South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-22
HASTEN EFFORTS
TO AID PRISONERS
Reports of III-Treatment of
Americans Speed Up
Relief Work.
BY FRED j. BoLLMEYER.


Paris, oct. 90 tby mail) Reports
coming throug- ,Erfous channels re-
lating 20 the inhUman treatment of
American prisoners Of war have has
tened the efforts OF the Information
al Committee Of the Young Mems
Christian Association 10 alleviate
their sufferngs and tc help, through
neutral agents, 10 make their incar-
ceratiOn a bit more pleasant and
easier TO bear
The committee has opened head
quarters at No. 10. Effingerstrasse.
Berne. With permanent headquar-
tiers an an increase in personnel. the
committee has launched It's work in
earnest
Although this work among
French. British. Russian and Italian
war prisoners in the hands Of the
Central Powers has been carried on
since the fall Of 1914, the committee
now intends. OF course, to devote its
biggest efforts to helping the Ameri-
can prisoners.
Through neutral 7. NJ. c. A. or
CARNATIONS. which are permitted 70
American organization has arranged
10 send equipment essential for re-
ligious worship. educational classes.
libraries, music, indoor and outdoor
recreation and camp welfare work.
The international committee de-
cided on serving war prisoners along
these lines In the Autumn of 1914.
When DR.. John r. Mott, the general
secretary Of the committee, was in
Europe in the early Autumn of 1914
he recommended that the American
association assist n the warning
countries in establishing Y. NJ. c. A.
huts.
In December of the first year of
the war, the committee budgeted
money for Inaugural ting the work
among all war prisoners and decid-
ed on sending secretaries to Europe
TO secure permissions and initiate the
work.
In the meantime, the English Ma
tional Council set aside a secretary
for religious work among the war
prisoners and the interned aliens in
England. So the first definite Y. NJ.
G. A. work of this character was
thus begun by the English, but the
Americans initiated the hut idea,
the first hut being erected in the
Spring OF 1915 at Gottingen.
Up to the time of breaking diplo-
matte relations with Germany, the
work in Germany was done altogeth-
er by the Americans at their expense
and under their direction, with the
help Of the worlds committee, with
headquarters at Geneva. Since the
declaration OF war between America
and Germany the organizations Of
Sweden, Denmark and Norway have
carried on the bulk OF the work.
Now IT is likely that Switzerland will
be asked 10 assume a great part of
It.
In addition to their headquarters
in Berne, the American committee
has an office and warehouse in Cop
enhagen. From the Copenhagen
warehouse they have been forward
ing emergency relief work among
war prisoners.
Part OF the energies OF the Ameri-
can committee in Berne also will be
directed toward informed Allies. The
committee has leased a mammoth
building for it's headquarters and
warehouse and portions Of the build
ing will be devoted TO the informed
Allies. where they may find pleasant
occupation and earn pocket money.
In the basement will be an arts and
crafts department. On the ground
floor a foyer containing a library,
reading and writing room. tea room.
gymnasium, small lecture hall and
ciassrooms for language study. type
writing, stenOgraphy. telegraphy and
other trades
The first floor will be occupied by
the publication department under
the direction Of DR.. Julius T. Heck
er. This department has already
published some 10000 volumes on
such subjects as agriculture, archi-
lecture, building trade. course in
bookkeeping, commercial CORE
spondence, commercial law, popular
science and general literature for
Russian war prisoners. Now the
COMMITTEES Is assembling a larger
collection Of technical and devotion
al literature, not only for the Ameri-
cans but for all the Allies who are
mar vriaoDerS and these will he for