New-York tribune., 1919-01-27
Red Cross to Send
A Relief Mission
Into Poland Soon
DIR. ". c. Bailey Will Lead
American Body to Over
come Appalling Distress
Conditions Just Revealed
Ne.c Yo,ls Tut'4rs
Washington Bureau

" OSINt UttH DEftuh
WASHINGTON, Jan 26.-To aid in
relieving distress among the Poles the
American Red Cross War Council has
decided to send relief commission
into Poland, it was announced here to-
day. The mission VIII be headed by
DR.. Walter C. Bailey, of Boston. and
Major Franciszek (. Fronczak. former
Health Commissioner of Buffalo, and
at present representative in Paris Of
all Poles in America.
Major Fronczak has been detailed
by the army to the Red Cross Tor this
mission. Upon authorization Of Henry
p. DAWSON, chairman of the War
Council of the American Red Cross.
who is now in Paris. the national
headquarters of the Red Cross to-day
issued the following statement:
"The American Red Cross War
Council has decided to send a relief
commission to Poland. The commits
sion VIII leave Paris at the earliest
possible moment and proceed via Co
penhagen and Danzig or the most
available route. Urgent action has
been found TO be absolutely necessary
IN the light of authentic and most ap-
pallng information, now for the first
time available. concerning conditions
OF distress in Poland
"The American Red Cross commits
sion will be headed by Dr.. Walter c.
Bailey, of Boston. and Major Fran
clszek f. Fronczak, Health Commits
sioner of Buffalo.
Nurses and Doctor in Party.
"Boriz Bogen and Mortimer Schiff,
committee for relief OF Jewish suffer
ers, have been in conference with the
American Red Cross in Paris. and Mr..
Bogen has volunteered to accompany
the commission 30 Poland with view
70 consolidating the special work of
the Jewish committee with that of
the American Red Cross.
All relief work of The American
Red Cross will be on behalf Of the en-
tire population of Poland without dis
crimination. In addition TO those al
ready mentioned. the commiss ions per
sonnel will include at least twelve Pc
lish- american nurses. three American
nurses, one or two physicians, one OF
two dentists, and business, transporta-
tion and hospital administration man
ayers.
Through Waclaw Jansez. represent
ing the Polish National Relief Com
mittee, who has also just arrived in
Paris, the Red Cross has received the
first report on the disposition of $780,
600, contributed by the American Red
Cross in 1917 for condensed milk and
food for children. showing that through
that appropriation most important re-
lief was given to about 10000 Polish
children under ten years of age
Big Increase in Deaths.
Some idea of present conditions in
Poland may be gathered from reports
already submitted showing that at
Lodz there were in 1918, 1904 births
and 12,061 deaths, whereas in 1917
there we're 2400 births and 5000
deaths, the reduction in deaths being
due to the reduction in population
rounding districts there were in 1917
a total of 1877 births and 34.434
deaths. Figures for 1918 are estimat-
ed TO have been very much worse"
Conditions in Poland are appalling
and large part OF the population is
without food and clothing, according
to reports received here by the Ameri-
can Red Cross and the Polish Bureau.
Ships carrying food supplies pur-
chased by Polish and Jewish relief
organizations in the United States are
now en- route for Danzig, and other
vessels viii follow when the Allied
programme for the relief Of Poland is
worked out
According to the reports there is a
particular shortage of fats, while rice
and nutritive starches were exhausted
long ago; Poor cultivation of the
fields, lack Of fertilizer, domestic ami
mails and agricultural machinery have
reduced the productivity of the coun
try by one-half. The lack of medical
supplies and surgical appliances is also
serious. There is serious shortage
of fuel