The New York herald., 1921-09-07
~ RAYMOND SWING.

SSsosuI Gable to THE NEW YoRK HBaALp.
Copyright. 1921. by THE New York HrRAl.D.
SAMARA, Russia, via London, Sept.
6.-The following is an account Of an
extraordinary dinner party at Stav-
ropol Landing, when was one of
four hosts. The others were Floyd
Gibbons of the Chicago Tribune,
John Graudenz of the United Press,
and Helen Augur Of the Federated
Press. Together we composed the
first party Of correspondents to visit
the volga villages.
We had talked with the Governor
Of Samara and he had mentioned the
name of a township where they
were dying in the streets" So. natu-
rally. we asked to be taken there
with all despatch.
Our courier was Leo Wolf Young.
Russian, who had lived in New
York, and who. fortunately. disap-
proved 'sichas,' az, the Russians
term "incomprehensible delay" 1t is
bis own secret how he did 1t, but he
worked a miracle. Early the follow
ing morning. under the command Of
the Governors private secretary. We
were going upstream on the volga to
Stavropol in large passenger vessel
with crew Of thirty and only our
selves to consult regarding our pro-
gramme.
We might cruise 1900 miles from
Kazan to Astrakhan, or even on into
the Caspian Sea.
This spectacular act OF magnifl-
cence, like everything else. had its
economic explanation. The steam
ship corporation owes some incredi-
tle sum to the Government of Sam
ara and has little chance Of paying
1t, so welcomes chance to wipe a
few ciphers on the books. The Gov
ernment Of Samara knew there was
small likelihood OF collecting the
cum In full, so 1t was ready to take
portions OF 1t in service. All we
contributed was 250,OO0 rubles to the
crew, about 81 in New York, with
which to buy bread, as there had not
been time to provide It for the trip.
volHa River of Beauty.
Stavropol is seven hours above
Samara. 1t is the name for a town
ship with 100000 population and also
tor town Of 10000, and for land
ing. The volga is comparable in
scenic glory with the Danube and the
Rhine. We sailed along between steep
mountainous cliffs of murky tur-
quoise and a plateau fringed with a
low line Of trees, some already
afiame with autumnal gold.
Now and then pocket scooped out
Of the cliffs made room for a town of
mud coiored cabins surrounding a
Byzantine church with festive BEAM
ing domes.
Stavropol Landing was made up OF
two floating docks. one red urnliko
warehouse and two unpainted shanties
on the bank Of a plateau. Behind
them was wide stretch of tan colored
sand leading up steep grade to the
edge Of fir forest.
To my bewilderment I saw behind
the landing great stacks OF bulging
grain bags piled high on the strand,
covered with tarpaulins and guarded
by solitary soldier with fixed bay
onet. My mind had been keyed to
anticipate starvation and no food. /
was not disappointed. but was per-
picked and I turned on the courier
with the remark that I had come n
long distance to see people dying In
the streets and not to survey some
neat instance OF Soviet efficiency.
What is in those sacks?" asked
Wheat" replied the secretary from
Samara. Three hundred and twenty
four tons Of 1t which just arrived the
DAY before and will be distributed to
the villages immediately"
The sight OF so much food broke the
strain under which my eyes had re-
manned for a week In Syzran and
Gamara So instead OF waiting for
carriages that were to take us to the
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