New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-28
$4,000 Letters Now at the
Rooms of Hebrew Inn
migrant Society.
MANY THREE MONTHS
ON THE WAY HERE
Work of Sending Them to
Those for Whom Intend
ed Will Begin To-day.

Thrty-fve thousand letters, which
will in the near future bring sorrow or
gladncss to persons in all parts OF
America, were piled high yesterday
afternoon on q table at the Hebrew
Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society,
229 East Broadway They were writ
ten by men and women in Russia's war
stricken provinces to relatives or
friends here.
Many of them were mailed more than
three months ago, but most Of those to
whom they were sent have had no word
from the senders in nearly two years.
1t was decreed in Berlin and Vienna
that only news of the death of a per-
son in the writer's family or the health
of the family and requests for money
could be written.
The letters consequently are short.
All but very few contain an appeal
for aid A great number tell OF the
deaths of relatives.
Thousand Seek Word.
When German armies invaded Poland
postoffices were closed to inhabitants
of occupied districts. As result tha
Immigrant Aid Society was besieged
day and night by persons in this coun-
tray seeking to trace relatives in Rus
made arrangements with the German
government under which letters could
be sent from the occupied districts to
persons, irrespective Of race or creed,
in the United States and other North
and South American countries, IL adj
dressed to the society. The name and
address of the person TO whom the
letter was sent were to be written on
an inclosed envelope or in the letter.
The society promised to forward the
mail.
Directions for the sending of the let
tiers to America were printed on plac-
ards in German. Polish and Yiddish,
posted everywhere Teuton armies were
stationed. More than 900 missives
have now reached the society, and two
thirds of them have been forwarded to
the persons addressed.
Both German and British censors ex-
amined the letters recently received. II
orders OF the German government were
disobeyed German censors cut out or
irked over the forbidden words. Brit
,sh censors put printed notes into such
letters, saying:
"The British censorship is not re-
sponsible for the mutilation of this let.
ter"
Censors permitted many letters that
told of starvation to pass. Others pict-
ured the burning of villages and towns
and the hardships suffered by their in.
habitants. Many of the letters ac-
knowledged the receipt Of money from
America.
81 am well, as are my two children,
but two children, Felix and Stefcia,
died, as also my sister. Marcysia,"
wrote a woman in Ostrolenka, Russian
Poland, on May 26, to her husband in
Wilmington, Del. al have to-day re-
ceived 100 marks, but ask you to
please send me more help"
Pleads for Children.
A woman in Lomza wrote on May 81
to her husband at 43 Norfolk Street:
Wake up from your sleep and send
something. We are starving. IL you
do not care so much for your wife, re-
member your two children. You would
be Mortified if you could see how they
look now. The so marks you sent were
like drop in the ocean. Bread is dear,
and We have nothing that will pay for
our room. We pray TO you to help US
in the name of the children. Send US
something for bread"
The work of forwarding the $4,000
letters and cards to all parts of the
country, 20 Canada and South America.
will begin to-day. A brief letter from
the society is sent with each message.
IL explains the mailing arrangements
and gives directions for sending an
swers and money to Russia.
About 5000 letters the society for
warded have been returned by the
postal authorities because the person
addressed could not be found. They
are being held.