The Calumet news., 1914-10-03
PLIGHT OF THE JEWS;
LOSE WHOEVER WINS.

New York-"Whoever wins we lose"
In this pithy and painful phrase re-
peated over and over again by the
Jewish press is compressed the whoic
calamity which confronts the jewish
people. who live among the nations
which are now engaged in the dealhlv
struggle for supremacy. Millions of the
Jewish people are living i'm the regions
where the condensation is spreading
ruin and destruction from day 10 day
and while the gains and emoluments
Of victory will be shared 10y others,
their losses will be entirely their own.
All the horrors Of fire and sword, d.
yastation and destruction are nov
added to the tragedy Of Jewish home-
lcssness and persecution. Again are
Jewish citizens giving their last and
best proof Of devotion to their adopt
ed countries by laying down their lives
on the field OF battle-by killing their
own Jewish brethren of other coun-
tries. But the grim irony Of the situa-
tion is beyond expression when it is
remembered that the Jewish comba-
tants on the opposing sides are fight
ing for countries which deny them
their human rights. Proof OF Jewish
devotion To duty has never been lack
ing, but now that we behold it again
on the field of battle we have before us
a new indictment of the moral turpi-
tude Of the European governments.
All the losses Of the war, all the re-
verses and misfortunes will fall entire
ly on the shoulders Of the Jews, who
receive very little consideration from
their governments either in times of
war or Of peace. The extent Of actual
Jewish participation in the war has al
ready been indicated by slowing that
over 350,00O Jewish soldiers are fight
ing I'm the different armies now at war.
The story Of the dangers which now
confront the Jews. and the privations
which they will, alas, be subjected to,
can best bc illustrated by a number OF
figures telling Of the Jewish population
in the different countries of Europe.
Austria Hungary counts Il Jewish pop
alaticn of 2.25S, 262; Belgium, 12,l69;
France, 100000: Germany, 615,O21;
LuXemburG, L27O: Netherlands. 1O6,
809 Russian Empire. 6,2l5,SO5; Servia,
1000, Switzcrland, 1923; Great
Britain. 245,OOO; Cyprus 10; Gibral-
tar, 1900; Malta, 60. This makes a
total OF S.57l,429. which in one way or
another are bound TO feel the effect of
the present conflict.
II will he the duty Of the Jews to
help the thousands whose business has
been ruined and who have been thrown
out OF employment; to care for the
aecd fathers and mothers whose
brcadwinnels fell victims of the war;
To attend 90 the needs Of the widows
and the orphans the crippled and tho
( wounded The call for help will extend
to countries outside OF the zone Of war
| The appeal for aid will be especially
directed to the United States where 3,
| 900 600 OF Jews, who, thanks To a be-
nign Providence, have been far remov-
ed from the tyrannies and crimes OF
/ the European rulers and who are
dwelling in the safety and freedom Of 8
| blessed country. Indeed the cry of dis.
| tress has already been heard from
across the seas Countless Jewish
places Of business have been ruined
and homes without number have beer
laid waste. The vision OF homeless.
wanderers, so graphically and pathe.
| tically depicted i'm the picture calle,
| 'Golus" C'Exile'D by the late :. Hir.
schenberg. looms again before .oul
eyes. The whole OF the Jewish peopl,
will be affected by those suffering from
the war. That is why Israel, the ira.
ditional upholder OF peace. feels espe
cially grievcd by the present catas
trophe. That is why leading Jewisl
newspapers and prominent communal
workers In this country are urging tn,
adoption or constructive policy n
the emergency which the circum
stances are creating. IT will be nee
essary not only to render relief I,
those In distress but also to protect tn
interests OF our people abroad at tn
cessation of hostilities. Says the Jew
ish Advocate:
| The crisis Is the result of a war