San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-12

| through this area. Everywhere in
travelling over it found the same abso-
lutte restitution. Take kherson for in
stance. Kherson, like all of this coun-
| tryside, possesses enormous interest for
/ the antiquarian. Some of the oldest
cities of the world were built near
! here.
Before the war, Khcrson had $4,000
| people, nearly oDe-half Jews. II was
natural center for the great Jewish
agricultural colonies of South Rus
| STA. / doubt if today it contains many
more than 10000 people. In the first
nine months of 1922 there were 4UU
deaths for every birth in Kherson. The
deaths in that time numbered 1902.
The town of Eliabethgrad tried TO rival
Kherson in its death competition. 1t
fell miserably behind, reaching only
51S4 deaths for 55S births. But for
American aid this year the death rate
| would have been at least 80 per cent
more all over this area.
Present Famine Outlook Worse.
What impressed me most going on
over this countryside, was the absolute
lack of everything. I'VE will leave our
foes nothing but their eyes 10 weep
with" one famous conqueror boasted in
olden days. Civil war and famine have
done that here. The only growing
things / saw were bracken and coarse
weeds. The peasants were carefully
gathering these and drying them for
,, winter fuel.
In the hospitals all that they seemed
to have was what the American aid
had supplied. The government has
| nothing to give. In children's homes,
matrons and teachers told me that they
were receiving no pay-therc was none
for them. why do they keep on?" some
may ask. At least they have shelter
and some share Of the food that
comes in.
What will happen in this area this
winter? TO this question | everywhere
! received the same reply. Officials,
American workers and doctors, all agree
that famine conditions will appear much
earlier and be worse. The death rate
| from exhaustion is bound 10 be much
greater. Many Of the people have sold
even their Kitchen implements for food.
The farmers have sold their ploughs.
Thanks to gifts Of American medicine,
the progress of the great epidemics has
been somewhat checked. Everything
threathens to, be worse than ever. The
Angel of Death will reap the full har-
vest here.
Odessa was one of the most beauti-
full modern cities in Russia. 1t is laid
out TO plan, with straight avenues, mag
nificent public buildings, and a wonder
full vista across the harbor to the Black
sea. In old days Odessa shipping was
known everywhere. Odessa was one OF
the big business cities of the world.
Where are its ships? Where Is ITS
trade? l stood on the great boulevard
looking seward. The harbor lay like
panorama beneath my feet. | noted
one small coasting steamer and one
ship of larger size, flying the stars and
stripes. 1t was an American destroy
err The coaSting steamer represented
all that was left, apparently, of Odes-
sa's shipping.
The Odessa Communists are trying
hard 10 re-crcate industry here. 1t is
difficult to encourage foreign shipping
because. unless it is paid promptly i'll
valuable currency or goods foreign
ship will not come with cargoes second
time, The Odessa authorities are try
ing to build up several local manu-
facturers. They are especially proda
of their shoe factory, but it will take
Odessa a lony time TO recover from all
she has passed through. i
For some time this city suffered
much from bands of hooligans. The
head of one of these bands played for a
time a large part in running the city.
Today most Of the hooligans have gone
dead from hunger. When the Amerl-
cans came to Odessa last February, they |
saw dead and dying lying together IN |
the main roadways. and people were too |
wretched. cold and hungry TO notice or !
to aid them.
There have been big Improvements |
in Odessa during the last few months. |
More shops are opening, trade is rcyiv-
ing and people are showing more inter
est in life. But when l remember the |
Odessa | knew q dozen years or more |
ago. and think of the city as sec 1t
today. l begin to appreciate something |
Of the tragedy of its fate.