Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1917-10-25
PlTIABLE EPLEA
FROM HOLY LAND
Thousands Are Starving in
Jerusalem and Throughout
Syria Many Children In
Need.

New York, Oct. ga thousand
deaths day from starvation out of
a population of $50, 900 in the Le-
banon Mountains near Beirut, Syria,
is the toll of famine conditions there
resulting from the war, it was de-
clared here today by the Rev. Will
liam H. Hall, of the Syrian Protes-
tant college, who recently returned to
this country from relief work in
that district.
Continuing, Mr.. Hall described
the tragic disappointment of the
people there, whose spirits were
kept up for weeks by the promised
arrival last. Christmas time of the
American relief ship Caesar, which
would have meant life to thousands,
but which never arrived owing to
the refusal of Germany and Austria
Hungary to grant her safe passage
to Beirut.
The Caesar, a naval collier, loan
ed to the Red Cross by the Navy De-
tpartment, left New York months
before the entry Of this country in
| to the war, as Christmas Ship"
for the needy in Syria, carrying
more than a quarter of million
dollars worth of food and clothing
contributed in this country.
DAY after day the poor, starving
people along the coast and thru the
mountains looked and prayed for
the coming of the American ship"
Mr.. Hall said. 1.-THE country was
lcanvassed by we'll organized COM
lmittees, the needy were listed, the
work of distribution was thoroly
prepared, offices were opened and
men chosen to direct the distribu-
tion. The people waited. Their
hopes were raised high.
Week followed Week and month
followed month-in suspense the
people daily looked out to set for
her-but the ship which meant life
and hope to thousands never ap-
peared. She was held by military
necessity while the people starved.
God has forgotten us!' was
heard again and again as hopeless
and hungry they stood face to face
twith death by starvation,
.'If the Caesar had arrived it
would have meant that other ships
would follow, but her failure to-
come dashed all hope for relief.
Her cargo, was sold and the funds
finally found their way to Beirut for
the purchase and distribution OF
food there, but there was little food
to be bought.
Eve know for fact that thous-
ands of our friends there will die
this winter, despite the great good
that can be accomplished by send
l. ing funds from America to buy what
food can be obtained on the ground
for distribution In an effort to save
as many as possible"
The city of Beirut is as sorely at
kficted as the mountain districts,
Mr.. Hall went on, and day or night
one hears the cry along the streets,
II am hungry, give me bread" This
is not from beggars but from labor
ers and tradesmen, people who have
known the comforts of life.
I'm jerusalem" he. continued,
zone cannot pass along street
without being beset for prayers for
aid. There are mothers with babes
pulling at their barren breasts and
children whose parents have sue
cumbed and left them to face star
walton alone.
"Syria and Palestine have no
story Of massacre or deportation,
but these districts, once prosperous
and self-supporting, are now caught
in the world. strife, and the people
are slowly but surely starving to
death thru no fault of their own.
Figures appall one-c0mpetent au-
thorities assert that not less than
100000 persons are today in dire
distress in these historic Bible lands.
..Of this number at least $4,000
are children below the age of 12-
boys and girls and little children
with no older persons to provide the
food without which they will perish,
or to soOthe the last hours when
hunger will have overcome the
forces Of nature and the hour has
come for them to face the great
eternal without father or mother
near
/ FLOUR DOWN AND
MILK UP A CENT
Fargo. Oct. "a. While the retail