The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-12
PLAGUE. INVESTS
MANY COUNTRIES
Van Setback Letter Lauds the
Work Being Done with
Rockefeller Fund.
PEACE TALK IS HEARD
Proud Of American Help and Attitude.
Says Bicknell Is One of Gods
Greatest Men.

Talk In Holland of peace being de.
clared in Europe, praise for the Rock
efeiler officials supervising the relief
work. words of laudation for the manly
way In which America is aiding the
stricken countries, together with a de.
scription OF the plague-infected condi-
lions in many lands are contained in a
letter from Rev. John Van Schaick, jr.
pastor of the Church of Our Father
which was read to his congregation yes
terday morning. 1t was written in
Maastricht. Holland. on March II, and
sent to be read Easter Sunday. but de-
layed until last week.
As to when the war will end opinions
differ widely he writes. One can
hear that peace negotiations are in the
air now and one can hear that the war
has not yet fairly begun. newspaper
man. just back from Germany and Po-
| land. told me that Germany will not
even consider pece for two years. Others
say peace vii lbe declared by July
| Praises BickneIrs Work.
DR.. Van Schaicl praises the personal
work being done by Ernest P. Bicknell
of the Rockefeller forces. His letter
| says:
Bucharest Sofia. Belgrade. Vienna.
Berlin. and Brussels are among the cap
itals to be visited since he was here
month ago. and from the capitals he
has gone on to the firing line of the
relief work everywhere. II ever he
could he induced to write his story, it
would be a book of the most thrilling
adventure. Like Paul he has been in
perils everywhere; bullets and shells.
and the frightful typhus plague. as
we'll as the less apparent but Just as
great danger of travel by motor and boat
and train under some of the conditions
which obtain here And when you get
him to tell the story. 1t is always the
other fellow who has done the big
thing. Nobody will ever really know
what Bicknell has done over here and
1t Is one of the great privileges OF my
life to work under a man whose head
is so cool. whose Judgment is so sound,
who is the soul of honor ana considera-
ton for others. and who has the surpass-
ing grace of genuine modesty
We learn from him about Serbia:
At least 5000 cases Of typhus-of 40
doctors iabout one-fourth dead already, |
or an American Red Cross unit of eight
cen persons. doctors and nurses attack
ed by it. of two American doctors dead
and one dying. urgent need of doctors
nurses and a sanitary director to seize
the situation and care for the victims.
but also to vigorously isolate dsinfect
and clean up. The relief problem. as |
we see II here. relates to Poland. BEL
GUM. and Holland. ,
Fund Gives 100000 Each Month.
The relief work in Belgium is done
ny BelEians. The Americans in the |
country are delegated to check up the |
supplies and to see how American food |
and money are used. The Rockefeller
Foundation is giving s5oo.noo a month to |
this work. 1t has not withdrawn from !
the work. as stated in America It no |
longer buys ships and grain. it gives |
the money instead. to the commission /
for relief in Belgium.
In Serbia. you must have heard. a |
vigorous fight has been organized on
typhus. The American Red Cross and |
the rockefeller Foundation are hurry
ing new Red Cross units to the danger
zone. In Poland there is unGuestionably
great suffering. The Germans are doing
relief work, but hard-pressed as they
are. they are doing just barely enough
to Keep the people alive The commits
sion for relief in Poland has not vet
begun its work. Certain concessions
had to be obtained from the German
government. These have been granted
in full. and work is soon to begin.
Lauds American Attitude.
Il am glad to see how America is
graphing with our many hard and
serious situations over there in the United
States, of which unemployment is the
worst. 7 am proud every day that l am
an American: that America is big and
strong enough to help everybody in need
and not neglect her own.
Last night | sat in the reading
room of this hotel with a German
al bout to enlist and an Englshman
here in the service of his government.
There were no hymns of hate. With
out bitterness. we talked it all over.
When I bade them goodnight. l said:
Il have talked with many English
men and Germans in this country in
the last two months. and what grips
me is what splendid fellows they all
are
1T is our rulers who have put us
where we are said one.
1T is our diplomats. said the
other.
wherever the blame. we must be
now how to cure il and how
TO safeguard the future. There are
two things hard to reconcile. These
two men here would each risk their
lives for the other. haven't the
slightest doubt but that either one
would jump into the river to pull the
other out They are that kind of
men. But just over the border yon- /,
der 1t is easily conceivable they might
meet hand to hand in a trench and
stab each other toSdeath." |,
Telephones are coming into ,,se in Tri-