Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-15
AMERICANS UNDERTAKE
HUGE TASK OF RELIEF
To Work Among German and Austrton
PrfsOnerS Of War In
RussIn.

kHoi-M. July Il (via London).
An 'mi"', conference regarding re-
lief wor'. .sn.i.-; the German and Aus-
trian prisoners Of war In Russia un-
der the direction o. the American en-
"asSy AT PctroErad. has just been con-
c!Gde6 at tn: American legation here
ne woTE viii now be undertaken on
larger scale. The American ambas-
sador AZ Pe;rograd. David r. Francis.
mas named several members Of his stan
TO handle the relief work exclusively
The conference was attended by Pro
ie>sor Edward T. V. Devine. OF New
YORK, who is directing the work for
me embassy: Rudolph Peterson. o.,
Hamburg. representing the German
government. and Slatin Pasha. repre.
sentinE Austria. Eleven SOCIOLOGICAL
me United States. accompanied Pro-
lessor Dev!ne TO Petrograd to engage
in active field work.
Relief work among the Austrian and
German prisoners in Russia is mart OF
, the duties OF the American embassy.
which Is looking after the interests OF
the central powers during the war
Germany and Austria Hungary are
anxious 10 do what they can for their
! imprisoned soldiers during the coming
winter, the rigors of the Russian and
siberian climates having already
caused many thousands to be sent home
In advanced stages of tuberculosis.
They will furnish clothing and medi-
cal supplies. Permission also has been
obtained for the central powers to send
Red Cross nurses to work among the
sick and hclplessly wounded Relief
also must be given to the interned
Austro-Hungarian and German civil
ians, who are not imprisoned, but are
restricted TO certain districts and find
II difficult TO earn a living
Amha ssador Francis and Professor
Devine decided 1T was necessary TO
enlarge the scope of the work. Con-
dittons were reported to Washington
and the conference here with the rem
rescntativeS of the central mowers was
arranged. The work will involve the
expenditure of large sums OF money.
when VIII be paid eventually by the
central powers.
heretofore. has been able TO provide
clothing for Its returned prisoners only
when they reached the Swedish from
tier on the way home. in exchange for
Russian prisoners. This summer some
10000 crowns has been spent. for their
clothing. The clothing now may go
direct to the prisoners, who are not
accustomed to the Siberian colds and
who suffer more than the natives.
W u
charge has been made by the central
powers that war prisoners are treated
differently from the Russian armv IT.
self. but the standards of living are so
dissimilar that Austrian Hungarians
snccumb where Russians might thrive
After some negotiations. the Russian
government has agreed TO allow five
representatives from the American en-
bassy 20 work among the prisoners OF
war and twelve among the informed
civilians OF the central powers.
Ambassador Francis's attention was
first called to this work when he passed
through Stockholm on the way to Pet
rograd and had conference here with
the German and Austro- Hungarian
ministers These officials to-day ex-
pressed 10 the Associated Press their
appreciation of the manner in which
the relief work has been handled since
Ambassador Francis and F. NJ. Dearinr
the secretary OF the embassy at Pet
rograd. reached their posts few
months ago.