The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-02-09
Y. M. c. A. CARING
FOR WAR PRISONERS
Captiyes in Asia. Europe And Africa
Appeal to "I' to Brighten The
Hours OF Their lmprist .nmcnt.

! \ great cry Tor help comes from
| the more than five million men held
prisoners-of-war in barb-wired en-
closures in Europe, Asia and Africa
| More men are probably cooped up
! in war prisons now than have fou-
! ght in any previous war in the his
! tory of the world.
! America, through the Young Mems
| Christian Association, is playing d
/ great part in making life endurable
! for these men. whose bitter cry of
! anguish and despair goes up con-
/ tinuousiy.
/ This story tells of some of the
things being done to help them for
! get:
| Have pity on us and make it pos
sible for us TO forget the heavy
hours Of our Imprisonment"
Sending this appeal to the Young
! Mems Christian Association, a group
/ of professors, school teachers, public
! officials and lawyers, held prisoners
] of-war at Kokand, Central Asia voice
! the cry that goes up continuously
i from the more than five million men
/ held prisoners-C by the various
| warning countries.
L Out pi dCllCdllS every
/ camp in Europe and Asia appeals
1 have been made to the American
Young Mems Christian Association
! for aid by these men in their hour
/ of dire need, according to reports
] and official communications brought
I back to this country by E. G. Wilson,
! Associate Secretary in charge of the
! Young Mems Christian Association
! D,,icnnns IF NTay Nrnrly II n
Europe. Aid has been given as far
as the various governments will al
low. In fact, many of the nations
have intrusted the Association with
special funds 10 help carry on this
work.
/ Among the prisoners-of-war in
Germany, there are about three hun
dred children. About two hundred
of these are interned in the prison
camp at HOlmiudin, and about fifty
in the camp at Havelberg Practi-
caIly 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 barb-wire fence No
explanation of this situation accom-
panied he report.
OF the five million men cooped up
in the prison camps. about one hun
dred and fifty thousand are in hos
pitfalls. Perhaps three hundred and
fifty thousand more are invalids who
are wounded or otherwise incapaci-
tated. These men, unable because
Of physical disability to engage in
work, are perhaps the most pitiful
and the most needy group. To meet
conditions the Young Mems Chris
tian Association 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 elev-
e. Thousand English books FOR the
use of British prisoners.
Food is the greatest need of these
men. A chance for mental relaxa-
tion is the second great need. Some
persons place il first. Confinement
has brought ABOUT depression in
their physical, mental, and spiritual
natures. The loss of liberty, the
loss of privacy, unnatural social con-
ditions, and the uncertainty of the
future, as well as ignorance of the
conditions of loved ones at home.
have caused a severe strain on the
minds of many. Mental depression
mas set in. Hopefulness has been
succeeded by encouragement. Dis