Putnam patriot., 1918-06-21

since the war began which may be ac- counted for by the economic condi- tiops-poverty in the first period of the war and high wages afterward. and by anti-soeial influences fathers absent from home. the slackening of school discipline, trashy war books and films: fewer policemen, and the amnesty for youthful criminals de creed in the early days of the war
 Above all, the German exhortation to hate has been carrier out only too lit erallv by the children. Indeed in all the countries engaged, even our own, an increase of child crime has been reported. some putting 1t as high as 65 per cent
 Leaving Germany and coming now to Italy. we find indescribably pathet- l ie conditions existing. While the ltal- ian refugees were streaming down from the North, mothers and children were separated from each other \ vicious propaganda had spread the re- port that America was not friendly to italy, but fortunately the American l Red Cross was able to respond inme- diately to the call of the suffering and to carry the message of the American people. Within two weeks after the arrival of the Red Cross. it had estab- lished warehouses to supply all i'm portant points and had distributed i supplies and great stores of ceadens- ed milk to little children It had also opened shelters for homeless women and children As the farmers of the i invaded districts have large families the Red Cross has coopefated with i private and governmental agencies which help these families The Red Cross has also helped the tubereular children, by making up the balance of one million lire which was being rais- ed by the Giornale d'ltahe This as sistance has accomplished very much for the little people of Italy upon whom the future of that country de pends
 But of the nations of western Flu rope the peoples of northern France and Belgium have suffered most keen ly. Let us first consider the economic condition of Belgium and its effect upon the children Belgium before the war had been the most highly in dustrialzed country in the world. It's own agricultural products afforded sustenance to the population for only four months of the year, and the oth- CT eight months the country was de pendent upon imported food The in l vasion by the German armies over whelmed the country almost as com pletely as an avalanche overwhelms village lying in it's path. The harvest was being gathered as war broke on the country and the ripe crops were left standing in the fields where they were trampled by the armies or left to rot Credit was destroyed and production came to an instant stand l still. Mines and workshops, factories and mills closed, and panic seized the land What was of value was com- mandeered by the Germans. First the Belgiums appealed to Holland, but the Dutch were unable to import enough for their own use Then they appealed to Brussels, but that city could do but little, although it did possess q volunteer relief organiza- ton called the Central Relief Commit tee under the patronage of the Span ish minister and the American minis ter, Mr Brand Whitloek. In the larg- CT cities there were sturdy branches of the Red Cross which took charge of the children of the Belgian soldiers and provided proper diet for mothers
 As early as 1915 the Belgians had es- tablshed for the most part under the supervision of nuns what are known as Children's Colonies They have grown in number to 5s and are car ried on with the least possible expen- diture of money To some extent they are even self supporting. Their chief financial aid comes from the ! ID ha A n Red Cross and the Belgian Queen. At Vickem is Queen Elizabeth's school, which admits children between the ages of 4 and B years. As 1t was un- able to receive younger children. the American Red Cross made 1t gift of a pavilion for 100 babies. Two col onies of Belgian children Tn Swltzer- land, instituted by the Rockefeller War Relief Commission and providing | for 400 children, have also been plac- ed under the management of the Red Cross Department for Belgium. The children are pathetically grateful for 1 the gifts sent from America and the singing of the Star Spangled Ban ner" in English has become part of their education. The efforts that | these children are putting forth to ob | tam an education III LUt lace oi So many difficulties and discouragements | is another proof of the invincible courage and spirit of this remarkable 1 nation.
 | France, like Belgium, is fighting for it's very life, and yet while it fights makes an almost superhuman effort to protect and educate its youth The two main phases of this 1 work-the care of the children who have been sent back to France by the Germans and the heroism of her schools demand our attention. One of the most important gateways through which the French children re- enter their native land is Evian-Les- Bains on Lake Geneva. As its name | indicates, this was once famous wa tering- place, and its casino is still used as bath house for the numer- ous French boys who splash and shout themselves into French boyhood. These children form the only hope of the returning refugees for the rest are only hopelessly ill or too old to be of use to the Germans. Their recep- tion in France is true home coming. They are welcomed by the mayor, who calls them true soldiers of France" and given a simple but hearty meal at the Casino. The children shout "Vive ,1t, .,.e e,raY,poy tho