dutko. for
nerly in the United States consular SER
vice at Harbin, and Ii Shi-ching, a smil-
Ing ChlneSc.
The party left the Chinese capital on
June 16. and from that time until Au-
gust 6, when Il left Petrograd for Reval,
It travelled under a special permit from
NilSolai Lenine Russian BolshevlS Pre-
mier. The Americans had an opportun-
ity fully to observe the comedy and
tragedy OF the everyday life of the Rus
sian people. and were given a greater
chance 10 inspect conditions than has
been granted any Americans since the
outbreak of the Russian revolution In
1917.
Mr.. Crane filled car with packages
of pins, needles, tooth brushes, soap and
other merchandise. which he planned to
use in paying his way in lieu OF money
His stock however. dwindled to few
cases at Chita, the capital of tho Far
Eastern republic. Mr.. Crane believed
he would not be allowed TO proceed
through Siberia, and gave most of his
supplies away. lie had, IN fact. turned
back toward PeSln. but was overtaken
on his return journey hy message Civ
ing him permission to cross Siberia and
Russia.
o-o