Evening star., 1943-04-19
BY JOHN COLBURN,
Associated Press Stafi Writer.

BY JOHN COLBURN,
Associated Press Stan Writer.
LONDON, April 19.-Feeding
healing and clothing millions OF
Europeans in the wake of an Allied
invasion will be the greatest welfare
undertaking in world history.
Sixty to rs per cent of Europe's
preWar population of 100000 900 will
require some form of relief-food,
medical treatment or clothing-it is
estimated by those who are arrang-
Ing to meet the demand
To get mental picture imagine
some 250,0O0.O00 persons lined up
one behind the other twice around
the earth. That's just part of the
relief line that must be served by the
United Nations after Axis bastions
are conquered.
Uncounted other millions will have
to be cared for in Western Russia
In the Middle East an Anglo Amer
lean organization must continue an
annual supply of 100000 tons for
some 140,000,000 persons until nor
lildl ID
Huge Humanitarian Task.
Herbert H Lehman, director of the
United States Office of Foreign Re-
lief and Rehabilitation, has asserted
that chaos and anarchy" would re-
suit unless the starving peoples are
fed. His assistant, Hugh R. Jackson,
recently described the relief job as
''the most gigantic humanitarian
task that has ever faced this world"
Mr.. Lehman's office and an Allied
postwar requirements bureau in
London have been working together
on emergency relief problems. All
members of the United Nations are
represented on bureau committees
except Russia.
Three post-invasion relief periods
are envisioned here by the bureau
group headed by Sir Frederick
Leith-Ross:
l. Period of war opera tions when
regions will be under military con-
troll.
2. An 18 months period of emer-
gency relief and restoration of
transport.
3. Permanent reconstruction.
Multitudinous Intangible factors
make it difficult to blueprint relief
plans. One major point is whether
there will be a general, quick re-
conquering of Europe or whether it
will be long, piecemeal process.
Details of Plan Secret.
A piece-meal reconquest would
ease the knotty problems of trans
port and distribution of relief sup
plies. Population movements could
be controlled better and relief ad-
ministration organized more eff
ciently in small areas. But the
planners do not underestimate the
Germans. Their calculations take
Into consideration the possibility
that the Nazis might make daring
counterthrust at the British Isles,
which would complicate transport,
Precise details for European re-
lief administra ation-amountS of food
which will go to each person-are a
closely guarded secret. Following
Is the general plan in its present
stage:
Military forces will handle imme-
diate distribution of food and medi-
cal supplies, following the North
African invasion pattern. Civilian
relief experts will take over when
conquered areas are reopened.
Supervision will continue only until
local governments are reconstructed
and can assume the burden.
Most supplies will come from the
United States. the British Common
wealth and South America. Who.
will pay is an unanswered question.
The flow of food to Europe undoubt-
edly will mean tighter food rationing
in the United States and Great
Britain, and available supplies will
have to be spread thin around the
world
Shipping Situation Critical.
Relief supplies must be ready to
follow the armies whether they
strike from the Baltic, across the
English Channel, in Western France
or in the Mediterranean, at a time
when Allied shipping will be des-
perately engaged.
Eight hundred ships were required
to transport fewer than 100000 men
and supplies for the North African
invasion. In European invasion,
the Allies must be supplied to meet
a force of 100000 men.
Bare iron rations" and the most
essential medical vaccines, serumS
and bandages will put tremendous
load on shipping facilities.
An idea of shipping space needed
can be gained from estimates of the
Fighting French that they will re-
quire 10000 tons of foodstuffs the
first month just tc feed 100000
children under 1G
Once in Europe. troops as we'll as
relief workers will encounter the
menace of diseases which have swept
the continent, especially the large
cities. Outbreaks resulted from
inadequate food, lack of soap for
bathing, crowded living quarters of
families forced nv honhipoS to cbore