The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-23
FOOD NOT ONLY NEED
OF STARVING EUROPE,
SAYS RELIEF WORKER

The American relief committees
must do more than feed the war SUI
ferers and the refugees in the near
east, If they intend to provide lasting
relief for the thousands whose only
hope in life is aid from America. This
is the opinion of Mrs. Florence Spen-
Ger Duryea, who has just returned
from Europe. She is the only woman
member of commission of thirty
sent over by the near east committee
at the invitation of the soviet govern
ment.
Eleven countries were visited by the
party, although the official inspection
was limited to Armenia, Georgia andl
Turkey Mrs. Duryea says that Won
derful work is being done by the
Americans committees in caring for
10000 children, but that everywhere
she was oppressed by the need that so
much more should be done, and that
the American people should be brought
to realize that more money is essential
TO give more lasting aid.
Education is Essential
She believes that, next to food. edu-
cation is the greatest essential. A
boat load of teachers, such as were
sent over to the Philippines in the
early DAYS of our occupation there,
would effect untold good in the near
east, she believes.
"The first impression I got of the
near east was that it is a land of
orphans" Mrs. Duryea said at is
ocyfr 70 dc ND mr. q
of helpless children in barren rooms,
most of them blind from trachoma,
which is the latest menace in the
plague-ridden countries. -..
When, passing through street after
street, you see the victims huddled in
the dark passages and dare not touch
them or objects near them, a chill OF
depression and hopelessness overtakes
YOU Many of the old Russian bar
racks have been taken over for shell
ter for the children and women. In
one of these in Alexandropol 10000
children are housed and the conges-
ton is so great that in many instances
four children have to sleep on one
cot
Dependent on Food Supply.
There are IS committees of native
women working under the American
relief committee. Their help is in
valuable, for they understand their
people better than do the American
workers. All work increasingly, and
do wonders with what they have, but
they work under great difficulties and
there is always a fear that something
will interfere with the inflow of pro
visions. There is always the posi-
bility that some fresh outbreak will
stop the railroads. The supplies must
continue to come steadily, for if they
we're to stop for one month, all the
children would die. Because of trans
portation difficulties this spring, u.s.
900 children were put on half rations
in Alexandropol, and in six weeks
5000 of them died.
'One of the most terrific problems
of the near east, though, is that of the
refugees. They have poured into these
forlorn little countries from every
where. In Constantinople alone ara
100000 refugees. These people are
homeless and friendless. hoping fol-
aid from any quarter and dying wher
il does not come. Since it is impos
sible for the relief committee to hell
every one, they are specializing on the
women and children. Families il
which are males must be refused aid
This just ruling is causing confusion
and a great deal of suffering. for il
some channels the very existence o
a father or brother has meant tina
the remainder of the family must &c
on without help. Many of these met
have committed suicide, knowing tina
their families would get help from
the committees looking after tn
needy"