The Alaska daily empire., 1921-02-19
'10,000,00O CASES '0F MALARIA IN
 RUSSIA, REPORT.
Malignant Epidemic Taking Fearful Toll of Life
 Throughout Nation.

LONDON, Feb. 19.-Addne to the horrors of ruthless tyranny, wide spread crime and abiect misery Of most of the population. Russia l.; being swept by malignant malaria, whih is claiming thousands of victims daily. Ten million cases with an average mortality of three per cent, are said to exist in the var ious cities of the nation, according to a wireless despatch from Mos cav received here today. With only 5000 pounds of quinine in the country medical treatment is all but impossible in the vast majority of cases.
 Vivid portrayal of the terrible conditions in Russia. particularly those pertaining to prisoners, of whom there are hundreds of thous- ands, recently was made by M. Schwartz, Socialist, of San Fran cisco who, sailed from here this week for home, following return from Moscow, where he went to at tend a congress of the Third Inter- nationale and was imprisoned for four months.
 Communism Denounced
 (In a previous statement Mi. Schwartz told of the death of his wife as the result of a hunger strike she began to end her impris- oninent in Moscow, denounced Com munism in Russia and said he was going back to America to tell the workers there the actual facts about the Russian situation)
 Tall and gaunt, his black hair heavily streaked with grey, the Am erican who had been a Bolshcviki before a visit to Russia. "saddened and enlightened" him, described in a supplemental statement, the cold fear and trembling in which Soviet prisoners wait for the visits in the dead of night.
 "They always come between the hours of one and two o'clock" he said. "A Bolsheviki soldier walks into the crowded cell and in the instant silence calls out the name or names of tho man or men. or women, who muat die. In the jail where I was they marched the pris- oners down a stairway into court yard. We could hear the volley of the firing squads. Many men were called out for execution from my cell during those four months. Few af ly, xtt1,xy 1rnp hninsf condemned, but generally it was understood that they were counter revolutionists.' They were shot without trial"
 Indifferent To Fate
 After a time the prisoners b~ came inured to these visits and in the filth and monotony of prison life, ceased to care whether their names were called or not. Cheery greet ings were often passed as the con demned men marched out. The men about to die would say their goodbyes, wave their cell comrades so-long and those remaining would cry out:
 Goodbye See you later"
 Throughout the first few nights Mr Schwartz said he trembied as with ague, and his clothes, even to his overcoat. were wet with persp- ration. Other prisoners, some Of whom had been in the jail more than a year. took the matter cynic- ally and told him with apparent relish the horrors through which they had gone.
 When at last the summons came to Schwartz to leave the cell he said he was certain that he was going to the place of execution But they led him upstairs instead of down He was taken before ali official named Feldman. in whose hands was the power of life and death over all tho prisoners in hic charge. This man said he had re viewed Schwartzs case and the Am erican was free to go. Then the Bolshevist said.
 Queried on Attitude
 Twill you tell me what yOu think of a Soviet Government? Will you go back to the United States end speak against us?'
 There was 8 lone Oause in which the thoughts of the four months in