The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-11-30
STARVATION KILLS
PEASANT POLES
BY THOUSANDS
Thousands More Must Die Unless
Relief Comes Soon
RUSSIANS BURN 1000 VILlaGES
Efforts of German Government Parti-
ally AIleviating Horrible Suffer
ing in Warsaw District.

! Nov. 29)-Hundreds of thousands of
| the civil population in the Warsaw
| district OF Poland are suffering for
want of food A considerable per-
centage OF this number still are
homeless. living in huts, caves and
abandoned trenches.
The situation is more serious be
out of work by the almost complete
| paralysis OF Polish industries. Some
| workers have emigrated to Germany,
where employment is plentiful, but
the great majority prefer to remain
| near their homes in the hope of bet
! ter days. Prominent Poles in all
walks of life contend that vigorous
relief measures are necessary il
wholesale deaths from starvation are
to be prevented
Such flour as is now on hand is be
ing distributed by the Germans under
the bread card system, but only pota-
toes are available in quantities, while
there is an acute shortage of dried
vegetables. meat fats and condensed
milk. Prices all over Poland have
risen to unprecedented heights, but
cannot be checked by the establish
ment of maximum prices, it is assert
ed, because of the fear that importa-
tion then would cease altogether.
Suffering is especially acute among
the families of Russian reservists,
who formerly received regular pay
ments from the Government Pen
sioners are now, cut off from their
former incomes, and the Russians are
accused of having taken with them
the funds of savings bank depositors.
The country districts of Poland
from one end to the other are battle
SCARED barren and fireswept. In the
Warsaw governmental district alone
it is estimated that 1000 villages
were burned by the Russians Many
of the inhabitants who at first fled
with the Russians returned and
threw themselves on the mercy of the
Germans
Thousands already have died of
oANi NtiNIOb anu dtctdoto
by hunger. Mothers remaining alive
are so undernourished they cannot
feed their children. In Warsaw and
Lodz women now rise at o'clock in
the morning TO get good places in the
bread lines and not miss the chance
to obtain some food at least The
horror OF the situation is increased
by serious shortage of coal, due to
destruction of the mines and made
quate railway facilities.
Committees composed of both
Christians and Jews, with the assis-
tance OF the German Government. are
conducting soup kitchens at Warsaw
and Lodz. distributing food and fuel.
Eighty-one kitchens are running full
blast in Warsaw. while many asy-
lums and homes for young and old
are in operation.
Lodz is trying to feed 100000 of its
100000 population The authorities
are holding a tight rein on the -four
supply to make it last until the next
harvest. Lumber and tools with
which to erect houses before winter
are being given to homeless peasants
who are living in dugouts near their
old homes, cooking on improvised
hearths. The city of Lodz is paying
pensions to the wives of reservists
on the chance of being reimbursed
later. q
Road building, railroad ana bridge
work are being carried on extensive
ly in order that the unemployed may
earn something All these measures
give only partial relief. because of
the shortage in articles OF food which
are necessary.
The German authorities are strug-
Cling desperately with epidemics of
disease caused by sanitary conditions
in the ravaged district, and are max
ing slow but sure headway. Cholera,
typhoid fever. scarlet fever and diph
iberia have been stamped out or are
under control in most districts.
Statistics which appear to be au-
thoritative show that from 100000 to
$4,000 persons are being supported
in Warsaw alone This number is
steadily increasing. Meanwhile funds
raised for charitable purposes virtu-
ally have been exhausted. These
funds amounting to several million
rubles, were given by Polish and Jew
ish organizations, neutrals and the
Russian Government.
With this money it has been pos