Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1920-05-14
DRIVE FOR RELIEF OF
CHILDREN OF EUROPE
Rev. Bredesen Drafted as Stevens
County Chairman in Lutheran
Drive

The undersigned has been drafted
as chairman of Stevens county for
the drive being put on by the
National Lutheran council for the re-
lief of famine stricken children
of Europe. Several million dollars
have already been expended, princi-
pally in France and Poland. In this
present effort it is planned to raise
$1,8OO,000. Of this amount France
is to be given $4,000, Germany and
her former colonies $748,OOO, the
Baltic provinces and Russia $780,,
600, Austria $48,OO0, Hungary 49,
600, Poland $4,000 and the newly
created republics lesser amounts.
You may leave your pledge or con-
tribution with Rev. Pilgrim, Rev.
Olsen, NJ. o. Ulvestad or with me.
You are hereby given the privilege
of joining the noblest society in the
world-the association of all who
pity in the service of all who suffer.
Authorities who have investigated
the matter make the following state
ments with regard to conditions
The starving children of Central
Europe have touched the heartstrings
of humanity most poignantly since
the rest of the world has been
brought into after-awr contact with
the people of that part of the world"
Red Cross Bulletin" February,
1920.
There are ten million under
nourished German children who need
extra food and care during the next
six months in order that they may
not be dwarfed in mind and body"
-"Friends' Service Committee"
''You see no children in Poland be-
tween the age of one and seven to
eight. The reason is that they have
died in the years of warfare. The
few that remain are so emaciated one
wishes one had never seen them -
IN. J. Stolee."
The children of Vienna have a
peculiar color that comes from fam
inc. Famine yellow it is called. You
never see a normal child in the
streets. At least 95 per, cent are
painfully emaciated. fan English
Nurse"
Captain Richardson, of the Amer
lean Relief Administration, is in
Hungary experimenting the distri-
button of the Iife-giving supplies.
He has found appalling conditions.
Children are dying by hundreds. In
one month, out of every 1000 chill
dren born, 876 died. One child of
four years was found weighing but
thirteen pounds. That case was typ
ical of thousands of others in the
stricken districts. s."-"American Re
lief Committee for Hungarian Suffer-
ers-1920."
'In Poland in 1915 occurred what
I would call the greatest tragedy of
the war; 10000 men had to leave
their homes and families on twenty
four hours notice to be deported in
to Siberia and the Caucasus. Ten
days later the women and children
were told to go. One of the pastors
who was allowed to go with the wo
men and children told me that the
train had to stop ever so often to
give time for burying the dead chill
dren. twenty-five or more were
buried at time. TwO-thirds of these
unfortunates returned to Poland last
year, and one-third still remain in
Siberia and Russia. Many will never
return. They died in exile.
when they returned what did
these people find? The houses we're
all destroyed. Many churches and
most of the schools were in ruins.
Their farms were lying waste. They
have lived in holes in the ground.
We found whole families lying sick
of typhus, consumption and starva-
tion. They have lived on weeds and
have been clothed in rags. They
have no future except despair unless
their brethren will give them mat
erial aid as well as guidance and
backing" I'M. J. Stolee."
These statements are typical of the
pitiful plight of the children in
Europe today. No long persuasion
ought be needed to compel anyone
who has heart or conscience to
sacrifice to help the innocent chill
dren.
Alfred Bredesen.