The New York herald., 1921-11-09
BEGS MORE RELIEF
IN CONSTANTINOPLE
Admiral Bristol Says This Is
No Time for Red Cross to
Discontinue.

CoNsTANrINoPLE, Nov. Rear Ad
miral Mark l.. Bristol's protest to tn,
American Red Cross at Washington
against the discontinuance of It's worl
here set forth In an authoritative wa,
the actual situation OF the Russian ant
Turkish refugees who have found asylum
In this city.
1t showed that there are about 5o.-
900 Russians here besides 10000 Turks
who have fed from Anatolia. Many OF
these are homeless, have little clothing
and, the American High Commissioners
said. are in danger of starvation II the
Red Cross be withdrawn. Rear Admiral
Bristors message follows:
AT the present moment real dis
aster exists in Constantinople with pos
worse II not adequately met During the
last five years over one-quarter of the
houses of the city have been burned
and not rebuilt.
1.-THE result Is homeless people in
frightful conditions in mosques. in dug
outs and in novels in the burnt district.
A few days ago 1000 houses were burned
in Scutari and several thousand persons
were added to the list of homeless.
Recently 10000 Turkish refugees
from Anatolia have arrived. Before the
big evacuation OF the Crimea ten months
ago there were $4,000 Russian refugees
and there are now about $4,000 In Con-
stantinople and the immediate suburbs.
Turkish Government Bankrupt.
"The Turkish Government Is bank
rupt and therefore powerless to ade-
quately assist its own people or any
other refugees. The Near East relief
committee gives the majority Of assist
ance to the Greek and Armenian races.
with this frightful situation comes
the report that the executive committee
intends to discontinue the work Of the
Constantinople unit (of the Red Cross).
With no source of aid In sight the I'm
mediate result Of such action would be
that the 1900 Russian refugees now
being fed would have nothing between
them and starvation. All Russians gen.
orally have disposed Of their personal
effects, including clothing. so that their
condition will get worse instead Of bet
ter and, with winter coming on. there
will be added suffering from cold and
exposure.
I'm addition to the suffering from
starvation and privation 1t is impossible
to predict what the results will be In
the city from disturbances of public or
der and danger to American lives and
property. AS Anal appeal for relief
for these refugees as we'll as because Of
this public danger am at once putting
the situation before all foreign represen-
tatives here.
''The Disaster Relief Committee Of the
local chapter is obtaining little money
and clothing from the Central Commit
tee for Russian Relief In New York and
has contributed to the extent of It's
power to meet the present disaster. The
committee Is now practically without
funds.
Red Cross Prestige Involved.
1T must urge most emphaticaily that
the splendid reputation Of America and
the work of the American Red Cross
here must not be besmirched by with
drawal In a precipitate and ill-consid-
cred manner. There is real disaster
that we must meet.
II most earnestly request that this
chapter be given necessary funds and
personnel to continue the work Of the
Disaster Relief Committee and take
over the work Of the Constantinople
unit and continue II until this disaster
Is overcome. The Central Committee
for Russian Relief should be urged to
continue their assistance and especially
obtain aid Of Russians In the United
States. The Allies In military occupa-
ton In Constantinople should be In
duced to assist in this work.
1.-THE policy of all Red Cross work
here has been to close II out properly
as soon as possible by distribution of
refugees and assistance to them In be-
coming self-supporting. I feel that you
can trust your representatives here to
carry out this policy. For the sake Of
American prestige. for the sake of hui
manity and for the sake of the good
name Of our Red Cross / cannot sum-
ciently emphasize the Importance of
xo,,r ANAL da~fefoy,