The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-25
NEAR EAST FUND
EXPENDITURES IS
SIXTY MILLION
Fine Report Submit.
ted to Congress
Today.


ing for the disbursement of $13,129,-
lit In 1920 and total of s60,000,-
900 to date, including flour, cloth
ing and medical supplies, the an
nual report of the near east relief,
incorporated by congress Aug. 6,
1913, was filed with congress today
by Charles V. Vickrey, general sec
retary of the relief organization.
The report includes an auditors
statement by a firm of chartered
accountants, whose travelling audi
tors in the field check on all expen-
ditures by the near east relief. A
balance on hand of $367,219 is re-
ported.
In regard to the business meth
DDS and efficiency Of the organiza-
ton, Admiral Mark L. Bristol, Unit
ed States high commissioner to
Turkey is quoted:
II have been very closely associ-
ated with the work Of the near east
relief committee for about twenty
two months" Admiral Bristol re-
ports. On the whole, the work Of
this relief committee has been such
that Americans should be proud of
this great humane effort The near
east relief here in Constantinople is
run more like a business organiza-
ton than any relief organization
with which l have ever come into
contact"
As to the accomplishments Of the
organization. MIR. vickrey's report
shows I'll American and Canadian
relief workers, including physi-
clans, surgeons, nurses, mechanics,
industrial experts, engineers, agri-
culturists, teachers, administrators,
orphanage experts, supply, trans
portation and general relief work.
ers employed on little more than a
volunteer basis, while 87,291 native
workers have been used by the near
east relief organization. Accord
ing to the report, 63 hospitals, with
6.522 beds, 12S clinics, II rescue
homes. 299 orphanages accommo-
dating $500 children in orphan
tages and 56,039 children outside
orphanages, have been maintained
i by the near east relief.
Civilians Die.
! It is reported that approximately
1880, ,490 Armenians are still living
out OF a pre-war population of about
100000. In parts of Cilicia alone
it is stated that IS per cent of the
Armenian Christian population per-
ished from starvation during the
war, while in the whole of Syria
not less than Is per cent perished
from the same cause. 1t is esti-
mated that had it not been for the
American aid furnished through the
near east relief, fully half of the
present Armenian population of the
near east would have succnmbed.
The field of operations Of the
near east relief covers European
Turkey (Thrace), Anatolia, Ar
menia, Cilicia, Kurkistan, Syria,
Palestine, Mesopotamia, Persia and
Transcaucasia. While relief is
given impartially to all needy with
out distinction of race or religion,
the greatest part Of the work is de-
clared to have been carried on
among the Armenians, Greeks, Mes
torians, Syrians and Assyrians
largely Christians, of whom $751;
$40 were furnished food during a
large part Of 1920 while 100000
garments comprising 100000
pounds of clothing and shoes were
distributed 10 refugees.
In regard to the work among the
children, NJ. Vickrey says in the
report:
"A few millions of dollars wisely
expended a. this time in the sup
port, education and moulding OF
these young lives will be worth
vastly more to the world than bill
lions Of dollars that otherwise may
later be required in suppressing
warfare and strife. This distinc.
lively humanitarian relief work as
an expression of brotherhood
should help to mark the beginning
LOT a new era Of peace and inter.
racial good will in the near east