The state herald., 1921-01-14
Typhus and Famine
Raging in Poland
BY Lloyd Allen

United Press STAFF Correspondent
Warsaw. CBy Mail POLAND hoped
TO start reconstruction work last sum
mer; but the Bolshevilii invasion that
almost succeeded in reaching Warsaw
shattered every hope of brighter
year.
Hundreds Of thousands of acres of
food crops were ruined by the Soviet
occupation which took place Just at
harvest time, Today Poland is In tho
midst OF a terrible winter, almost
Arctic in its severity, with very
serious coal shortage. Ten million
tons OF coal are needed at once. ac-
cording to official estimates that have
been carefully checked by American
officials here.
The grain shortage is even worse.
Poland must purchase $500 cars OF
grain from America and 1900 cars
from Roumania, paying the Rouman-
ians $500. 900. 900 Polish marks.
be Increased to the working people
OF this hard pressed land. which the
Bolsheviks OF Moscow and the Ger
mans are trying to capture, using
hundred skillful devices for crushing
the none too strong government.
Meanwhile the gas supply OF War
saw and Cracow has been shut of be-
cause OF the coal shortage.
Always the BolsheviSi military pres
ence menaces the safety OF Poland
from the East. To prevent swift oc.
cupation OF the entire country and the
disappearance OF the Polish state
from the map of Europe. Poland Is
forced to maintain an army OF 500.-
900 men. This is a heavy drain on
the states resources. But this army
OF half u million is one of the prin.
eIpal mainstays OF European peace.
Throughout the length and breadth
OF Poland. according to Official gov.
ernment reports here. typhus and
famine are raging worse than any
winter In history. Typhus fever was
brought westward from the FAR away
urai mountains and the dark prov
inces Of Russia. when the Cars mil.
lions overrun Poland In 1914 on their
futile attempt to reach Berlin.
Since 1914 suffering from typhus
has been indescrlbable. While only
about seven per cent OF Polish suf-
fcrers die from typhus, the mortal.
ity among Americans and Europeans
who contract the disease is eighty
per cont. For this reason the western
European powers, France aud England
especially. realize the danger OF n
typhusrlddsn Poland 10 the romnin-
der of Europe.
America, however, took the lead In
fighting typhus. sending to Poland the
largest relief expedition ever organ
lked. composed OF 500 American sol
dicrs and 22 officers under Col Harry
Gllchrist with hfty train loads OF
typhus lighting equipment, valiant
work was done. But the Job OF clean.
Ing up the menace has not been com
pletcd: II has scarcely been started.
despite the expenditure Of millions
Of dollars.
The Polish ministry Of health do
scribcd this impossible health situa-
tion TO mo. Briefly. Poland has a..
100000 people more or less. Of whom
% per cent are lousy. Until most
Of them arc deloused. typnus cannot
be wiped out. because the louise car.
rI"s the typhus germ from afflicted
TO tho healthy.
Polish officials arc woariod Of car.
rylng ON the nsht They realize that
until actual reconstruction starts.
when soap. clothes, shoes and the alb
soluto necessities OF life are again
within reach OF the population. Po.
land IN apt 10 remain what is prob
ably the worst ,yphus hole outside
IHinaiu