The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-05-25
HOW EUROPE GAN
ESCAPE COLLAPSE
We Must Aid by, Extending
Credit, Says Dawson.
GRAVE MENACE TO U. s. A.
European Ruin Would Involve
America.-Starvation and
Disease Rampant.

Oes Hoines, Iowa.-Speaking before
the General Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, Henry p. Dav-
isen, chairman Of the board Of govern
ers Of the League of Red Gross So
cisties, said:
As Chairman Of the convention of
Red Cross Societies, composed Of rep
ressntatives Of twenty-seven nations
that met recently in Geneva. am GUS
todian Of authoritative reports record
ing appalling conditions among mil
lions Of people living in Eastern
Europe.
One Of the most terrible tragedies in
the history Of the human race is be-
Ing enacted in the broad belt Of terri
tory lying between the Baltic and the
Black and Adriatic seas.
This area includes the new Baltic
states-Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, the
Ukraine, Austria, Hungary, Roumania,
Montenegro. Albania and Serbia.
The reports which come to us make
1t clear that in these war-ravaged
lands civilization has broken down.
Disease, bereavment and suffering are
present in practically every house
hold, while food and clothing are in
sufficient to make life tolerable.
Men, women and children are dying
by thousands, and over vast once civil
LIKED areas there are to be found
neither medical appliances nor medical
skill sufficient to cope with the devas-
Eating plaques.
Wholesale starvation is threatened
In Poland this summer unless she can
procure food supplies in large guam
titles. There are now approximately
$4,000 cases Of typhus in Poland and
in the area occupied by Polish troops.
Worst Typhus Epidemic In History.
This Is one Of the worst typhus cpl
denies in the worlds history. In
Galicia whole towns are crippled and
business suspended. In some districts
there is but one doctor to each 10000
people.
In the Ukraines, we are told, typhus
and influenza have affected most of
the population. 4a
A report from Vienna, dated Feb
ruary II, said There are rations for
three weeks death stalks through the
streets Of Vienna and takes unhinder-
ed toll"
Budapest, according to our inforrna-
ton. is one vast city Of misery and
suffering. The number Of deaths is
double that Of births. OF the 16O.-
900 children in the schools, 100000
are dependent on public charity. There
are 10000 workers idle.
Typhus and smallpox have invaded
the four countries composing Czecho.
Slovakia, and there il lack Of medi-
cines, soap and physicians.
In Serbia typhus has broken out
again and there are but 200 physicians
to minister to the needs Of that en-.
tire country.
In Montenegro, where food is run
ming short, there are but five ply
sicians for a population Of 100000.
Returning to the United States 9
few weeks ago with all these horrors
ringing in my ears, I found myself
snce more in q land whose granaries
were overlooking. where health and
plenty abounded and where life &C
tlvity and eager enterprise were in the
full flood. r
I ask myself: 'what II the plague
and famine were here In the great ter
ritory between the Atlantic seabOart
and the Mississippi valley. which
roughly parallels the extent Of these
ravaged countries. and that 65,OOO,O0(
Il our own people condemned to Idle
ness BY lack Of raw material ant
whose fields had been devastated BY
invasion and rapine were racked b,
starvation and pestilence and II WI
had lifted up our voices and invoked
the attention Of our brothers In hap
pisr Europe to our own deep miseriel
and our cries had fallen on deaf ears
would We not In our despair exclain
AGAINST their heartlessness."
Only Three Ways to Help Europe.
There are only three ways by which
these stricken lands can secure sup
plies from the outside world. One Il
by payment. one by credit, and tn
third 10 By exchange of commodities
II these people tried to buy materia
and supplies in America at presen
market value Of their currencies, Aus
tria would have to pay forty times tn
original cost. Germany thirteen times
Greece Just double. Cxecho-Slovaki
fourteen times, Poland fifty times
These figures are official and are
true index Of the economical pligh
Of these countries.
1t 10 clear. therefore. that they car
not give us gold for the things the
must have, nor have they either pre-
ducts or securities to offer In retur
for credit. II only they could obtai
raw material which these idle million
Of theirs could convert into manufa'