The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-05-05
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Copyright, 1917, the Tribune association.
In the Berlin "Tageblatt' on Janu-
airy is, 1917, DR.. Engel, one OF the Al
dermen of Berlin, stated that there
were 100000 ilelgitimate children
born in Germany since the beginning
of the war, and that this number was
increasing at the rate Of 10000 annu-
ally in Berlin.
"Only a vigorous, rich increase IN
childbirth can make up lot the enoE-
NOUS loss Of life which the war brings
US daily" declared DR.. Enget me
increase in population must, therefore,
be recognized as one Of the most I'M
nortant problems Of the future. TO
continue the increase in population we
are forced to consider the illegitlmate
birth. which is already 10 per cent. OF
the normal rate. The war compeiS US.
also, whether we wish 1t or not, TO con-
slider this kind Of increase in popula-
ton in the future in klndller man
ner. Our object now must be 10 pct
ter the situation for the illegltimate
child"
This frank statement by one OF Ber'
-lin's physicians, who. is connected WIN
the city government, shows that soclai
conditions in Germany have reached
the point where they demand careful
consideration
DR.. Engel presents other startling
statistics. He states that the number
of illegitimate children born in cltles
such as Berlin, Hamburg and MUNICH
has Increased from Is per cent. in 1914
to As per cent. in 1915. He declares
that unless the government does some
thing Immediately to legltlmauze
these children big percentage OF the
future German race will be lllegltl'
mate.
The problems confronting the city
and nation as result or this SITUATION
are as numerous as they are import
ant. In the first place, the govern
ment, the doctors and the educational
Glasses do not like the idea Of having
these children raised as illegitimate
offspring. They want the government
to adopt the children and provide by
legislation for their education ana suS-
tenance until they are at least IA years
OF age Proposals have been made.
also. for the children to take the names
Of their mothers. and be made legltl-
mate children by special act OF the
Reichstag.
At present the government Is doinS
nothing to decrease the birth rate. On
being done to encourage the women TO
have children. Exceptional care Is
given to mothers and prospective
mothers. They can so 10 government
. hospitals during confinement. II they
are girls working in factories they are
given from one month to six weeks
vacation at that time. on full pay. and
the city pays whatever physician ana
nurse bills are necessary. The result
is that millions Of Young girls. espe-
cially those among the working people.
are having children. and In this way
contributing 20 the future OF their
fatherland. II is not considered dis
grace In Germany to hare child II
the girl is not married. On the con-
trary, they are compimented for it,
and women who do not have war ba-
bies are not considered loyal Germans.
Prostitution at the same time has de
creased. In such cities as Berlin.
Hamburg. Munich. Cologne and Frank
fort there are no war time red light
districts. For over a year the prob
Mems incident to the birth OF illegiti-
mate children have been attracting the
attention of physicians. The plan