The Washington herald., 1921-09-08
Famished People Greet
First Relief Ship in
Silence.
SOVIETS ASSIST
DIRECTOR BROWN
Fifty Per Cent of Chill
dren Without Shoes
Or Clothing.
Especial Gable to The Washington Herald
and ChicaEo Tribune.)

Especial Gable to The Washington Herald
and Chicago Tribuns.)
PETRoGRAD, Sept 6.-via Lon
don. Sept THE first representa-
tives and the first shipload of food
OF the American Relief Administra-
tion now are functioning for the
first time in Russia. American
kitchens have been opened. causing
q great impression. The Americans
have been treated with every cour-
tesy. The people are famished. but
there have been no mobs, nor does
there appear to be any danger OF
any. The Soviet police seem to
function well. and they stopped the
few attempts to steal, so far re-
ported.
The representatives of the Ameri-
can Relief Administration are Cal
lon Brown, director; Albert Snooks
and Donald Lowrie. They were
greeted by Soviet officials at the
station without pomp. and taken in
automobiles to Hotel International,
which will be relief headquarters
in Petrograd. The international
formerly was Hotel Astoria, the
best in Petrograd.
Soviets Are Cooperating.
Shortly following the arrival OF
the officials the first American re-
lief ship arrived in the harbor
without demonstration of any kind
The crews of a few Soviet ships
there watched silently and curl.
ously.
At the end OF their third day OF
activity the Americans declared the
Soyiets were showing in every way
their desire to cooperate in relief
work. which Is more than neces'
sary. An enormous warehouse wa:
placed at the American Relief Ad-
rninistration's disposal.
Unloading OF the first ship wa:
accomplished without incident
White flour. sugar. cocoa, con.
densed milk. rice and other deli
cacies practically unknown to the
population of Petrograd was very
tempting to the longshoremen
There were some attempts at petty
pilfefing. but the authorities pro-
vided safncient guards to preven,
thefts-
Reports Not Exaggerated.
The Americans toured the kitchens
inspecting the children's ration, and
saw sufficient to convince them the
stories of hunger were not exagger-
ated. Meals consist chiefly of a
piece of black bread. soup. bread and
dried vegetables, with absolutely nc
fat contents.
The Soviet authorities encountered
on the inspection tour all admitted
frankly that the food situation was
desperate.
I'VE have the organization. but nc
Hood" they said.
A high ranking official has re-
Iceived the following ration: Black
bread. six-tenths OF a pound daily
and the following monthly: Cereals
three-sixteenths of a pound; sugar
tvo-tenths of a pound; meat and
fish, three and one-tenth pounds
salt, nine-tenths of pound: coffee
two-tenths of a pound; tobacco, two
tenths of a pound; vegetables, eigh-
teen pounds; matches, one box
Children without Clothing.
The relief officials calculated the
rrown-up rations average 1000 cal
ories daily. Whereas il is estimat-
ed 5000 calories is the minimum re-
ontrement. Children's rations are
correspondingly small.
II is remarkable that the peo-
rle are able to live on such starva-
ton rations-
The clothing situation in Petro-
vrad is even worse than the food sit
nation. There is no woolen cloth in
the city, and practically no leather
for shoes The Americans have es-
timated that so per cent of the chill
dren are without shoes and have no
clothing worthy of the name.
Copyright, 1s2l.)