Evening star., 1915-04-12
PRAISES RELIEF WORK
DONE BY AMERICANS
Ernest P. Bicknell Specially Men
toned in Letter by DR.. Van
Schaick. Now in Holland.


Americans in relief of the war and
plague scourged people OF Europe.
especially by Ernest F. Bicknell AS
agent OF the American Red Cross and
Rockefeller Foundation, is contained
in a letter to his congregation from
Rev. DR. John Van Schaick, jr. who is CO
operating in the relief work. rms
letter was read at the Church of our
Father, Universalist. of which he IS
pastor. yesterday by Rev. Or. lie Grand
Powers. 1t was sent to the conSreSa-
tion through H. Z. Williams.
There is talk in Holland of peace be
ing achieved for Europe. but strong
report that Germany will not consent
to peace within two years, DR.. Van
Schaick reports
Holland May Escape War.
His letter was written from Mas
tricht, Holland on March Il, and is in
part as follows:
There is less talk of Holland beng
drawn into the war. We hope 1t Will
grow less and less prohab BILE
"A newspaper man Just back from
Germany and Poland, told me that Ger
many would not even consider peace
for two wears Others say that peace
will be made by July.
Mr.. Ernest P. Bicknel came Satur-
day with his secretary. Mr.. Herie. anu
went on Monday. DIR. Rose and Mr.
Rockefeller war relief commission.
have had to go back to the United
States. Their service here viii never
be forgotten. They have left MI. bick-
nell in full charge.
bucharest. Sofia. Belgrade. Vienna.
Berlin and Brussels are among the cap
itals he has visited since he WAS mere
a month ago, and from the capitals ne
relief work everywhere. If ever he
could be induced to write his story. II
would be a book of the most thrllllnS
adventure. Like Paul. he has been IN
perils everywhere: bullets and shells
and the frightful typhus plague as
well as the less apparent. but Just as
great, danger of travel by motor ana
boat and train under some of the con-
ditions which obtain here. And when
YOU get him to tell the story. 1t Is al
ways the other fellow who mas d9ne on,
the big thing. Nobody will ever really
know what Bicknell has done over
here and it is one of the great PRIV
ileges of my life to work under u man
whose head is so cool, whose judgment
is so sound who is the soul of homer
and consideration for others. and who
has the SURPRISING grace OF genuine
modeSty.
Ravages of Typhus in Serbia.
I'VE learn from him about Serbia; at
least 10000 cases of typhus, of 400 doc
tors, about ne-fourth dead already; of
an American Red Cross unit of eighteen
persons. doctors and nurses, attacked by
it: of five American doctors dead and one
dying urgent need of doctors, nurses
and sanitary director to seize
the situation and care for the victims.
but also to vigorously isolate. disinfect
and clean up The relief problem. as
we see it here, relates to Poland, Bel
GUM and Holland. In Holland the Dutch
government and Dutch people have done.
and are doing. a wonderful work caring
for refugees from Belgium-at one time
/ 900, 900 in number now less than 200,-
900.
our work here is two-fold First. to
get the people back into Belgium, where
they are much better off and much more
easily cared for; second, to assist the
Dutch government in caring for the
refugees by furnishing clothing and blan-
kets and by giving work. In Belgium the
work is going on well under the leader
ship of the commission for relief in Bel
GUM.
'''rhe Americans in the country are dele
gated to check up the supplies and to see
how American food and money are used.
The Rockefeller foundation is giving
$500. 900 a month to this work.
What the United States is doing. sou
know, and you probably know also of the
Red Cross forces of Japan coming to
these stricken shores. I am glad to see
how America is graphing with our many
hard and serious situations over there in
the United States, of which non-employ
ment is the worst. I am proud every day
a.. hot A
big and strong enough to help everybody
in need and not neglect her own