Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-28
RED CROSS AIDS
Big EXCHANGE
ASSISTS BRINGING RETURN
( OF MEN, WOMEN AND
CHILDREN TO HOMES.
PERSONAL EXPENSE
Many Leaders in This Movement
Contribute Own Funds to
the Work.
PERSONAL EXPENSE

Berne, Switzerland, Jan. 27.-At
cording to data supplied by the Inter
national Red Cross Committee, which
has charge of the Information Bureau
for Interned Civil Persons, about
1000 French who had been informed
in Germany have been repatriated
through the services of the bureau.
In these cases the Red Cross commit
tee supplied free transportation
through Switzerland. In addition,
about $50 French citizens who were
able to pay their railroad fares were
assisted by the committee in secur'
ing their release in Germany.
The bureau has been largely re
sponsible for the reciprocal exchange
Of interned civil persons held il
France, Germany and Austro-Hun-
gary. In addition to rs%patriating
French citizens, it has also assisted
such Germans and Austro-Hungarians
as have been released 10y the French
government. BY December 10 the
numbe-. of Germans who had been
aided by the bureau to reach their
homes exceeded 5000. Austro-Hun.
garians in whose hoehalf the bureau
had been active numbered more than
1900. These large numbers of refu-
gees were handled by means of spe-
cial trains. Fer 1,015 Germans and
Austro-H ungarians the committee
provided hospital accommodation,
and fer 233 Germans and 20 Austri-
ans it secured permanent residence
in Switzerland.
The bureau was organized during
the middle Of September. For sew
eral weeks neither the German nor
the French government needed its l.
gusts that the civil prisoners of war
held in the two countries be given
their liberty. On October 20 its effort
led to the announcement that both
governments would liberate the Wom-
en- and children. held by them and
such males as had not reached the
age Of II, or had passed the age OF
60, on September 20, 1914. Shortly
afterwards the first transports from
both countries began to arrive.
AS the result of further negotia-
tions the French and German govern
ments agreed on November % to in
clude in the class Of exchangeable in
termed men between the ages of -
and 60 who apparently were no long
er fit for military service. III.
Austlia-Hungary and France agreed
on October IL on an exchange OF all
women and children and males who
had not yet reached the age Of II or
had passed 60. Later it was also de-
cided to exchange the military unfit
on the basis already agreed upon
with Germany. ..s
In addition to assisting the civil
prisoners of war on the return to
their homes, the bureau takes care of
the correspondence of those who
have not been liberated as yet, gen.
eraly males of military age and fit
ness. 1t also interests itself in the
complaints made by these.
The bureau, moreover, has charged
itself with the following: Securing
information concerning neutrals Nv.
ing in any of the beligerent states;
interesting itself to the extent posi-.
BILE under existing conditions in the
civil prisoners of al held in Eng.
land, Russia, Servia and the other
beligerent countries and their colo
MES; watching the treatment of males
of military age and fitness who have
been detained in any of the coun-
tries at war: and reporting on ali
cases of hostage. The bureau also
undertakes securing data Oh the
whereabouts and condition of neu-
trails who for various reasons have
not been able to communicate witt:
their families and friends.
So far the committee has not been
able to dc much for the civil prison.
ers of war held in Great Britain n
the British colonies. Russia and Ser
via. Turkey has recently signified its
intention of joining France and Ger
many in accepting the voluntary ser
vices of the bureau.
The expenses of the committee are
met in part by the members, by SUB
scriptions in Switzerland, and by con,
tributions made by the Swiss govern
ment in the fern of freq railroad
Transportation and free postal serv-
ice. Virtually all the clerical and Red
Cross work in connection with the
mission is done by unpaid volunteers,
who in MANY eases are obliged even