New Britain herald., 1918-02-22

NIbIS AOT us lO forget the utdFy HULL V of our lnlprisonmen
 Sending this appeal to the Young B Mems Christian Association, a group of professors, school teachers. public officials and lawyers, held prisoners of-war at Kokland, Central Asia voice the cry that goes up continu- ously from the more than five mil lion, men held prisoners -of-war by M the various warning countries. From practically every prison camp in Europe and Asia appeals 2 have been made to the American < oung Mems Christian Association for aid for these men in their hour of dire need, according to reports and official communications brought back to this country by E. G. Wilson, Associate Secretary in charge of the l II oHrng Mems Christian Association . Prisoner Work in Northern \ Europe. Aid has been given as far as the various governments will al- & low. Tn fact, many of the nations \ have fntrusted the Association with
 special funds to help carry on this J work.
 Among the prisoners of-war in there are about three hun Il dreG children. About two hundred of these are interned in the prison < camp at HoImindin. and about fifty in the camp at Havelberg. Practic- & ally all of these have spent the last \ three Christmas days in prison # camps. Some of them have been born there and know nothing of life outside of the barbwire fence No # #explsnation of this situation accom- &panied the report
 ''Siclx and i'm Prison
 \ Of the five million men cooped up E In the prison camps, about one hun #dred and fifty thousand are in hos pitals Perhaps three hundred and fifty Thousand more are invalids who Hare wounded or otherwise incapaci- &tate9. These men, unable because of ID Dhysical disa ability to engage in work, Fare perhaps the most pitiful and the #most needy group. To meet condi- &hons the Young Mems Christian As &Eociation has established schools and
 Workshops of various kind, has or eanized orchestras and choruses, has
 6mulated athletics and provided ii-
 raries The Grown Princess of Swe- Nen gave nearly eleven thousand
 Ong g1fsh books for the use of British
 prisoners.
 "a Food is the greatest need of these #nen. A chance for mental relaxa- #ion is the second great need. Some
 persons place it first. Confinement Y aas brought about depression in their 4 4DhySical, mental and spiritual na
 ures. The loss of liberty, the loss Mi privacy, unnatural social condi Mons, and the uncertainty of the fu-
 ure, as well as ignorance of the con- Editions of loved ones at home, have
 Paused a severe strain on the minds &@f many. Mental depression has set
 kl Hopefulness has been succeeded &&y Encouragement. Discouragement
 Bas been succeeded by despondency.
 Now in many cases despondency has #heen followed by despair.
 The War Ministry Answers Prayer "a Numerous appeals are being mads
 Eo the '. M. c. A. A poor Russian
 easant saw that letters of appeal &gere being answered. Not knowing INC whom else to appeal for aid. he
 grote a letter to God in which hc
 umbly asked God to send him a Maundred marks The letter attra ted M ttentiOn at the censOr's office and a fas referred to the War Ministry
 rhe officers there collected twenty
 we marks and sent them to the Rus ## ian prisoner, thinking they mad #hereby done a good turn. The pris- her. however was not well satisfied,
 Was apparent by his reply. in Y lrich, it is true, he thanked God for
 he gift, but cautioned him to send & flture money direct rather than by
 ay of the War Ministry, saying that
 she rascally officials there had kept
 8eventy-fve marks and had sent him @nly twenty five.
 ## Food, books. games, athletic equip
 ent, and educational supplies have
 aenF sent to these men whenever al
 wed by the authorities.
 H Religious work, with Protestant # oman Catholic and Greek services
 aas been established Most of the
 en at one camp had attended nc
 krvice for two years. and when 'ht < aHhite-robed priest began the open'n3
 aant of the Mass. a great many
 R.iedx X young officer tWonty-throe W sars old had written every note of RI aubert's Mass from memory and 1ekained a chorus for the occasion.
 Football Stars
 N Glasses are in progress at many
 mps. At one there is a school with penty~seven courses, twenty-five
 Randred students, and sixty teachers. mother has d daily attendance of
 aree hundred in summer and ono SaR, ,aueand in winter. Workshops and ssdS S1s: l7ovc been started-not only d offer us Gul production but for
 aiming as well. At one point a
 bap factory was started It devei-