The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-12-02
Civil Population of Country
Ravaged BY War Reduced to
Desperate Straits BY Win
ter and Famine.
NEED IMMEDIATE RELIEF
Germans Conquer Disease Out
breaks-Millions Given By
Charitable Persons Are
About Exhausted.

Warsaw, Nov. IL. Cvia Londonl Nov.
S0.-Hundreds of thousands of the civil
population In the Warsaw district OF
Poland are suffering for want OF food.
A considerable percentage of this num-
Der still are homeless, living In hutS,
caves and abandoned trenches.
The situation Is more serious be-
cause Of the immense number of per-
sons thrown out of work by the al
most complete paralysis OF Polish in
dustries. Some workers have emigrated
to Germany, where employment is
plentiful, but the great majority prefer
to remain near their homes in the hope
of better days. Prominent Poles in all
walks of life maintain that drastic re-
lief measures are necessary IL whole
sale deaths from starvation are to be
prevented.
Food Scarce; Prices Hish.'
Such -four 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 the
government cannot establish maximum
prices, it is claimed, because OF the fear
that importation then would cease al
together. Suffering Is especially acute
among the families of Russian reserv-
lists, who formerly received regular
payments from the government. PEN
sions are now cut off from their for
mer incomes and the Russians are
charged with having taken with them
the funds Of savings bank depositors.
The country districts of Poland are
battle SCARED and barren. In the War
saw governmental districts alone, 1t Is
estimated that 1000 villages were
burned by the Russians. Many or the
inhabitants who at first fled with the
Russians, later returned and threw
themselves upon the mercy OF the Ger
mans.
Thousands Have Died.
Thousands already have died OF star
walton and disease. In Warsaw and
Lodz, women rise at o'clock in the
morning to get good places in the bread
lines. The horror of the situation Is
increased by a S"rious shortage OF coal.
Committees composed both of Chris
tians and Jews. with the assistance OF
the German government are conducting
soup kitchens at Warsaw and Lodz.
distributing food and fuel. Eighty-one
Kitchens are running in Warsaw while
numerous asylums and homes for
young and old are in operation.
Lodz is trying to feed 100000 of it's
500, 900 population. Homeless peasants
are being given lumber and tools to
erect houses before winter, living
meanwhile in dugouts near their old
homes. The city Is paying pensions to
the wives of reservists on the chance
of being reimbursed later.
Road building, railroad and bridge
work are being carried on extensively
in order the unemployed may earn
something.
Disease Under Control.
These measures bring only partial
relief. however. The German authori-
ties are making Roadway in their
struggle with epidemics Of disease re-
sulting from unsanitary conditions in
the ravaged district, cholera, typhoid
fever, scarlet fever and diptheria have
been stamped out or are under control
in most districts.
Statistics that appear to be authori-
tative show that from 100000 to $780,
600 persons are being supported in
Warsaw alone.
This number is steadily increasing.
Meanwhile funds raised for charitable
purposes have been virtually exhaust
ed. These funds, amounting to several
million rubles, were given by Polish
and Jewish organizations, neutrals ant
the Russian government.