Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-18
WORKS FOR ASSISTANCE
OF ENEMIES IN ITS MIDST
England supports chnritnLic Commit
tee, which HAS Had Rcmnrk-
able Success.

LONDON. December l7.-So TAR aS
known here. England is .he only one
ii the countries TT war which sup
ports "a charitable ommitt for thc
aclp of crcmics ia its midst. Yet such
is the "t:mcrgen.y ommiitc for the
assistance % Germans. .AuStriaaS and
~liunsarians in Distress"
This society was formed b. members
u the Religious Society Of Friends 20
ard innocent alien enemies III Great
Eritsin rendered destitute by the war;
AID its report Tor the last fiscal year
shows that nearly SiD0. 90" was con
;ributcd Ard disburacd. Membership
i5 not confined to the QUakcrs. for the
Archbishop Of Canterbury, the head of
The Church OF England. aud Bishop
- i.ichficld ana Lincoln, as we'll ~;
: Ni*"VUAt Bryce. Lord IIaldanc. for
merry Minister for War. and several
Members Of ~ .liamcnt and ministers
# Protestant churches are among It's
supporters.
The committee maiuta MS a regular
stan az visitors, who pay ~-"gUlHr calls
and enter aympatlctir.lIy into the
many difficulties that continually arise.
The report shows how the strain of
the war Is telling On many people.
MANY Of the wo!a.i visited are suf-
fcriic from depression and other nerve
troubles. owing To thc great strain put
on them by the isolation OF tic:r pu-
sitiou and the jruCrlc for existence.
a small special fund has been opened
/" cnahic our visitors TO cheer these
poor souls during the timer of acute
crisis or prolonged in~onOtuny, so that
the mental and spiritual strain may
De relieved before the breaking point
! is reached"
II Still the committee nLs many cases
where deportation to Germany or Aus
tria is sought. AS the weary months
OF the war drag on for those VAC arc
unable to take amy part in tho active
work going on in all directions. and rs
savings diminish. many antilles who
asked for. and obtained. their exemp-
ton to stay i'll England now make up
their minds TO return to their own
countries. The questions we are asked
and the ADVICE sought become more
and moro varied. We continue to maIc
up parties OF those leaving England.
and w are frequently asked to send
children back to thcir relations. SO
far. wc are glad to SAY that all such
children have reached their destination
safely. although sometimes obliged 10
travel almost alone. y chain OF work
aTs IT. England ana Holland hand, them
on from ono TO another"
\ considerable part OF tho commit
tees activity Ia devoted To work in
the tntcrmment camps. During the past
"ear lii. number OF informed civilians
In England has increased considerably,
ara tn" military prisoners are also
growing in number. With, regard to
the condition Of those informed. the
report says. w fnd that In many
cases the mon are c~ontinual!v on
pressed with anxiety about their fami-
Hes. whether in England or Germany.
and about their business and future
prospects There is often :, deep sense
OF Injustice and OF uSelesSues$ II is
only natural! chat long months OF con-
I IL. N snt ChDlIl1 load 4 n 4. n-S,1 arl
tnr"3trn nervous mental o. moral
breakdown in II good many eases.
we share the feeling OF dread and
horror with which prisoaers-espccially
thc civilians. who suffer nlost-on bo.l
sides. look forward TO the possibility
OF another winter in camp and we arc
longing Tor the success OF the prcScu,
negotiations between the g~overnmeuts
for ending the whole internmcnt sys.
tenn"