Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-09-23

Swedish delegate to the Interna-
\ tional Red CROSSE
ABOARD the Lisboa. returning
from Russia (by mail via London'
sent. Everybody both in Eu-
zone and America ought TO know
that thousands Of unhappy victimi
of the war are still pining away
n captiyity. In Russia and Siberia
there are still about 100000 pris
oners of war and interned CIVIL
fans. These have no hope OF a re-
turn to country and family unless
very speedy means of repatriation
are found. Boats, boats, ever more
boats must be chartered II IN
coming Of winter Is not to mean
the death in misery and starvatloi
Of these 2O0,0 men. The increa-
ibly. pitiful condition has aggraVat-
ed the miseries of prisoners III
Russia to a point beyond endur.
ance. Each nation gives speciai
nrotection to the interests of It's
own people; others must tnere-
fore strive to secure the deliver
ance OF the thousands OF prison
ers detained in Siberia and Russia
From their sufferings before they
nerish in the same way as nun
Adreds Of thousands of Their COM
rades have already done. Health
statistics will one day show US
how many thousands have need
lessiy died solely for want OF ned
ical attention. provisions and cloth
ing. but it will be too late TO saw
those who may still be saved II
humanity does not forthwith 40 i.s
dnty in delivering those prisoners
that are s. i'll alive. The prisoner OF
war in Russia stands OUTSIDE tne
law He enjoys no rights and no
protection. He has only opliga-
tons The soviet government mas
declared him free citizen, put
this fact has only deprived him OF
ire guarantees which protect MIN
and he remains more destitute
thin in the days. of his severest
captivity.
Only those who have seen pris-
oners and lived with them can
,,nderstand their mentality Their
embittered and tortured souls, their
rough and savage exteriors, are an
anigma to the stranger. Those whe
know the prisoner are aware tha'
even after five or six years Oh
captivity. his heart contains pu,
one desire, to see his country anu
his family once more. Most OF the
time he Is unaware OF the lac'
that he is broken man. his SUI
nerhuman efforts to maintain MN
SELF at a higher level Of eiviliza- !,
zion by means of intellectual
work have often failed. indeed,
what can he do all alone Witnous
books, papers or letters from
home. and that during long years
while ALI around him his friends
are wasting away and dying OF star
vation, in country where proVis7
inns are abundant? MeanWHlies
the money intended for the prls-
oners disappears into the pocRe.s
OF officers and commissaries. Epi-
denies work havoc in the hu'
monts, the sick lie in cold ana
darkness on the ground, without
covering or straw or medicines
The Siberian cold brings every
week to the hospitals hundreds OF
sick, who after several years cap
tiyity have been MANNED by loss
Of limbs through frosthite. Pris-
oners have been sent in herds to
desolate regions, thousands OF
kilometers from civilization to con-
struct railways. AS the result OF
unnamable cruelties committed in
the course of this work, only a
small proportion returned. The
railways Of the Murman and OF
South siberia are monuments
built on the graves of thousands
which serve as foundation to 8
twentieth century work of civil
zation.
How many men OF full yigor
the hope of their parents. have
perished in a miserable hut, dream
ing Of their country and oppressed
by the one desire: Never tell my
mother how I died" How MANY
fathers of families, men in theil
middle age, whose life had beer