Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-06-04
JEWS IN POLAND IN WANT
Fifty Thousand Without Homes and
in Particularly Distressing
Circumstances.
GERMANS PROVIDE RELIEF

Correspondence Of the Associated FrCsssl
Berlin. May 2s-Of the normal
total of about 2,4s00OO Jews in Po-
land, Lithuania and Courland, some
10000 still remain, and Of this NUM-
Der about 100000 are in urgent and
continuous want About 455000 Of
these are in Poland and $4,000 OF this
number are persons who are wisiout
homes and in particularly distressing
circumstances.
The number OF the needy is in
ereasing from month TO month. OPP
portunities 10 earn money are few,
and thousands who are still living on
their savings will, sooner or later,
find these exhausted and become de-
pendent on charity
These estimates appear m the an
nual report OF the German Hebrew
Relief association, which has taken
upon itself the work Of relieving rs
coreligionists in the occupied districts
back Of the battle line IN Russia and
Galicia. The sum Of 100000 marks
monthly is required to alleviate the
distress Of the most necessitous OF
the 100000 sufferers, and even this
sum, which is all that the relief asso-
citation can devote to the work for the
next few months, can do little more
than keep them from actual starya.
ton
Many Cities Assisted.
With this sum rs cities and vii
lagos in the occupied districts are be-
ing assisted. Ninety relief kitchens
are in operation, with twenty-five tea
halls and numerous other relief insti-
tutions. About $50 tons Of clothing,
bedding and footwear have been sent
10 the stricken districts. The grand
lodge OF B'nai Birth in Germany has
had a large share in the relief work
and more than 100000 marks has thus
far been received from America. Up
10 date nearly 2,250000 marks has
been paid out by the Hebrew Relief
association for Poland and Lithuania
Funds available have not been suffi
Gent to afford relief to some 10000
Jews in Courland, where the distress
moreover, is not so great as in the
other districts.
These activities, however, have
formed but a part Of the work Of thu
relief association. Quite as important
and even more srduous has been III
work ais an Intermediary between III,
residents OF the occupied districts
and the outside world. In this de
partment no denominational distinc
tons were made, Jews aud Catholics
alike being aided. Chief advantage
was taken OF this work by relatives
snd friends in America Of the Polisl
sufferers The relief association founc
its work increasing so rapidly, as th'
news became known in America tina
Il was possible 10 communicate Will
Poland through the association, tina
IL is now compelled TO employ force
Of about fifty persons 10 expedite let
tiers and funds. About 100000 mark
has thus far been received from
America for direct transmission, an'
the relief association handles as man
as 100000 letters monthly from ant
to America. This must all be copiet
in the associations offices TO maxi
any system Of secret communication
impossible.
All Help in Relief.
The various relief funds arc dis
tributcd with the aid OF the militar!
authorities The American embassie
and consulates have also done thei
full share in assisting in carrying TN
work on.
A slight alienation OF condition
may come from the recently secnre'
permission Of emigration from III
occupied districts. Many families al
ready have availed themselves OF tn
permission, most OF them going wit
tickets sent from America.
The Hebrew association, depite III
new demands made on Il, has main
tanned and even increased its work !
Palestine. II supports two kinder
gartens, a school for girls, a CONNER
cial school and other educational il
stitutions at Jerusalem, besides a !
brary and home for girls. II ais
maintains a boys and a girls sehoc
and a kindergarten al Jaffa, and va