Oxford Democrat., 1921-12-13

miral Mark L. Bristol, United
States High Commissioner to Turkey,
for example, declares:
81 have been closely associated
with the work of the Near East
Relief committee for about 22
months. On the whole the work
of this relief committee has been
such that Americans should be
proud Of this great humane ef-
fort. The Near East Relief here
In Constantinople Is run more
like q business organization
than any relief organization
with which I have ever come
into contact"
Charles v. Vickfey's summary OF
the activities of the Near East Relief
shows the disbursement Of over
$60,000,000.00 in cash and supplies,
contributed by the American people
to the salvaging Of the Christian pop
ulations of the Near East. I'll
American and Canadian men and
women relief workers have been en-
gagged dn this huge task on little
more than q volunteer basis. 81
hospitals, with 6,522 beds, and 1913
clinics; IL rescue homes, where
young girls rescued from lives Of
shame in Turkish harems are taught
to forget their sufferings, and to be-
GIN life anew, self-supporting and
independent, are maintained.
10000 Little Children
The most remarkable feature OF
the work Of the Near East Relief u.
/ however, the salvation Of tens OF
thousands of children who have lost
parents and relatives during the past
six years. For these little ones Amer
lean generosity has provided, through
the Near East Relief, 299 homes
one, In Alexandropol, Armenia. hous-
ing $4,000 children-where, last
year, $4,000 children were housed,
clothed, fed and taught, while an ad-
ditional 56,039, outside the Near
East Relief orphanages, we're saved
from starvation and death by food
and clothing sent them from the
United States.
Mr.. Vickrey's report states that
approximately 2,790,490 Armenians
are still living in the Near East, out
of a pre-war population OF over
100000 and estimates that had 1t
not been for the aid given by the
American people through the Near
East Relief, fully half Of those now
living would have perished. Food
was furnished to 561,970 homeless
refugees during large part OF 1920,
while 100000 garments, comprising
100000 pounds of clothing sent
out from the United States were dis
tributed to barefoot and ras-clad
wanderers, all the way from the
Mediterranean to the Caucasus
mountains.
Work Must Continue
Commenting ON these figures Mr..
Vickrey stated that this distinctive
ly humanitarian relief work, as an
expression Of brotherhood, should
help to mark the beginning of new
era of peace and inter-racial good
will In the Near East.
"The tremendous task undertaken
by the American people in saving the
children of the Near East Is one
which cannot be left unfinished. We
have an investment of over 100000
600 in human life, that America has
saved. If we falter or pause now,
that investment Is imperiled, or may
| even be lost altogether. Most Of the
children we have saved from death
are still too little to take care OF
| themselves, and conditions through
| out the Near East are still too
| uncertain to let them shift for them
| selves. It Is morally sure that for at
| least FIVE years, and until these little
l ones that we have snatched from 9
terrible late are able to support
themselves and enjoy an even chance
of life as useful citizens, the Amer
lean people who have rescued them
must see them through.
| "It Is the purpose of the Near Eas
Relief to do Just this. and we appea
to the generosity Of the American
people to see this noble work is car
ried out In the spirit of mutual help
fulness and Christian charity which
is so essentially characteristic OF th'
American ideal"
| Contributions to the work Of tn
Near East Relief may be sent t
l Cleveland H. Dodge, Treasurer
| Madison Ave, New York City.