The Washington times., 1920-09-17
NJ ELSA BRANDsTRoEM.
Swedish Delegate OF the international
Red Cross.


Red Cross.
ABOARD THE LISBoA. RETURN
ING FROM RUSSIA (by mail via
London). Sept. l7.-Everybody both
IN Europe aEd America ought TO
know that thousands OF unhappy vie
inns OF the war are still pining away
IN captivity. In Russia and Siberia
there are still about 100000 prisoners
or war and interned civilians. These
nave no hope OF return to country
ana famlly unless very speedy means
OF repatriation are found. Boats
poats' ever more boats must be char
tered if the coming OF winter is not
10 mean the death. in misery and
starvation. OF these 100000 men
The incredibly pitiful condition OF
the Russian population has aggra-
waited the miseries OF prisoners in
Russia to point beyond endurance.
Each nation gives special protection
10 the interests OF its own people
others must therefore strive to secure
the deliverance OF the thousands OF
prisoners detained In Siberia and Rus
sia from their sufrerings before they
perish In the same way as hundreds
or thousands OF their comrades have
already done.
PRISONER HAS NO RIGHTS.
Health statistics will one day show
US how many thousands have need
lessly died solely for want OF medical
attentions. provisions and clothing,
but II win be too late to save those
who may still be saved II humanity
does not forthwith do it's duty In de-
liverinR those prisoners that are still
alive. The prisoner OF war in Rus
STA stands outside the law. He en-
joys no rights and no protection. He
has only obligations. The Soviet gov
crnment has declared him free
citizen. but this fact has only de-
prived him OF the guarantees which
protect him. and he remains more
destitute than in the days OF his
severest captivity.
Only those who have seen prisoners
and lived with them can understand
their mentality. Their embittered and
tortured souls. their rough and savage
exteriors, are an enigma to the stran-
ger. Those who know the prisoner
are aware that, even after Ave or six
years of captivity, his heart contains
but one desire, to see his country ani
his family once more. Most OF the
time he Is unaware OF the fact that
he is a broken man. His superhuman
efforts to maintain himself at a high
er level OF civilization by means OF
intellectual work have often failed.
Indeed. what can he do all alone,
without books. papers or letters from
home, and that during long years.
while all around him his friends are
wasting away and dying OF starva-
tion, in country where provisions
are abundant?
EPIDEMICs WORK HAVOC.
Meanwhile, the money intended for
the prisoners disappears into the
pockets OF officers and commissaries.
Epidemics work havoc in the hut
ments. the sick lie in cold and dark
ness on the bare ground. without
covering or straw or medicines. The
siberian cold brings every week to
the hospitals hundreds of sick. who
after several years captivity have
been MANNED by loss OF limbs through
frostbite. Prisoners have been sent
in herds to desolate regions. thou
scands OF kilometers from civilization,
to construct 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 a twentieth century work OF civili-
zation.
How many men OF full vigor. tn.
hope of their parents, have perished
in a miserable hut. drea ming OF their
country and oppressed by the one de-
sire: Never tell L,y mother how /
died" How many fathers Of families.
men in their middle age, whose life
had been fruitful and useful, have
been tortured night and day by the
thought OF their family in distress
and the future Of their children bereft
or parents till they have gloomilv
sunk into madness and are now
brooding in an asylum in SIBERIA?
THOUSANDS PERISH.
I once met FIVE survivors of labor
company which short while before
numbered 500 men. and on another
occasion 5000 survivors from
camp of 1900 men, $4,000 hav-
ing perishcd in a few months OF win
ter from an epidemic of typhus.
could mention many similar cases, but
to what purpose? The dead cannot be
raised, nor father restored to children,
wife to husband. Immediate assist
ance is necessary If the number OF
these victims Is not to be increased by
many thousands. II the repatriation
continues at it's present rate, more
than two years must elapse before all
the prisoners have returned from ST.
IBERIA and Russia. But the winter VIII
soon come to rescue these unfortu-
mates; death will step in, and the sac
rifce of tonnage will no longer be
needed. for they will not survive an
other winter in Siberia.
Last spring, when the Red army con-
quered Siberia, all of them we're per-
4 laa