The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13
-SLOVAKS IN
 MISERY UNTIL THE
 ALLIES SENT FOOD
Starvation and Despair Their Lot at Time Presi- dent Masaryk Made
 His Appeal
By Associated Prass


 Paris, March 1S.-Utter misery, starva- tion and despair prevailed in the new republic of echo-SlovakIa before the allied governments began to ship food supplies to that country in the latter part of February
 1t is not known here whether this sit nation has been relieved to any large ex- tent, but large shipments pf flour, milk and other supplies have since been for warded to Prague and additional food stuffs were in Triest awaiting tranSpor- tation to the Czecho-Slovaks.
 An appeal by Dr. Alice c. Masaryk. daughter of President Masaryk, and head of the Czecho-Slovak Red Gross, written on February 20 pictures the conditions in her country as a terrible one. American, British and French authorities are en- deavoring to respond
 It is stated that. unless help arrived quickly. million children under years old were doomed to die; that 2,000, coo chiL dren up to IA years were weak from un- derfeeding and that the mortality among the old and feeble <vas appalling.
 Separated from the allied territories on three sides by Germany and Austria, the Czecho-Slovak republic was, even before it's birth, ruthlessly and systematically denuded by the Austrians of all food stuffs and supplies When h'ostilities were suspended, there was in Czecho-Slo- vakia no corn, meat, clothing or medi- cines. The scanty weekly ration of a pound of flour to each person in Prague, the capital, ceased on February 20. ,jTwo-thirds of the cattle and pigs Of the country already have been slaughtered, and the lack of fat is extreme. The sup ply of milk was only one-thi| |rtieth of nor nal. More than 80 per cent of the babies of Prague were rachitic, anaemic or con- sumptive. More than half the patients In the childrens hospital died, of consump- tion.
 In the mining districts the position as reported here is still worse. At K1adno, 116 of the 1855 babies born in 1918 died or consumption. Births throughout the country have decreased one-half and deaths have increased 56 per cent.
 Almshouses, maternity hospitals and other charitable institutions can no longer feed their inmates. Nineteert per cent os the infants under one year in Pilsen the formerly flourishing city of breweries and arsenal workers, died last year from lack of nutrition. Prices of household commodities have risen 700 to 800 per cent, while wages have increased 2oO to 300 per cent Clothing costs 10 times more than formerly and sewing cotton is 100 times dearer than before the war.
 These reports show that Prof. Thomas MdSdIyh, IHe llTSl IICSloCht Ol ti~ new Czecho-Slovak republir, who went from New York last winter to assume his duties, faces a herculean task. Writing to Lady Muriel PagSt on February 1s, the Presidents daughter. told her, father said he hoped you would come. Do come and help us."
 Lady Paget has obtained from the French government 10 trucks which the American Red Cross has filled with med- ical supplies for the Czecho-Slovaks, ana plans to take to Bohemia 20 tons of rice. 'Recent information, however. states that freight traffic to Bohemia is disorgan- ized and the fear is expressed that the Austrian threat, eff we are to lose Bo- hemia, we shall lose her as a corpse, may become a terrible reality.
 Professor Masaryk was in the United States in October last when he was elect ed President of the new republic or zecho-Slovakia. On receiving the mo- tice of his election he went to Prague and was inaugurated President late in De- cember. In the latter part of March it was reported that he had re~igned, bur this was officially denied by the Czecho- Slovak mission in Washington.
 Peace treaties arc usually written by hand throughout, sealed with many seals and bound with green silk ribbon.