The Snowflake herald., 1922-04-28

@--------- church wealth should be sacrificed
in this time of terrible need Until the famine
gave the Soviet government this opportunity 1t
had made no open attempt at appropriation
though II had done all in its power to discredit
the church, whose influence notwithstanding. on
the Russans-the most religious people in the
world--has steadily grown. Mystery surrounds
the action of the archbishop in yielding up the
church's treasures TO it's bitterest foe But the
Soviet government has ways of it's for getting
results.
Now, all the world knows there is famine in
part OF Russia And all the world knows that there
are-Or have been-vast treasures in the hands of
the Russian church. But one is not so sure that
these treasures still in the hands Of the church
Nor Is one entirely confident that the starving
will get the benefit of these treasures even If they
prove intact and the Soviet government gets pos
session of them. 1t is hard to believe anything
90 the credit Of the Russian Soviet government
these days.
America knows full well that there is famine In
Russia. We are trying to as many as DOS
sible Of the starving Russians Up to the middle
Of March the A r. A. activities, 1t is known had
resulted in the landing of 30 ships at Black sea
and Baltic ports. These ships carried 212413 TONS
OF which $40 tons corn, wheat and sun
dries. OF this amount 1928 tons of corn and
wheat were discharged and 1880 shipped into
the interior. OF sundries 5,342 tons were shipped
leaving 1888 tons of corn and $500 tons of sun
dries in stock waiting for transport to the Voga
Goods were shipped 124 trains as follows:
From Reval, %; from Libau II; from Novoros-
sissk, 20; from Theodosia, 10; from Odessa, 10;
from Windau, 81 from Danzig II The wheat
and corn trains reported March Is to
have arrived at Ufa, Orenburg Tzaritzan, Samar,
and Saratov. Fifteen trains were nearing Kazan
and Smbirsk the date. Distribution of
the cornto adults began in the first week in March.
In addition to these arrivals 10000 tons were
moving ports and another 100000 tons were
being loaded in United States ports.
These stocks are enough to feed 100000 people
The main problem is transportation for, In addition
to the Reorganization of Russian railroads. in some
districts there are no railroads at all.
Nobody here seems to know Just how awful the
famine situation is. Exact figures are lacking In
March DR.. FridtjOf Nansen who headed an inter-
national commission of Investigation said:
"The famine Of 1921-1922 was caused by lack of
grain, caused In turn by lack of seeds and farm
labor. Not thing has been done to prevent
similar shortage for next year and If the world
with the exception of America, which has been
marvellous In It's succor, still remains aloof, the
suffering of next winter will surpass anything ever
before known in the history of the world.
mot One-tenth Of the acreage available for
harvest purposes has been sown this year in prep
aration for the fall The peasants have neither
the Seeds the animals for the blowing nor the
energy which Is generated by food.
"Ther wives and children are starving and
despite the admirable relief already brought to
them by the American Relief commission and
the International Commission for the Relief of
Russia. millions are doomed to DEATH failing a
concerted action of the powers before June.
For 100000 square miles there is nothing but
starvation In Russia. No crops. No food. No
smiling children Nothing but desolation and
death. It is crime against the world"
In March it was stated that the Russian Soviet
authorities had failed to provide even half the
number Of cars promised for the transportation
AnnoP olfof 6min icfro pv,1io
from the Black sea ports of Novorossissk and from
Windau on the Baltic to the famine afflicted
centers OF the Interior according to reports by
Walter Lyman Brown, European director Of the
American organization.
1.-THE Soviet officials promised us sufficient cars