Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1920-02-06
MISSOURI READY To
LAUNCH NEAR EAST
RELIEF CAMPAIGN
QUOTA FOR STATE is $500, 900 Tc
CARE FOR 5000 ORPHANS
ONE YEAR.
WITHOUT BREAD THEY DIE
America is Only Hope For Thousand.
Of Starving Children In
Caucasus.

ever presented 10 the people OF this
commonwealth. when on February LIST
funds will be sought by the Near East
Relief for the care of 5000 starving
orphans for n year.
The state drive will be inaugurated
coincident with a nationwide move.
ment in behalf of the Armenian and
Syrian children. Much has already
been done in Asia Minor by the organi.
zation Of Americans who have poured
money and food supplies into the
stricken country. Thousands Of lives
have been saved. But the necessity
for relief is not yet finished and it is
up to America to finish what she start
ed. 1t is evident in every appeal that
comes from Armenia that it is to
America these little republics look
for help. To America, the strong and
great country, are their eyes turned in
hope.
The care Of 5000 orphans will call
for contributions from Missourians
totaling approximately $500, 900, which
Is figured on the basis of $3.50 required
to feed, clothe, shelter and educate
n of these children annually.
Following two important confer
ence held at Kansas City and St.
Louis during the first week in Janu-
airy, machinery has been set in motion
in practically every county for an in
tensive campaign. ]. A. Mcmillan.
State Secretary, who has returned to
State Headquarters at 1923 Chemical
building, st. Louis, after visiting the
major portion OF the state, is optimistic
regarding the approaching drive.
Il have gone out among the people
from one end Of the state TO the other"
said Mr.. Mcmillan, and IL / read the
signs Alright Missourians stand ready
to do their share TO help these poor
children of the Near East who are vir-
tually without bread, food or clothing.
THE Missouri farmer and business
man alike, for the most part, are en-
joying prosperity hitherto unknown,
despite the high cost OF living. l
doubt II there Is a farmer in this great
state that could not subscribe $3.50 to
this worthy cause without sacrifice to
himself or his family. AS always, Mis-
sourians will do their part"
100000 STARVING NEAR ONE CITY.
Within a radius of 100 miles Of the
City of Erivan. Armenia, more than
300 900 destitute refugees are wander.
ing about like nomads, clothed in
vermin-infested rags and with scarcely
enough food to keep them alive, &C.
cording to estimates made by Howard
Heinz, representative of the American
Food Commission in the Near East.
MI. Heinz says that the 30 900 tons of
food already shipped to this district
from America brought temporary par
tial relief. but that the supply will be
entirely exhausted before winter IL
over.
From that time until the harvest il
the autumn OF 1920, this destitute half.
million. including many thousands of
children, will be dependent entirely
upon additional outside relief. It is
absolutely impossible for the people Of
the country to give them any aid.
Those who have food subsist on the
smallest possible ration to save
enough to keep them alive during the
winter.
BATHS AND SOUP FOR THE
ORPHANS.
Kindergarten courses In baths and
soup are features Of education in
Armenia just now. Both are absolute
ly necessary for the SO, 900 orphans
who have already been gathered up out
Of the 10000 left %parentless by war,
massacre and starvation and for four
years have been unacquainted with
either; and both are at first admins
tered in homeopathic doses.
One bowl of hot bean soup a day is
first aid to education In these schools.
When the orphan Is brought in from
the roadside or field where he or she
has been eking out a precarious exis-
tence on grass, roots or scraps Of food
or refuse, a bath is the hrst necessity
after the tattered scraps OF garments
are removed.
Baths and soup have been practical
ly unknown TO these children for the
last four years. Many of the first are
necessary before the accumulated lay
ers OF dirt are removed. Clean cloth
ing begins to transform the wretched
little waits into beings that begin to
look more like children and less like
animals.
But the soup lesson 10 the best liked.
Starved for years, many OF the chill
dren are so far gone that wen soup
would be fatal to them at first. A diet
Of warm milk prepares them for what
is to most of the little ones the en-
bodiment Of luxury, q bowl Of steaming
hot bean soup. A few days of this and
q bit Of bread daily prepare them for
the resumption OF their education in.
terrupted by the war.
Education in Armenia, Just now, is
being conducted under heavy handi-
caps. Thus far the only schools are
those conducted In the Near East Re.
lief orphanagss. where some $4,000
children out Of the $50. 900 known
orphans have been gathered.