The sun., 1918-09-16
RED CROSS TELLS OF
SWITZERLAND WORK
Operations Of Urgent Neces-
sity, Including Care Of
U. s. Prisoners.
REFUGEES FROM NORTH
People From Northern France
and Belgium Arrive in
Great Distress.


to Americans on the use being made OF
the Red Cross War Fund. issued yes
terday In Washington, the American
Red Cross covers the war relief work
done in Switzerland. the urgent neces-
sity for such work. as 1t Is through
Switzerland that American soldiers I'M
prisoned In Germany may be cared for.
and conditions which American efforts
are improving In that country. The
statement reads in part:
1.-THE report shows an expenditure to
May 1, 1918, OF $4,000 consisting Of
a gift OF s125.o0o to the Swiss Red Cross
and a donation OF $4,000 to assist the
Swiss Government in caring for in
termed Russians. The appropriation for
the eight months from May 10 December
1, 1918. amounts to s1.s72,233.75.
"Of the neutral countries none has
suffered 70 much from the war as
Switzerland. and a glance at the map OF
Europe will easily explain why. For
four years those Inhabitants OF northern
France and Belgium who have been de-
ported by Germany have been sent into
Switzerland and the Swiss Government
has been trying to care for them.
Suffering Among Refugees.
"As showing the great need of re-
lief work among the refugees who seek
safety and comfort in Switzerland. to
say nothing of the work for the soldiers.
the following from the report by the
Deputy Red Cross Commissioner for
Switzerland on June 20 will be most en-
tightening:
"T spent Tuesday. June 25. at Basic
on the German-Swiss frontier. the point
at which all the evacuees from northern
France enter Switzerland. There are
two trains a day bringing in a total of
1900 civilians. who are in varying con-
ditions of distress. They consist prin-
cipally OF women and young children and
old men and women. Most of them have
walked miles to the train. their feet are
ba idly swollen in a good many instances
and they carry all their possessions In
their hands. Their food is furnished by
the Swiss Government and all other
necessities are furnished by charity
THE care OF the returning allied pris-
oners Is even more imperative. They
are In worse condition than the civ
ilians. and the very minute that the
United States entered the war II was
possible from tne COUultlOHS OF THESE
prisoners to predict the great need that
was bound to arise. not only In caring
for American prisoners who might be
returned. but in providing for the Amer
iran soldiers who might be captured by
the enemy and held in German prison
camps. This in fact is the most impor-
tant work before the American Red
Cross in Switzerland.
Supplies Gathered Rapidly.
Great storehouses were established In
three places in Switzerland with sup
Elementary storehouse at Copenhagen.
Supplies were sent from the United
States and carried to Switzerland by
southern route. Clothing and comforts
were gathered. and so rapidly was the
work done that by August there were
sufficient supplies on hand in these ware
houses to provide amply for $4,000 pris-
oners for six months should the fortunes
OF war throw that number of American
soldiers into the hands OF the enemy.
80 far the appropriation for this work
amounts to $4,000.
IN order that record may be kept
OF whether the food and comforts sent
the prisoners reach their destination. a
card accompanies each package. This Is
signed and returned by post by the pris-
oner who receives it. II the food and
comforts should go astray. plans are
perfected for tracing them.
1.-THE largest single item in tine appro-
priation for relief work in Switzerland
during the current semester Is for the
construction and maintenance of hos
pitfalls. huts, canteens and homes for SOL
diers who are Obliged to remain in Swift
zerland for any length of time.
Hard to Obtain Accomm odn tions.
considering the fact that Switzerland
is to-day overrun with refugees and peo-
nile from so many warning nations. il has
been somewhat difficult to secure such
accommodations as are needed in carry
ing on the work Of relief. Warehouses
have been either rebuilt or remodelled at
the Rumpliz. Rcnes and Copenhagen at a
cost Of more than 100000: a warehouse
and supply depot has been rebuilt and
greatly enlarged al Berne at a cost of
more than 100000; auto trucks have
been purchased for the necessary haul
ing and short transportation at a cost of
slS,75O. while slS7.500 has been set aside
in the appropriation for the items OF
freight boxing, packing and delivery.
These appropriations. together with the
necessary labor in warehouses, chauf-
feurs' salaries and the general item of
operation expenses, aggregate $494-
S23.75.
while these figures are small as COM
pared TO the expenditures for American
Red Cross activities in other fields.
amounting III all to less than two million
dollars for the period ended December
81, 1918. the amount of good that II will
accomplish can hardly be estimated. 1t
has already given the Swiss people bet
ter Idea of the power OF the United
States as n factor in determining the re-
suit OF the war than could have been
given In any way outside actual war
fare. and II will unquestionably have
great weight as corroborative testimony
to the report the visiting Swiss journal
lists will carry home to their people"
MEyJCAN pRoSpEcTS ppJcuT