The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1919-12-17
'RatIiC WOkK Uf
!, FRIENDS STARTED;
REPORT IS MADE

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to the Baltic states by the Friends
service committee. This commission
Will investigate conditions in Lithu-
ania and adjacent regions and engage
in relief work on . small scale. Two
members of this commission, r. Bar
clay Spicer. executive secretary Of the
Pennsylvania Tuberculosis society and
well-known social investigator. and
DR.. Archibald Guodiss, Philadelphia
physician with q wide knowledge OF
Russian conditions, sailed from New
Ybrk on Dec. Is. They will be Joined
h four Friends relief workers already
in Europe.
The American Friends service com.
mittee. which has been maintaining
500 relief workers in France through
the past summer win keep from 200
to 800 in the. field until early next
spring. These workers will operate
in four cantons west Of Verdun which
have been handed over to the Quakers
for reconstruction and which mark
the scene of the American Argonne
advance. In this district they have
built 1900 houses in the ruined vii
lagos.
The agricultural department of the
Friends, Mission having plowed with
tractors thousands of acres of the
shell torn fields is now engaged In
completing the thrashing Of the grain.
They have also distributed through
public sales at low prices $4,000 chick
ems, 5000 rabbits, 1000 bee colonies
and numerous goats, sheep, pigs, cat
tie and horses. The horticulturists of
the mission are now engaged in the
free distribution Of $4,000 fruit trees.
five to family.
"The relief department OF the mis-
sion is now finding work for women
who are unable, on account of wealth
err, to work outside. Brush making
and white and colored embroidery Is
also proceeding on large scale
Classes in carpentry for boys and sew
ing for girls are being conducted.
A group Of Quaker relief workers
endeavoring to meet the serious situa-
tion in Serbia caused by the great
number Of orphan and destitute chill
dren, have established an orphanage
near Lescovatz, one of the Serbian In
dustrial centres. They plan to teach
to the Serbian children the best Amer
ican methods OF farming and they
have secured large assortment OF
farm machinery. A medical dispen-
sary will also be operated.
Four young men of the Friends unit
are experimenting 200 Bulgarian pris-
oners in rebuilding villages in the
Toplica valley district which was de-
vastated by the Bulgarians. About 100
houses have been built up to the
present. Houses are only built for
those families which do not contain
any men.
Tho Friends relief mission in Wen
ma has adopted new plan for meeting
the critical food situation in that city.
Three hundred cows have been quar-
tered on sitates in the suburbs of vi
erna. The milk will be sold by the
mission at less than cost tn the Child
Welfare centers and various rocieties
taking care Of children. Feed viii be
shiIped from America and $4,000
way across.
Il is estimated that $4.5C will fur
nish. milk for child for six months.
A large proportion OF the Vienna chtl-
dreu are so afflicted with tuberculosis
and ricketts, caused by malnutrition
that they are beyond help. but strenu-
remainder.
The Friends mission has also made
an angement with the trade unions
for the manufa cture OF 1900 children s
suits daily from cloth shipped from
England. 1t is planned that relief
work be extended to the mining cen.
ters as coal is the crux of the Vienna
problem and school and hospitals are
closing through lack of fuel while fac.
tories cannot resume operation.