Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-03-29
NATIONS ALL AID GERMANS.
r7a :. :s-st.sr.';,e -. <,sft
International Committee and Netlonai
Lutheran Council Correlate
Work and Avoid Overlapping
In Relief of Hungry.

Distressing though the conditions
of hunger and cold in Germany now
are for a number Of years large ele'
ment among the German people nave
been undernourished, and thougntlul
persons in Germany have been flllen
with anxiety for their future health
and welfare" says a statement 1rom
the offices of the American Natlonai
lutheran Council, 437 Fifth Avenue
New York, which has been operating
as relief agency in Germany as Wen
as in the rest of Europe, continuously
since the Armistice. During the war;
Germany" the statement continues
"was forced to use substitutes for prac
tically every commodity including food
and in this case as always 1T was the
children who suffered first. Malnutrl-
ton was a common sight in the cues
of Germany even before the abscondlng
Of the Kaiser and the signing OF the
armistice. During the 5 years since
then the Nat. Lutheran Council has con
tinued its activities meeting munger
conditions and lack Of clothing WIN
regular distributions throughout the
entire country.
"The American Lutherans were per-
haps the first outside group to recos
nize the extreme danger and the neea
of Immediate action when the falling
mark last summer, amidst gradually
improving conditions, brought about a
disastrous economic relapse. during
the summer a clothing appeal was IN
augurated among Lutherans in Ameri-
ca. anticipating the distress OF the
winter. In November the National
Lutheran Council sent it's Executive ID
rector to Germany to reorganize the
whole system of distribution and ar
range for the Immediate shipment Oh
quantities of food and clothing from
New York. The work Of the central dis
tribution committee Of the Natlonai
Lutheran Council was Qu1ckened anu
"a district committees were appolnteu
this time. These committees have an
organization extending into pract1cally
every community and hamlet OF the en-
tire country. investigating. making
recommendations, and receiving ana
distributing the shipments from Amer
ca. Thus through an extensive and em
cient organization of Lutheran Chris
tians in Germany relief Is extended 70
all classes Of those in need. Since De
eember 1st, these committees have dis
tributed $25S,O00 worth of supplies and
2OS, 500 pounds Of clothing from Amerl
ca. But from its entry into Germany
Immediately after the Armistice until
March 1st, 1924 the supplies distribut-
ed by the American National Luther
an Council totalled more than $625,OOo
to say nothing of hundreds OF tons OF
clothing. This work in Germany has
been parallel with similar work main
tanned by American Lutherans IN Il
other countries Of Europe.
Nor are the American Lutherans
alone in this work of mercy. Large ad-
ditional amounts have been raised re-
Gently for German relief among the
lLutherans in France. Denmark, Swed
en- and Norway. These groups are cor
relating their work through an inter
national committee which safeguards
against overlapping in the German dis
't.ibution. By government request every
Lutheran congregation in Denmark On
February 9Th took up an Offering 10
aid the starving Germans. This sum
is now being distributed.