The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-07

Have pity on us and make it possible
for us to forget the heavy hours of oul
Imprisonment"
Sending this appeal to the Young
Mems Christian association, group oi
professors, school teachers. public Off.
Gals and lawyers, held prisoners of war
At kokand, central Asia, voice the cry
that goes up continuously from the more
than five million men held prisoners of.
war by the various warning countries.
From practically every prison camp in
Europe and Asia appeals have been made
to the American Young Mems Christian
association for aid by these men in
their hour of dire need, according to re-
ports and official communications
brought back to this country by +. G.
Wilson, associate secretary in charge of
the Young Mems Christian association
prisoner ofwar work in northern Eu.
rope. Aid has been given as far as the
various governments win allow In fact,
many of the nations have intrusted the
association with special funds TO help
carry on this work.
Amonp the prisoners -of war in Ger
many, there are about three hundred
rhildren. About two hundred of these
are interned in the prison camp at Hol-
mindin, and about 80 in the camp at
Havelberg. Practically all of these have
spent the last three Christmas DAYS i'm
prison camps. Some of them have been
born there and know nothing of life out.
side of the barb-wire fence. No explana-
ton OF this situation accompanied the re.
port.
Sick and in Prison"
OF the five million men cooped up in |
the prison camps. about one hundred and
fifty thousand are in hospitals Perhaps |
three hundred and fifty thousand more !
are invalids who are wounded or other |
wise incapacitated. These men. unable |
because of physical disability to engage
IN work, are perhaps the most pitiful and |
the most needy group. To meet cond-
lions the Young Mems Christian associa-
ton has established schools and work
shops of various kinds, has organized
orchestras and choruses, has stimulated
athletics and provided libraries. The
crown princess of Sweden gave nearly
eleven thousand English books for the
use of British prisoners.
Food is the greatest need of these men.
A chance for mental relaxation is the
second great need Some persons place
{ first. Confinement has brought about :
depression in their physical, mental and +,
spiritual natures. The loss of liberty. !
he loss OF privacy, unnatural social con !
litions, and the uncertainty of the fu-
ure, as well as ignorance of the .condi- !.
ions of loved ones at home have caused
tFatva hn ,x,,,, L. Is 1
Mental depression has set in. Hopeful.
Tess has been succeeded by discourage :
nent Discouragement has been succeed
d by dependency. Now in many cases :
has been followed by de- !,
pair
The War Ministry Answers Prayer. o
Numerous appeals are being made to
he Y. NJ. G. A. A poor Russian peasant ii
aw that letters of appeal were being t,
nswered. Not knowing to whom else to |
ppeal for aid, he wrote letter to God a
I which he humbly asked God to send n
i'm hundred marks. The letter at. ti
racted attention at the censor's Office tt
nd was referred to the war ministry pl
he offices there collected 25 marks and in
mt them to the Russian prisoner, think al
lg they had thereby done good turn. fe
he prisoner, however. was not well sat OF
fled, as was apparent by his reply, in 10
hich, it is true, he thanked God for the ia
1t, but cautioned him TO send future al
oney direct rather than by way of the
ar ministry, saying that the rascally al
ficials there had kept IS marks and al
I'd sent him only 25. ID
Food, books, games, athletic equipment |
I'd educational supplies have been sent ri,
these men whenever allowed by the fir
lthorities. LEI
Religious work, with Protestant. Ro. XII
an Catholic and Greek services. has mi
EN- established. Most of the men at de
We