RED CMS SAVES AMERICAN
PRISONERS FROM STARVATION
RELEASED AMERICAN PRISONERS AT BASLE.
The fine physical condition of this group of sturdy American troops is
due to the fact that the Red Cross A/as able to take C£.re of them durinc
their imprisonment in German prison camps. The picture was taken or
their arrival in Switzerland.
Thrilling Stary New Made Publ:c
in Report of Commissioner
Carl P. Dennett.
EFFECT ON GERMAN MORALE
Astounded When Prisoners Re
ceivsd More anil Better Food
Than Their Captors.
One of the most surprising features
of the great war was the remarkably
fine physical condition of the Ameri
can prisoners who were released,
some of fliem after long periods of
captivity in German prison camps,
und sent into Switzerland after the
signing of the armistice.
That the American prisoners were
released, well fed and well clothed is
due to the work of the American Red
Cross, which provided them with
food, clothing and many other physi
cal necessities and comforts. Carl P.
Dennett, of Boston, in a report just
issued says:
Starvation Averted.
"The American prisoners would
have starved to death it it had not
been for the food parcels sent to them
through our (Red Cross) organization
at Berne. The condition of the Ital
ian, Russian and other prisoners who
did not receive food supplies from
their country of origin proves that
the prison ration was not sufficient to
sustain life for a prolonged period,
and it was of a character that our
men absolutely could not eat. Our re
turning prisoners have testified unani
mously to the fact that they would
have starved had it no: been for the
food we sent them. I have the testi
mony in one telegram of 2200 Ameri
can prisoners to that effect.
"The American expeditionary
forces scrupulously respected the
treaty on the treatment of prisoners,
and there is not a single record of an
attempt by a German prisoner to es
cape.
What the Red Cross Did.
"In the early months after Ameri
ca's entry into the war, American
prisoners were subjected 1 to many of
the indignities bestowed upon other
prisoners, but after the demands of
the United States in September, 1918,
this sort of treatment ceased. There
was always that fear in the Teuton
mind that certain distinguished plain
clothes Junkers and intriguers held in
American internment camps might
have their wholesome meals and
healthful surroundings altered a bit."
The American > government found
itself in the curious position of having
to feed and clothe German prisoners
of war in its hands and also the
American prisoners of war in the
hands of the Germans. To meet this
condition, the government made ar
rangements by which the American
Red Cross undertook to do the fol
lowing :
1. Obtain the names of American
prisoners of war.
2. Obtain camp addresses of the
prisoners.
3. Transmit this information to
general headquarters of the American
forces; to the Red Cross at Wash
ington, which notified the family of
each prisoner; and to the American
Red Onoss at Paris to clear its rec
ord* in connection with the search
for missing men.
4. Ship necessary relief supplies to
American prisoners.
Effect on German Morale.
The American prisoners were thus
kept well clothed and well fed, and
finally were repatriated apparently
none the worse for their confinement.
Mr. Dennett emphasizes the psycho
logical effect upon the Genuan popu
lation :
"It is undoubtedly true that the
food and clothing parcels sent to the
American prisoners constituted the
best possible propaganda. The Ger
man population had been educated
to believe that an American army of
any size coulh not possibly be sent
to France, and that it would be phy
sically impossible t 0 transport the
necessary ~*ood, clothing and supplies.
And yet, here were prisoners, scatter
ed all over Germany, receiving from
America twenty pounds per week of
,v. ■ . # r #-,j . ' '■■wWm- Ix.
?sis iilip
AMERICANS RETURNING FROM
GERMAN PRISON CAMPS.
A Group of United States Prisoners
Held in German Camps, March
ing Into Vichy.
better food than the German popula
tion had seen for years, and bettei
clothing.
"The effect WJIS irresistible, and
spread over all Germany. It became
a source of embarrassment to the
German officials, and we were even
told we were sending more supplies
than were necessary and asked to re
duce the quantity. We were informed
officially that the prisoners received
so lunch food that they were using
their canned vegetables to play 'pass
ball' with. Of course, using a can oi
corn to toss around a circle instead ol
a ball didn't hurt the contents any;
but it made a profound impression on
the Germans to see good food used in
such a apparently reckless manner.
Secured Better Treatment.
"Because the American prisoners
were sent food, clothing and toilet
articles to enable them to maintain
their health and selfrespect, the.\
were respected by the Germans. On
the contrary, Italian and Russian
prisoners who received no supplies
were starved and in rags as a conse
quence and were treated like dogs."
