Evening star., 1922-04-23
LAUDS AMERICAN RELIEF EFFORT
TO SAVE 100000 RUSSIANS
Rev. E. A. Walsh Writes
From Moscow to George
town University.
Food From U. S. Now Feed
ing 10000, 900 People
Daily.

Praise for the heroic work of the
American Relief Commission in con-
quering the great famine that threat
ened the determination of 10000. 900
Russians is given in a letter just
received at Georgetown University
from Rev. Edmund A. Walsh. s. j.,
regent Of the Foreign Service School,
who sends word from the Moscow
headquarters that the crisis is over
Father Walsh declares that Col. Will
liam Haskell has accomplished the
greatest relief work in history "in the
face Of difficulties that stagger the
Imagination" Fully 100000 hum
cry Russians are being fed daily. he
writes, and the cargoes Of food that
are pouring into stricken Russia has
put stop to starvation.
100000 Rubles Only II.
Life in darkest" Russia, where men
work for 100000 rubles a month and
pay 100000 rubles for pair of
! shoes, II any are to be bought. is de-
scribed by Father Walsh in graphic
only one American dollar. he says it
| is hard to conceive what living con-
ditions really are.
After nearly years travelling in
Europe, Father Walsh turned up un-
expectedly in Moscow, where he is
representing the National Cathoiic
Welfare Society on the stan or Col.
Haskell. In a letter to President
John b. Creeden Of Georgetown Uni
versity, dated March ~. he wrote. in
part: ~ ,.
with my arrival in Moscow last
week. the Foreign Service School
now has two representatives in this
distant and distracted part of the
| world. AS you know. Mr. George
Townsend of last years class is pri-
yate secretary to the director OF the
relief administration. Col. william
Haskell. that quiet. but wonderfully
efficient man who has practically con-
auered the famine that threatened the
determination of sixteen million peo-
pie.
Praises Relief Organization.
II know not how to express my ad-
miration of the organization he has
built up here from nothing and in the
| face of difficulties that wellnigh
stagger the imagination. But he has
| won in a fight against hunger. dis-
ease, Generalization of character
Discrimination of transpor; facilities
and the thousand other dangers that
met him when he arrived last Sep
| tember. From the little group that ac-
| companied him. perhaps twenty men.
| he has expanded his organization 10
| $50 Americans and $4,000 Russian EN-
ployes.
Relief Work at Peak.
II do not believe history has re-
| corded a more extensive relief opera
| tion than this present charity to the
Russian people. The famine Is now
| at what may be termed the peak, and
| the help which is now pouring in and
being distributed. is likewise at its
1T al
ships have been rushing the food
here: one item alone is 10000 tons
of corn. When the present shipments
are unloaded and distribution made,
it is believed the famine will be un-
der control and starvation stopped
| The relief administration will be
feeding shortly 100000 people. In
addition to this there now exists a
complete medical relief division-in
| the city of MOSCOW alone. the Ameri-
can Relief Administration has $4,000
hospital beds.
event not likely to be forgotten. From
southern Europe to Riga. in Lettland
U4atvfa). the railroad facilities are
| fairly normal and one experiences
only the ordinary difficulties Of travel.
But when one reaches Riga he has
his first indications of what he may
expect in the unknown region beyond.
Furs and other accessories of Rus
sian life begin to appear. We were all
provided with food for three days,
as the journey from Riga TO Moscow,
not more than 500 miles. takes three
days. Coal is never seen on the trip.
the engines all burning wood. Con-
seauently they crawl along. delays
| being frequent and long. At the bor-
der between Latvia and soviet Rus
sia We waited exactly twenty-four
hours before the soviet engine ar
rived to haul us into Russia. The
Latyians do not risk any engines in
the soviet republic.
During these three days one exists
as he chooses. The sleeping quarters
are primitive. For three days l cook
ed and prepared all my food on the
little alcohol stoves with which we