New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-27
nv DIR. AGNES Won HARNACK.

terstty o. Bertlh' MtSS W"
mack is 1ceH knotOn as propd-
gandist for tcomen's rights ana
emdncipatiO'l-]
Whom the announcement was MADE
on August ], 1914, in extras and Dill
posters that the Kaiser had ordered 'he
mobilization of all the German forces
on land and sea the women could not
remain passive or limit themselves TO
observations. They had to act ana
earn by deeds the right TO take part
in the events of this great era.
AZ am here not to join in hate, but IN
love" Everything that the women
have achieved since August is bouha
nm in that phrase. The first WISH
which inspired thousands was 20 be al
lowed to help in the care OF the
wounded. The organization necessary
for this was found in the societies OF
the Red Cross and the closely related
patriotic women's societies. The great
DEVELOPMENT of this institution makes
us forget how young 1t u.s.
Red Cross Fifty Years Old.
In the year 1918 the care OF the
wounded was still matter of private
charity. During the battle Of Gross
beeren the inhabitants of Berlin were
simply told that battle was going on
at a certain place in the vicinity, and
that they should care for the wounded.
Then the citizens, each one took as
many wounded as he could accommo-
date IN his house. Among the many
evils which resulted. was severe
typhoid epidemic in the city. Our Ked
Cross organization has existed only
since 1862. In the fifty years that
have elapsed il has developed wonder.
fully; its female helpers consist OF
Protestant deaconesses, Catholic SIS
tiers and its own "Red Gross" workers.
Besides that, the organization Is en-
powered to train so-called helpers IN
time of war Extensive use was made
Of this right; in Berlin alone $4,000
helpers were trained from August ! to
November J. Their work is labor OF
love, without cc@3Snsation.
Economic Conditions Changed.
Even in the War OF 1870 the care of
the wounded was still the only posi-
bility of solving the problem Of "the
war and the women" in n practical way.
There were those who knit, or pulled
lint. or gave private charity, but such
labors occupied few of the women. The
great problem remained unsolved. In
the present war, however, 1t Is very
different. Economic conditions in Ger
many were scarcely touched by the war
fortv-three years ago. Germany to-day
is like besieged fortress, and there IS
scarcely a branch of industry or agri-
culture which has not been affected in
some way by the war.
Moreover, our social conceptions
have changed in the course of the last
decade. We have grown more sensi-
tive TO the sufferings Of our fellow
men. The wish to be charitable" has
become in many of US wish to fulfil
our social obligations. Again, we have
to-day a large number of women who,
because of their training and accom-
plishments, have earned the right to
help in the solution Of the economic
questions which the great war has i'm
posed
A Central Organization.
A meeting Of all the charitable or
CARNATIONS Of Berlin took place IN the
city hall as early as August 3. The
aim was TO form q central organlza-
ton, and the Social Democratic WON
en- promised their cooperation. On
August 9 the National Women's Ser
vice" was founded, under the direction
of the chairman Of the league Of WON
EMS societies, DR.. Gertrude Banner.
1t proposed to organize for national
work the societies Of German women
in the city The suburbs of Berlin
and the societies of many other Ger
man cities followed the example OF
the Berlin women; the working plan
was the same everywhere. Districts
coincident with the tax districts were
formed; in Berlin there are twenty
three Of them, each of which has It's
ow- institutions for the care Of the
poor. Thus, twenty-three committees
were formed; at the head Of each there
are two women, one from the "civll'
parties, one from the Social Demo
cratic party.
The first task Of these committees,
which cooperate closely with the mu-
nicipal committees for the poor, was
to examine the applications for sup
port. In cases Of need, the government
gives the wife of a soldier 9 marks
and each child marks a month. In
Prussia this amount was doubled by
the municipalities, so that the wife re-
ceives Is marks and each child y
marks.
1t is highly important that thorough
Investigations be made. This task is
left to the women in all the commit
tees.
The unemployment Problem.
Unemployment presented another Sc
rious problem. In the first scare en-
tire industries closed down. All manu-
facture of articles of luxury and cloth
ing ceased suddenly, and thousands of
men and women were left without
means of livelihood. Those seeking aid
crowded the doors of the committees.
We had $4,000 applicats in one week in
September. Many public kitchens and
dining halls were established in the
last week Of August, and the Patriotic
Women's Society, in Berlin, distributed
$4,000 marks worth of meal tickets.
given partly by the city and partly by
private individuals.
But difficulties arose here, too; some
of the women did not wish TO eat in the
public kitchens. They wanted TO be
distinguished from the lowest class Of
the inhabitants. They preferred to
starve within their own four walls,
rather than 90 TO the public kitchens.
"Our husbands would not like that"
Our husbands are away and We have
Id work are we not even 20 be per
mitted to cook our own meals ?" they
said.
We could. not close our ears to these
rrl IN daafIn1 e,
distribute tickets for foodstutfs, al
though We realized that this would
only lead to deterioration in the
quality Of the food and rise in their
cost.
Caring for the Children.
To lift the load further from the