Bands and orchestras were organ
ized among the American prisoners,
and entertainments given. Mr. Den
nett tells of band music, sent from
America, including such selections as:
"Just Like Washington Crossed the
Delaware, Per.shing Will Cross the
Rhine," "It's a Long Way to Berlin—
But We'll Get There," etc.
Rather than deprive the American
prisoner bantls of these pieces, the
titles were clipped off and the music
forwarded. Thus the German guards
and prison officials were serenaded
by Yanks with these tunes, and re
turning prisoners were amazed to
learn the words sung to them at
home.
Red Cross Nurses
Die For Liberty
One Hundred and Ninety-eight Amer
ican Women Laid Down Their
Lives During the War.
One hundred and ninety-eight
deaths among the 19,877 American Red
Cross nurses who served during the
great war, represents the contribu
tion in human life of American wo
manhood, toward winning the war.
The personnel of these martyrs
ranges between Jane A. Delano, late
Director General of the American
Red Cross Department of Nursing,
who lies buried in France, and those
humbler but no less heroic women
who gave up their lives in American
cantonments. Their graves lie all
over the world, crowned with white
crosses. Even in Germany there is
one marking the last resting place of
Jessie Baldwin, of Summerville, Pa.
In the American Red Cross build
ing in Washington, a beautiful service
flag commemorates their sacrifice. A
single blue star represents the 19.877
Red Cross nurses in active war duty,
no matter where stationed.
In memory of the Red Cross nurses
who have "gone west," 19S gold stars
burn on this lias, a silent tribute to
those splendid women who felt that
duty was more than life itself and
who. carrying our the traditions and
the ideals of the Red Cross, war#
faithful even unto the end.
DARING A UTHC RESS WHO
DENOUNCES
THE first journey to America of
the brilliant English novelist,
Mrs. Theodore Cory, who writes
under the pen nam© of W iniirec.
Graham," will be made particularly
to address the V ; rd World's Chris
tian Citizenship Conference at Pitts
burgh, November 9 to 16.
Daringly frank in her discussion of
striking topics, "Winifred Graham"
has made an enviable reputation
among twentieth century English
novelists. As the writer of thirty-two
books having a world wide circula
tion and as a social leader her ex
pected presence in Pittsburgh is at
tracting the attention of the literary
and social elite.
"Winifred Graham" is the author of
a new boldly venturesome novel re
garding the court life of the Kaiser,
bearing 'the title. "The Imperial
Malefactor." But she is best known
as the author of books taking their
themes from Mormon passions and
LONDON REFORMER TO
PRESENT LABOR
{( HE future of the world de
pends upon labor, and tho
future of labor depends upon
the Church," recently said Dr. Francis
Herbert Stead, Warden of Robert
Browning Settle
pfegK ment, in Wal
worth, London,
who is to address
World's
Christian Citizen,
r ' \ ship Conference
r ' v ' in Pittsburgh, No
vember 9 to 16.
L', ; !>!,'"_! Herbert St." d—
as he is known
- iilll aniong the social
t" workers of the
' . > world, tor he I:■-.
/ an international
. } 'X -J reputation - - ha;-;
«ii$ specialized on the
relation of the
Church to Labor
DR. FRANCIS ;< iuritl S' «U of f
HERBERT STEAD jpublic life, and he
began active work
in this field fully thirty years ago.
He is the brother of William T.
Stead, the famoua English journalist
who went down on the Titanic, and
was associated with him as assistant
c
I—Charles E. Hughes
2 —Henry Van Dyke
3—Gifford Pinchot
A—Frank J. Cannon
FIFTY leaders in the field of re
form and religion from various
parts of the world will speak at
the World's Christian Citizenship
Conference to be held in Pittsburgh
from November 9 to 16, inclusive.
A committee of 150 of Pittsburgh's
most prominent citizens have tne
local arrangements in charge, and the
permanent staff of a dozen experts
connected with the National Reform
Association, under whose auspices
the conference will be held, is devot
ing itself exclusively to the task of
setting up the program.
Nine important international com
missions of nine members each have
for two years been preparing reports
on world-conditions dealing with
Capital and Labor, Intemperance, Im
migration, World Peace, Mormonism,
The Family, Social Purity, Public
Education and the Lord's Day. These
reports will be submitted to the con
ference by their various chairmen and
polygamy—among these are, "Ezra
the Mormon," and
the "Love Story
of a Mormon." '?■ x.
