The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-12-17
Dy CAMILLE CIANFAItItA
United rrcss hlnff CORRESPONDENT

ROME, Dec. i6.-Gaunt famine
strides thru Austria. crushing limo
cent women and babies and threat
ening the entire nation with ami
hilation.
One OF the greatest catastrophes
IN history is imminent and can only
be avarted thru prompt aid OF Aus
trials erstwhile enemies.
This was tho word picture painted
today by Cardinal Piffi. archbishop
Of Vienna. In describing conditions
Ia hia country. In an unimpaB-
stoned manner, he told of the suffer
Ing and hopclessners which war had
brought upon Austria. once the mos,
powerful nation In the world and
now only an obscure state, politically
and economically at the mercy of the
allies.
Biames Peace Terms
Tho cardinal made no effort TO
glohs over tho fact he believed tho
peace terms imposed upon Austria
wore largely responsible for the pres
ent condition. An economic union
with Germany. he said. was inpera-
two II Austria continued aa AN In.
dependent state.
while our economic situation In
desperate. an q nation wo arc crushed
forever Cardinal pm said Under
tho treaty Austria cannot live. The
enormous injustice done my peopis
will mi many a pags in history and
one day II viii be written.
FIRST OF all. IN. oonpilrrs OF che
treaty made an enormous biundcr tn
depriving n nation Of six million In
habltantH Of the means OF living. A.
constituted At present. Austria can
produce only enough 10 feed In pop
ulation for thrcs months. Tho mines
left us do not even furnish sufficient
coal TO heat our homes In tho cold
est months OF Tn. year.
HOUSE. of Sosrvw
Every house IN Vienna IL now n
house Of sorrow In which you find
dlsheartsned women suffering from
cold and hunger and emaeia,ed ha~
blss dying q SLOW but certain death
from lack Of nourishmsnt Tho old.
or children arc dying a slower. but
no less painful death. speak for
these innooons. They must be
saved.
INERT In poin, OF suffering are
the middle classes Tho new order
and changed economic conditions
have deprived Thousands ana thou
xand. Of families Of the ehsno. Of
making n decent living.
-our coal mine. have born given
20 Cxecho-siovakia. our land 60 SER
bla and Hungary without consider
ing that this meant paraiyxasion OF
Aussria's industries and starvation OF
her population. An economic union
with Germany In imperative n Aus
tria lives M an independent state
Asked what Immediate stcps hs
would suggest 10 relieve tho si,ua-
ton. tho cardinal replied:
Need Worlds Aid
The combined effort OF the whole
world In necessary. Austria is just
entering tho scvercs, winter In her
history. Tho country Ia completely
empty of food Tho littie that In
available In soid ut fabulou. prices.
A thousand wealthy families have
emigratcd 10 nearby countries. sac
rifioing the larger part of their for
tunes
Il have the greatest oonf,dencs In
the generosity OF tho American peo-
pie. When I saw tho aliisn failed TO
act. I suggested sending several dele
CATIONS 20 the United States and en-
plain our situation and raise funds.
Gibbons. requesting him to ask Pres
idsut Wilson TO facilitate tho work OF
thea. delegations which are now en-
route. Our only hope now is Amer
TEA