Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

d A. W. Slagel were to go together. For a time little progress was made. A representa- tive of the Soviet Foreign Trade Commissariat set up offices in Constantinople, and he was interviewed several times. He did not give relief work much encouragement, but he did eventually give a letter of introduction to his department in Russia. In the meantime close watch was kept on ships going to Soviet Black Sea ports. Batoum was considered as a possible port of entry, but there seemed little likelihood of getting any farther than Georgia by that route. Sey- Lea? FEEDING THE HUNGRY eral small freighters had in the meantime gone north, one to Odessa and one to Novorossisk, but no report had come from them. In March the first definite opportunity came. A group of merchants planned to go to Novorossisk. They chartered the S. S. Albatross, an old English Channel packet boat, Greek owned, but:still flying the British flag. After some negotiations they agreed to accept the two A.M.R. representatives as passengers. The sailing date was postponed several times, but finally on April 6 the Albatross left Constantinople, and after four rather un- eventful days arrived at Novorossisk. The Soviet officials who came to inspect the ship, seemed to understand the motives of the merchants in coming, but relief workers were something new to them. When the letter of introduction to the Foreign Trade Commissariat was presented, they referred the case to the local foreign trade organization. The next day the Americans were given the liberty of the town. A call at the foreign trade office did not give much satisfaction. The chief Commissar of Novor- assisk, Fatianow, seemed to be the only one with au- thority to act. After considering the case, he said he could do nothing except wire to Rostov for advice. In the meantime there were opportunities to study conditions in Novorossisk itself. The town showed very plainly the ravages of revolution and neglect. Piers were rotting, warehouses gutted by fire, factories idle. The town was overcrowded with people, many of whom had come from the North, in search of work and food, neither of which was very plentiful even in Novorossisk. The population had grown from 49,000 to 100,000 in two years. In accordance with Communistic practice, the people were all organized into trade unions, and all were sup- UNSEALING THE CLOSED DOOR 113 posed to work. One meal a day was given to every one at the public kitchens, at four o’clock, after the day's work. This meal frequently consisted of boiled whole barley, “shrapnel” as they called it.. Sometimes a poor grade of macaroni was served. Neither was very appe- tizing. In addition to this cooked meal, each worker was given a pound of heavy black bread, to take home for breakfast. The plan was to furnish free all the necessities of life, such as, clothing, soap, fuel, light, medical atten- tion, schools and amusements, but the pl