The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1921-11-12


miral Mark l.. Bristol. United
States High Commissioner to Turkey,
for example, declares:
Il have been closely associated
with the work of the Near East
Relief committee for about 90
months. On the whole the work
of this relief committee has been
such that Americans should be
proud of this great humane eff
fort. The Near East Relief here
in Constantinople is run more
like a business organization
than any relief organization
with which I have ever come
into contact" q
Charles V. Vickrey's summary of
the activities of the Near East Relief
shows the disbursement of over
100000, 100000 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 in this huge task IN little
more than a volunteer basis. 63
hospitals, with 6,522 beds, and 1913
rlinics; 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 Is,
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 5000, outside the Near
East Relief orphanages, were saved
from starvation and death by food
and clothing sent them from the
United States.
Mr.. Vickrey's report states hat
approximately 2,790,490 Armenians
are still living in the Near East, out
of a pre-war population of over
1000, 900 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 persisted. Food
was furnished to 561,970 homeless
refugees during a large part of 1920,
while 300, 000 garments, comprising
1900, 900 pounds of clothing sent
out from the United States were dis
tributed to barefoot and rag-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 a new
era of peace and inter-racial good
will in the Near East.
1.-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
Ohio FOog ohh &OhdlNiOn5 hIOu6n-
out the Near East are still too
uncertain to let them shift for them
selves. 1t is morally sure hal for at
least five years, and until these little
ones that we have snatched from a
terrible fate are able to support
themselves and enjoy an even chance
of life as useful citizens, the Amer
lean people who have rescued them
must gee them through.
ut is the purpose of the Near East
Relief to do just this, and we appeal
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 the
American ideal"
Contributions to the work of the
Near East Relief may be sent to
Cleveland H.. Dodge, Treasurer
1adison Ave, New York City.