The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-12-30
FAMINE FAcTs LION EuRoPE

The latest substitute for coffee ii
Poland consists Of acorns rosted
ground and boiled.
An American connection known as
Vienna stew is the most popular
dish in Central and Eastern Europe
It's ingredients vary, but it has beer
known to contain beans, rice, pork
condensed milk and cocoa at one ano
the same time.
A dish of this stew day will keer
a child alive, even if it receives alb
solutely no other food.
The cost Of dish Of Vienna
stew when served in the European
Relief Council kitchen, is less thar
four cents. For $1.O0 a child can be
kept alive, therefore, for a month;
for $1,000 it can be saved from
starving until next harvest.
In the first six months of 1920 the
excess of deaths ever births in Vienna
was exactly 5000. Twenty-Five per
cent. Of these were due to tubercu-
losis brought on BY malnutrition.
In Poland for total population of
28,000,000 there are just 1000 doctors
Last year 400 doctors died of disease
In Austria they heat, the hotels
from p. m, until 10 p. m. every
evening In Poland they heat the
hospitals just twice a week In priv
ate homes in both countries they
rarely have heat at all Coal is al
most unobtainable.
For every dollar contributed in
America toward the relief Of suffer
ing in these countries, the countries
themselves contribute two.
For $33,000,0OO the European Re-
lief Council will be able to supply
food, clothing and adequate medical
care this winter to 100000 children
in Central and Eastern Europe. With
out the aid Of the Council these chill
dren will die.
1t has been expected that with the
arrival Of the 1920 harvest and the
improving economic situation it
would be possible for the Americans
to withdraw entirely from Europe,
leaving the highly developed local
associations to carry on the work of
feeding the helpless children. But
economic recuperation has been
slower than anticipated. The crops
have been less in many countries
than had been hoped for, the increase
in milk supplies and fats, owing to
shortage Of cattle foods, being en-
tirely inadequate to meet the situa-
ton. The Bolshevik invasion has
again Frustrated the Polish people.
In certain countries recuperation had
proceeded to considerable degree,
and it has been possible to reduce
the assistance for children in Czecho-
Slovakia, for instance, from 100000
TO probably 100000 in the winter Of
1921. II is possible to withdraw the
shipment Of food supplies to certain
areas, particularly the Baltic States,
Hungary, etc, during the summer.
A careful re-survey of the situation
proves that 100000 children will
have to be assisted with food and
clothing during this winter. There
fore, the eight largest relief associa-
tons which have been aiding Europe
have banded together into the Euro
pean Relief Council, with Mr.. Hoover
at the head.
The relief is conducted wholly by
business men and women. The opera
tons in Europe are likewise carried
out by business people. No child of
Jew, Catholic, Protestant, Of any
race in the vast territory, including
Poland, Hungary, Jugo-Slavia, Aus
tria, Zcecho-Slovakia, Roumania, Fin
land, Luthuania and Esthonia has
been turned away hungry.
Although many Of the relief Off
GERS desire to be relieved of their
long-endured service, it is felt that a
public duty has been imposed to
carry on until the harvest of 1921.
1t is not felt that the American con-
science would permit the closing of
the door to this great mass of hum
cry children in Europe, and it has
been resolved to continue this service
just as far as it can-command the
support of the American people. A
campaipn is now on to raise SO mil
lion dollars. This support is urgent
Nv needed at once if these children
are not to be plunged into infinite
nisarv.e This is service from the
most helnless from the war-it is a
service the American people can not
refuse. Frank X. Lane. AZ Broad
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