The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-08-12
RED TROOPS join
HUNGRY H0RDES
Trenches Dug and Guns Mounted
About Capital of Russia
to Resist Attack.
FALL OF SOVIET IS SEEN
FugitlVes Leave Children Behind
10000 Deserted In One Province;
Food Trains Looted, Towns Burn
ed by Hungcr-Mad Peasants.

cd by Hungcr-Mao Feasantss
Berlin.-Red troops sent to halt tn,
six million hunger-drlven peasants ad
vancing 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, correspondents were inform
ed 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 dlrections-toward Moscow, 81.
IBERIA, the Caucasus and Ukraine. The
peasants of Western Russia are now
all on the move, and famine stricken
mobs have reached Smolehsk.
Troops sent to halt this advance
thus far have failed. The situation in
Samara and Saratov provinces is most
critical Driven almost Insane by
hunger and cholera, the peasants are
DESERVING their children, the number
abandoned In Samara alone reaching
sixty thousand.
Stories brought out of Russia by
refugees all agree that while it Is still
impossible to determine the real meas
ure of this catastrophe, after four
years of Bolshevik rule, one fact is
90 ~ t N hot no fe TO
reach proportions which the world
never has seen before and that this
will bring the downfall of the Soviet
regime.
Maxim GOrky, tn leader In RusSia's
attempt to get help from Western ma
tions, Is expected to reach Helsing-
fors, whence he will leave Immediately
for Western Europe ana possibly
America to direct relief campaign
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, city.
village and individual now thinks only
of itself
Such food trains as are being sent
through are being held up and looted
by mobs, which easily overcome the
military guards. The Soviet has issued |
a decree providing for hard labor by
all residents in the provinces not +!
stricken by famine and disease who |
decline TO pay the commodity tax re- !
Gently adopted by the government, and |
the same punishment is applicable to |
those charging speculative prices. All |
trains consisting OF more than five
cars must now be accompanied by
heav. guard on orders of the Soviet.
Feverish efforts are being undertaken
to stem the tide
The Soviet press apparently is seek
ing 10 distract the attention Of the
RUSSIAN population from the famine
by shouting that new military inya-
sion is threatening the country. Thus
Karl Radek, writing in the Izvestia,
speaks Of the impending attempt Of
20 utilize the famine in
Russia TO bring about a new interven-
ton by the ERtente."
The columns of the Soviet press re-
fleet the whole gamut OF political
and demagoglsm in which the
have been indulging for the
past four years. Deprived Of Its old
AMI anti-blockade
slogans. the press seeks to keep them
alive by screaming at the top Of its
voice Whether this will save the
government will be shown by the de.
of the next four weeks.
Leonld Krassin, who has led the
effort Of Russia to establish trade with
the outside world apd who signed the
treaty with Great Britain.
announces that the Soviet has aban-
doned for the present its efforts TO
place foreign orders for anything ex.
cept food Krassin is one Of the lead
Ing members Of the relief committee
Df sixty-three in Moscow.
Other kilograms received at Hell
singfors reported thar the Petrograd
garrison had mutinled again.