New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-15

will until November =, 1920,
be largely absorbed in deter
mining which political party
: "a Guide the destinies of our coun-
trv for the next four years or more
.,d be shamefully neglacting the fate
If Europe and Asia. We are deaf to
their cries for sympathy and help. We
are totally oblivious to their sad. seri-
ous and PROSTATE condition and to our
dutv to alleviate it. 1t probably is
LARGELY due to lack of knowledge of
the real facts and their eventual effect
m our own moral and physical status.
One of the most, if not the most,
exhaustive and instructive statements
NJ the conditions in the war-riddcn
countries has been written by Homer
Folks. who was chief of the department
~ civilian relief of the American Red
Cross. The book is called THE
Human Costs OF the War" and is pub
hshed by Harper & Bros.
Mr.. Folks's experience in this coun-
try with immigrants from all these
lands and his profound study OF the
causes Of poverty and their solution
prepared him TO approach this investi-
CATION with q deep sympathy and an
earnest desire to help these nations
who are struggling with their unprec-
edented problems Of reconstruction.
He shows clearly that the destruction
o: property. the killing of so many
millions Of their able-bodied bread
winners and the elimination of many
old boundary lines are not the only
evil results Of the war. The perma-
ncnt deprivations inflicted on those
that are left, their inability for dec
AIDES to adjust themselves to the new
conditions and the tremendous task of
return to normality with such greatly
reduced implements and means are al
most empowering and largely explain
their present despair.
The net trend of the volume may be
roughly summed uD as follows: Euro
peans are, after all, very like Ameri-
cans. We are their descendants. I'm
derneath superficial and seemingly sig
nifcant differences. they are just plain
ordinary human beings. They need
proper feeding, a roof over their heads.
: occasional relaxation and to be kept
warm in winter. Their children need
companionship and education, Just as
ours do al these elementary neces-
stiles Of life. which are really necessi
ties, have been in increasing degree
denied to the multitudcs of Europe.
They have been on short rations Of
food millions of them homeless.
crowded into outbuildinrs built for
animals during the war, and have now
returned TO the cellars and machine
gun emplacements Of the war zone.
This tremendous volume of sub-normal
living together with the frightful mil
itary losses, has reduced the produc-
tylty OF the European peoples from
every point Of view, reduced their
physical vigor, their emotional re-
sponse, their normal reaction to the
responsibilities of life. 1t is not their
fault
Nr. Folks's book is in no sense
propaganda. He does not argue; he
describes. He makes a few suggestions
as ne goes along and a few at the end
Our first duty, as ne sees it, is to I'M
aerstand Europe. No better advice
can be given to any one who wishes
10 do this than to read Mr. Folks's
book. He nowhere mentions the
League Of Nations, though in fact he
mas written most powerful appeal
Tor the abolition of war. Philip Gibbs,
IN Now 1t Can Be Told" has set forth
me truth about the war so far as the
soldiers are concerned. Mr. Folks has
set forth similarly and also with
literary skill and human insight the