The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-08
CARE FOR PRISONERS.
American Red Cross Has Perfected
Plans to Save Americans From
Starvation i'm German Prisons.

Washington, Aug. 26.-The Amer.
can Red Cross has perfected plans to
care for Americans who may be can
tured and held in German prison
camps. A Prisoners Relief Commit
tee has been organized at Bernc
Switzerland, under the supervision of
Ellis L. Dresel, of the American I,e-
CATION. Mr.. Dresel served from the
outbreak of the war in 1914 up to
our breaking off diplomatic relations
as an attache of the American en-
bassy at Berlin, where his duties in
cluded relief work for men of the en-
tente nationalities in German prison
camps.
Today only about one hundred
American prisoners are held in Ger
many. Most of these are civilians TAX
en- 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 prisoner
Is necessitated by the German policy
OF giving their prisoners of wal
food totally inadequate to keep men
In good health. The extremely high
death rate among Russian, Serbian
and Roumanian prisoners in Germany
and Austria GO per cent in the case
or the Roumanians) has been largely
due to the inability Of Russia and the
Balkan states to organize the ration
ing OF prisoners Of their nationalities
from their home countries.
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
tured In body early in the war.
More than fifty per cent Of the num-
Der are now dead, or have been re-
turned to France, via Switzerland, as
incurables.
Malnutrition, no less than unsani-
tary conditions, produces these re-
suits. British, Canadian and Austral-
ian prisoners of war in Germany now
depend exclusively upon food shipped
to them from London, and generally
give the prison camp ration to prison
ers Of other countries, who are, as &
rule, less we'll provided. Bread is al
ready being dispatched from Berne
to the Americans in Germany, and
arrangements have also been made
for transmitting letters and money
from their families and friends in this
Thus far only bread has been sup
piled by the Berne committee of the
American Red Cross. Assorted food
parcels and clothing will also be for
warded soon. In the meantime the
Central Prisoners of War Committed
of London is acting on behalf O..
prisoners in Germany, send.
ing them such foods as the committed
regularly dispatches to British anC
colonial prisoners.
BY arrangement with Germany
these food parcels are sent to the
prisoner three times fortnight. Th,
parcels supplement the bread which
IL also regularly supplied, and each
Of them contains ten pounds Of meat
butter, sugar, jam, coffee or tea, salt
rice, and dried fruit. The American
Red Cross is forwarding to Bernt
stocks Of the same foodstuffs, as wei
as cheese. evaporated milk, Goldfish
and mixed biscuits. Timed goods car
not be sent to prisoners, for German,
has made over the tin containers al.
hand grenades.
Ninety-five per cent of the British
packages sent into Germany, with
postal card receipts to be mailed back
by the prisoner. have been duly re
ceipted for. The American Red Cross
also, will enclose postal cards, as ::
means of making sure that American
prisoners do actually receive the foot
parcels.