The Washington herald., 1922-10-13
Russian Relief Men Battle
For Life in Stricken Areas
Americans Forced to Sidetrack Disease and At
tacks in Mercy Missions, US.
Officer Relates.

the dangers Howard and yerdon
are doubly charmed, as they as well
have been exposed continuously
here in Cfa. and as well put in con-
siderabl. time out in the districts,
mostly travelling via regular Rus
sian trains. Bcsh Howard and YER
don. having served with the A. r.
A in either Austria or Poland. were
familiar with the dangers Of typhus,
ste. but this did not deter them
from more than fully doing their
work here in this disease
territory.
1T would not be fair TO refer to
the work OF the American person
mel here without making special
reference to the great service given
at all times by DR.. r. n. Sloan. He
arrived in Ufs just about the time
that Hofstra developed typhus.
worked with him day and night
attending to his regular duties as
district medical officer at the same
time. How he did it all we do not
know. Just as Hofstra was coming
back te earth, Blandy's illness COM
nenced and again II was a twenty
four-hour job, with the additional
knowledge that IL would possibly
be a losing fight. though this did
not check the untiring efforts made
10 keep Blandy with US. with two
such men as Sloan and Surber to
care for our health. the Ufa-UraIs
district has, indeed, been fortunate
and without this pair OF keenly-
energetic youngsters il would have
been impossible as well to carry
on a medical distribution and gen
fn~
served territory 725Xi25 versts in
which there were nearly 5000. .OeO
people.
Advises Recsnaenda ttons.
In my opinion. special recon-
mendation should be forwarded the
London and New York offices 9
the America Relief Administration.
outlining the services OF the ones
concerned and add that to my per-
sonsl observation and intimate
knowledge each one has carried on
his work far in excess of what
would be considered his regular
duty.
The following named are the
Americans referred to in the above
communications: Harold r. Blandy
Of New York City: Simeon P. Baird.
Eiizabethtown. KY: Laureston
Craig. Brooklyn; Conway r. How
ard. Harrisburg. Tenn: William J.
Kelley, New York: Denis II. Muir
ply. Chicago: william J. Ruddell.
New York; DR.. r. NJ. Sloan, Hunt
inEton. W. Va: DR.. Frank r. Sur
Der. Waterbury. Neb.. and Patrick s
Verdon, Elmhurst. L I.
Though not of the American per-
sonnel L feel compelled to mention
the services of Boris c. Elperine,
who Joined rue as Interpreter in
MOSCOW. October. 1871, and came
with me. TO Ufa on my original trip
there, November. 1921. Mr.. Elper-
Inc has been with US continuously
since that time. His tact diplomacy
and intelligence has at all times
been of great service in building
up and keeping In constant organi-
cation the approximately $4,000 paid
and voluntary relief workers that
have been necessary to feed over
100000 children and adults. as our
records Of August 80 show. when
II Is considered that We are operat-
ing in five guberias of three dif-
ferent Soviet republics, entirely
with people that We could not
talk directly With. the opportunities
for difficulties cSn be easily under.
stood by those familiar with the
conditions that existed at this time
in Russia"