The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-08-28
RED CROSS PLANS
TO TAKE CARE OF
U. S. PRISONERS
Reflects Formed Under Isega-
ton in Switzerland.

The American Red Cross mas per-
fected plans ito care for Americans
who may be captured and held in
German prison camps. A prisoners
relief committee has been organized
at Berne. Switzerland, under the SUI
pervision of Ellis L. Dresel, of the
American Legation. Mr.. Dresel serv-
ed from the outbreak of the war in
1914 up to our breaking off diplomat
ic relations as an attache Of the
American Embassy at Berlin, where
his duties included relief work for
men OF the, Entente nationalities in
German prison camps.
Today only about one hundred
American prisoners are held in Ger
many. Most of these are civilians ta-
ken off American merchantmen that
have been sunk by Teuton subma-
rines- More recent arrivals IN the
prison camps had served as gun
crews. since the arming Of our mer-
chant ships.
Speedy provision for their relief
and for those who may be taken pris-
|oner Is necessftated by the German
policy of giving their prisoners of
war food totally inadequate to keep
men in good health. The extremely
high death rate among Russian. Ser
Ul<1n anu IbOQI0<1ulau RIISOAcIS III
Germany and Austria Gao per cent In
the case of the Roumanfans) has
been largely due to the inability of
Russia and the Balkan states to or
ganize the rationing of prisoners OF
their nationalfties from their home
Icountries.
A recent cable dispatch from Paris
tells, of a French soldier just back
from a German prison camp and in
the last stage of tuberculosis. This
soldier was one of battalion Of a
Thousand young and healthy men cap
itured in a body. early in the war
More than fifty per cent of the num-
tber are now dead, or have been re-
turned to France, via Switzerland, as
! incuFables.
Mhlnutrition, no less than unsani-
ltary conditions, produces these re.
lsults. British, Canadian and Austria.
liam prisoners of war In Germany ar
now depend exclusively upon foot
shipped to them from London, and
/ generally give the prison camp ra.
ltion to prisoners of other countries
who are. as rule, less well provided
Bread is already being dispatched
from Berne to the Americans in Ger
many, and arrangements have alst
been made for transmitting letter.
land money from their families ant
friends Inst this country
4 Thus far only bread has been sun
Piled by the Berne Committee OF tn,
J American Red Cross. Assorted foot
J parcels and clothing will also be for
warded soon. In the meantime tn,
Central Prisoners of War Commit
} tee of London is acting on behalf q
r American prisoners in Germany
, sending them such foods as the Com
mittee regularly dispatches to Brit
ish and colonial prisoners.
By arrangement with Germany
these food parcels are sent to tn
prisoner threeA times a fortnigh,
These parcels supplement the Nbrea
which is also regularly supplied. am
, each of them contains ten pounds q
meat, butter. sugar, jam, coffee. O
tea, salt, rice and dried fruit. ,rh
American Red Cross IS Forwarding 4
: Berne stocks of the same foodstuff,
as well as cheese. evaporated mill
, Goldfish and mixed biscuits. Tinna
good cannot be- sent to prisoners ~
Germany has made over the tin con
5 tainers as hand grcnades.
Ninety-five per cent of the BIRTHS
/, packages sent into Germany. wit
: postal card receipts to be mailed bac
l by the prisoner, have been d,,,v ~
; ceipted for. The American Re
r Cross. also, will enclose postal card,
t as means of making sure tha
i American prisoners do actua1lv nc
ceive the food parcels