The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-28
FRENCH REFUGEES
NEED AMERICAS AID
Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt Appeals
for Contributions to Re-
build Ruined Homes.
EVEN $50 WILL DO MUCH
Immediate Response Will Re-
lieve Misery Of Thousands
Who Lost All.

French peasants whose humble homes
we're blasted by war and who since have
been forced to take refuge wherever
they could find It soon will sit before re-
stored fresides and the lights OF many
rebuilt homes will fall upon the name
plates of American benefactors who sup
piled the funds which made the new cot
tases possible II the people of the United
States respond to the urgent appeal sent
out yesterday by Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt
on the eve of her return to France to
aid in the work of rehabilitation.
|. Mrs. Vanderbilt's plea Is prompted BY
O message from Nine. de Billy. wife Of
the French Deputy High Commissioners,
telling OF the measures adopted by the
French society "Secours d'Urgence" to
provide the immediate relief to French
refugees to which Americans are being
asked to contribute. Mrs. Vanderbilt
said yesterday:
Before returning to France to
work, as l intend to do shortly.
want to bring before the public
situation which has been brought be-
fore me.
Look to America to Help.
1T am sure the majority of Amer
leans feel to-day that though the
war may be over the day has not
come and some OF us believe It will
never come again--thank God-for
every one to stink back into his own
limited horizon OF personal pursuits.
but that now more than ever we re-
alize how We all are part OF one an
other. of one another's Joys or sor-
/ rows. and that a larger comprehen-
| sion is both the basis and the aim
| of individual lives as we'll as Of in
ternational politics.
| To-day the world looks to us
| America-tor help. and there are
many who believe IN giving that
! help. for we are. first OF all, helping
and educating ourselves. That is
why I feel that in answering the
call that has come to me to-day,
the call OF immediate and urgent
| distress, l am meeting both a crying
| nNed on one part and an ardent wish
on the other.
| while governments and humani-
| tartan associations are celebrating
schemes OF coordinated action for re-
| lief all over the world time passes
We are now In the day of crisis and
| people, men returning from the
| trenches to find the land so many
| gave their lives to save ruined for
/ generations, women who strove TO
save the future in saving the chill
| dren-children whose lives are frail
for having been through the most
| formidable of tempests; all these hu-
| man creatures are going through
hours OF untold. unrealizable misery
| and distress. Yet their courage Is
not to be broken, they lose no time
in returning and trying to make
new start.
Urgent Appeals From France.
Conditions since the signing of
the armistice have been such that II
seems impossible for those who have
not seen the situation with their own
eyes TO understand II. In their re-
treat the German armies wilfully
destroyed all railroad bridges.
tracks, canals. roads and carried
away all industrial equipment.
Everything has TO be transported by
trucks and railways are gradually
being rebuilt, Until some general
plan of action is decided upon unit
ing all efforts q have assurance this
shall be soon) an urgent appeal for
immediate relief has come TO me
through Nine. de Billy, wife of the
French Deputy High Commissioner.
who has received messages from