The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-05-07

see the sweaters, socks and clothing
made by their hands as used by these
cold and destitute people.
Disease Is Spreading
"On the street, in the hospitals
and orphanages of every country
these supplies are constantly in evil
dence and have meant everything to
the wearers. When the bolsheviki
were driven out of the Baltic states
they left the hospitals absolutely
bare-no beds or bedding, practically
no drugs or instruments were avail
able in many cities. No money was
available with which to buy these
supplies. The re-equipping of the
hospitals in many cases has been en-
tirely by gift from the American peo-
pie through the Red Cross.
"Typhus is seriously epidemic; its
death toll heavy. Without any hos
pitfalls the epidemic could not have
been kept under even partial control.
Two months ago it was reported that
there were 100000 cases of typhus
in Poland alone.
1.-THE American Children's Fund
has supplied noon meal each day
to nearly 1000 children. To some it
is the only meal; to nearly all it
means the difference between semi
starvation and reasonable health and
strength. In every city and town
these children in their motley clothes
and with every sort of bowl or pan
pass quickly by the serving tables be-
tween IL and 2. The look in their
eager eyes, the extreme care which
they take tells the story. Seriously
they find a seat at the long tables
that is their portion. There is little
dish washing needed after these
youngsters are through and no clean
ing up of crumbs.
This is splendid work of which
every American can be proud. Keep
ing these children from slipping back
and probably from permanent injury
or even death means very much to
the future of these peoples.
"The agricultural community is |
steadily recovering while those who |
depend upon the machinery of civil
cation for living are in a bad way.
Economically the situation is very |
dark. Little Roadway has been made
in the starting of industry, and SO
solving the problem of the cities.
Credit, amchinery and raw materials
are lacking. Coal and transporta-
ton, the two primary needs, are not
available anywhere.
Trade Is Restricted
'The situation is aggravated by
the restriction of trade between the
nations. Each new political bound
airy has become an economic barrier.
Even a free interchange of freight
cars is often impossible; each nation
Iealous1y guarding its own meager
equipment within its own territory.
The export of any commodity is
'rowned upon except with govern
hent approval and assurance that
use will be made of the
much needed foreign credit, thereby
treated. Every country would hoard.
Beyond all this the complications
# paper currencies beggars desertp-
ion. Each new country prints its
,wn, and in addition, car roubles,
kerensky roubles and soviet roubles
re on the market at rapidly varying
'alues. Adjoining countries, in some
asses, practically ignore each others
and no rate of exchange Is
quoted. Business must be done,
vhen it is done, in the currency OF
ONE other country, usually German
marks, French francs or car rou-
les. Z
Trading in exchange il the most .
ctive business in eastern Europe. In I
liga an informal bourse is the meet II
ng ground of dealers, VINO swap d
aper money back and forth. Quo i
atoms rise and fall with every ru-l q