Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-25
MANY |NTERNED
FRENCH SOLDIERS
ARE REPATR|ATED
Efforts Of international Red
Cross Society Responsible
for Reciprocal Exchange of
Civilians,

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Berne, Switzerland, Jan. f2.-Ae-
cording to data supplied by the Inter
national Red Cross committee, which
has charge of the information bureau
for informed civil persons, about 1000
French who had been interned IN
Germany have been rcpatriated
through the services of the buTeau'
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 securing
their release In Germany
The bureau has been largely re-
sponsible for the reciprocal exchange
of informed civil persons held in
France, Germany and Austria Hun
gary. In addition to repatriating
French citizens II has also assisted
such Germans and Austro-Hun-
garians as have been released by the
French government. by December Is
the number of Germans who had
been aided by the bureau to reach
their homes exceeded 5000. Austro-
Hungarians in whose behalf the bu-
reau had been active numbered more
than 1900 These large numbers of
refugees were handled by means of
special trains. For LOIS Germans
and Austro- Hungarians the commit
tee provided hospital accommodation,
and for 23S Germans and 20 Austrlans |
II secured permanent residence in !
Switzerland.
Slow Work at First.
The bureau was organized during |
the middle of September. For sew
eral weeks neither the German nor |
the French government needed its |
requests that the civil prisoners of |
war held in the two countries be |
given their liberty. on October 20 4
It's efforts led to the announcement
that both governments would liberate 4
the women and children held by them
and such males as had not reached Il
the age of II, or had passed the age
Of 60. on September 20, 1914. Short
ly 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 25 to in
clude in the class of exchangeabes in
termed men between the ages of As
and 60 who apparently were no longer
fit for military service.
Austria Hungary and France agreed
on October 10 on an exchange OF all
women and children and males who
had not yet reached the age of II or
had passed so. Later it was also de-
eided to exchange the military unfit
on the basis already agreed upon with
Germany.
Correspondence Taken Care OF
In addition to assisting the civil 1
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, gem
orally 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 liv-
ing in any of the beligerent states;
interesting itself to the extent possi
BILE under existing conditions in the
civil prisoners of war held in Eng
land, Russia, Serva and the other
belligerent countries and their col
onies; watching the treatment of
males of military age and fitness who
have been detained in any of the
countries at war: and reporting on
all cases of hostage. The bureau also
undertakes securing data on the
Whereabouts and condition of neu-
trails who for various reasons have
not been able to communicate with
their families and friends.
Others Not So Fortunate.
So far the committee has not been
able to do much for the civil prison
ers of war held in Great Britain and
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
inc expenses of the committee are
met IN part by the members by sub
scriptions in Switzerland. and by con
trlputions made by the Swiss gov
eminent In the form of free railroad L
transportation and free postal SER
vice. Virtually ala the clerical and
lied Cross work in connection with
the mission Is done by unpaid volun-
teers, who in many cases are Obliged
even to pay their own travelling ex-
penses in France and Germany. SO
far the bureau has failed to secure
even free postage privileges from the
countries whose subjects it benefits
Professor DR. Ernst Roethlisberger
is the chief of the bureau in Berne.
Eduard Audeoud. prominent citizen
of Geneva, is principally responsible
for the exchange arrangements, and
President Hoffman of the Swiss re-
public has done everything possible