New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-01
POLISH MOTHERS
ASK U. S. TO HELP
Children, Abandoned and
Destitute, Parents Dead,
Need Care
WHOLE FAMILIES
LIVE IN TRENCHES
Wealthy Women Here
Found American Branch
of Women'S League

Their resources exhausted, their
country ravaged BY famine and disease,
the women Of Poland have asked
America for aid. Their appeal has
been brought 70 this country by Miss
Zofa Naimska. Of 30 Morningside Drive,
who went to Poland in June at the in
stance Of Mrs. Herbert L. Satterlee,
Mrs Samuel Thorne and other well
known American women.
For Eve months. with the permission
o. the German and Austrian military
authorities, Miss Naimska travelled
through the wsr-stricken provinces
of Gaiicis and Russian Poland, often
within sound OF the firing. She estab-
hshed headquarters at Crscow and War
saw. from which she visited scores OF
devastated villages. whose surviving in
habitants were suffering pitiful hard
ships.
The Women's League Of Poland is
making superhuman efforts % keep
homes intact. 20 trace children who
have been sent tc other countries and
TO better living conditions everywhere,
but 10 is seriously handicapped by
lack Of funds.
Hope in America
~ is hoped that money can be raised
0 this country 70 establish permanent
homes for the children. thousands OF
whom are destitute. Many are or
phans
"The death rate among the children
since the war began has increased so
per cent" said Miss Naimska yester-
dsy "Many Of them have lost their
sight from lack % nourishment, while
skin diseases and tuberculosis have
spread among them in a terrible way.
Whole populations have been wiped out
by typhoid. Not far from Lubiin / Wis
tied one village Of which an old man
was the sole survivor. In several VII
lagos all the babies died.
During the evacuation Of Eastern
Poland last year many Of the smaller
children could not stand the long Jour
news under cruel conditions. they
were crushed in the crowd, and 1t often
happened that an exhausted mother
dropped her baby. sometimes awe
from the train.
schools and kndergartons were
the food was 50 poor that children died
bv thousands. Decimatcd by scarlet
fever. tvpboid and smallpox, those that
survived live half frozen, hungry and
In rags. Not one Of the children born
i'm those camps lived.
81 saw peasant children living IN
barrels Whole families made aban-
doned trenches, rooted over with q few
boards their homes. Many civilians
some Of them very young children, have
been wounded by shells. which nave
left scarcely a village untouched. MOST
Of them are in ruins. In the cemeteries
collins and grsvestones have been uP-
rooted and hurled about IN every dI-
rection.
"Au this is only a faint picture OF
the misery. To-day Poland ~ exhaust
ed. All her hopes lie in America
The appeal Miss Naimska brought
back says, in part;
cor an tho misfortunes the war has
brought the greatest, and the one wnlcn
touches Poland most, rs the sun erlnG
Of the children-'the sacrifices or the
war.
Guardians for the Children
"The heart, the common sense and
The COINCIDENCE OF Polish women All
have pointed toward the guardianship
Of these children, deprived OF tneir
natural protectors. The women <
League. founded during the war, has
formed board OF guardians FOR the
children. with the following pro-
erammc: TO compile statistics of the
deserted children, the orphans ana
those deprived of one parent; to gather
together the Polish children who have
been sent 10 ether countries and thus
arc likely 10 lose their nationality; TO
form institutions to help at once by
furnishing milk. clothes and fuel; 70
form homes for women who have chill
drcn. and also an orphanage which Will
bring uD the children properly, both
physically and morally, with practi o.
cal education in some trade which
would afterward enable them to earn
their own living; 10 organize control
over the guardians to whom the chill
dren arc given.
As the Polish nation is not able 10
cope with this task alone, the council
Of guardians turns 10 America IN the
hope that their appeal will not be made
i'm vain. We ask that America help US
and send money 20 establish the tirst
permanent institution for the child
victims OF the war The institution
will be organized in accordance with
the wishes and experience Of the
donors"
Mrs Satterlee has consented TO be
treasurer Of the American branch. Her
home is at 81 East Thirty-siXth Street