"Winifred Gra
ham" is chairman
cf a World r -n • " S ■
mission studying •_
Mormonism. She '§£*
will read her re- ft
port at the Third kf
Wo-M'- f'h: 1.-' *.u :■
Citizenship Con- •wF '*•••
ference, which
has been called feb- >
by the National
be largely devoted "* '
to the discussion WIXIFRED
of Mormonism, GRAHAM
and the new polygamy coming out of
the war will be one of the themes at
a great woman's mass meeting to be
held November 14 at Syria Mosque,
the cenfral meeting place of the
World Conference.
editor of The English Review of Re
views for twenty years.
Herbert Stead became warden of
the Robert Browning Settlement in
1894 and immediately became active
in social legislation and social reform
in general through the settlement.
He became responsible with
Charles Booth, the English reformer
—for the famous conferences which
resulted in the formation of the Na
tional Committee on Old Age Pen
sions in 1898; he organized the
Browning Hall Conference on "Hous
ing and Locomotion," but, perhaps
more important than these —so far as
the widest reach on life is concerned
—he initiated the Labor Conferences
which have become a great feature
of the work at Browning Hall. These
conferences continue for a week eacii
year and have been conducted since
1910. The settlement was organized
in connection with the church of
which it is a part and of which
Robert Browning was a member. Dr.
Stead .ias been liberally educated in
the leading universities of England,
Scotland and Germany. He was the
Buchanan Medallist in Logic and in
English Literature and graduated
with honors in Classics and Phil
osophy at Glasgow.
s—Nicholas Murray Butler
6—Charles F. Wlshart
7—Charles L. Goodell
B—Sidney L. Gulick
i the delegates will discuss them, tak
ing such action as may seem best.
It is felt by the promoters of this
important conference that the war
has forced upon the nations of the
world, certain great social problems,
the solution of which depends prim
arily upon intelligent discussion.
It is for this purpose that this great
"town-hall" meeting or conference
will be held in the Syria Mosque—
the largest convention hall in Pitts
burgh.
Already the indications are that
nearly fifty nationalities will be rep
resented by delegates at the Pitts- ;
burgh Conference, among whom will I
be men and women of note who
have many important accomplish
ments to their credit.
Among the subjects to be discussed
will be the following: "The Antidote
for Bolshevism." Hon. Charles Evans <
Hughes; "The W T orld To Be," Dr.
Henry Van Dyke; "The Federation of|
-i#;
i sia raftr : 1
ij
MRS. DANJO EBINA
Chinese Editress.
MRS. DANJO EBINA will be one
of the speakers on the work of
women in Japan at the Third
World's Christian Citizenship Confer
ence to be held in Pittsburgh during
Armistice week, November 9 to 16,
under the direction of the National
Reform Association. She is the wife
' of the Rev. Dr. Danjo Ebina, pastor
of the Hango Congregational Church
| at Tokyo, with a membership of 1,000.
Mrs. Ebina has been a helpful co-
I worker of her husband, who as editor
Of the magazine, "The New Man,"
and she is prominent in all the new |
movements for the advancement of
I the women of her country. She is ;
j editor of the "New Woman's Maga
zine," published in Tokyo.
The Rev. Dr. James S. McGaw, ex
ecutive secretary for the Third
World's Christian Citizenship Confer
t ence, in a statement issued at its head
quarters. 209 Ninth street, Pittsburgh,
j - c aid regarding the principles under
, lying the conference and some of the
concrete questions to be considered:
J "The Conference will make real the
| great me; .-age of the Scripture by ap
j plying it to actual world needs. It
' will bring Divinitj closer to humanity
|in ail public thinking. It will answer
[ i multitude of questions that a f r:se in
i n r ery human heart in this tremendous
; ■ ::ar of crisis. It will allay the fears
mil the souls of men as they
i mdertake the stupendous task of the
' -chabil'trtion of a war-worn world "
9—Mrs. Ella A. Boole
10—Mrs. L. L. Shepard
11—Samuel Zane Batten
Nations," Dr. Charles E. Jefferson,
"Righteousness in International Re
lations," Nicholas Murray Butler;
J "The Moral Element in Public Edu
cation," U. S. Commissioner P. P.
| Claxton; "Christianity and Social
ism," Hon. Henry W. Temple; "Con
servation and Social Justice," Hon.
Gifford Pinchot; "The World Con
science," - Dr. Charles F. Wishart;
"The Prince's Peace," Hon. Frank J.
Cannon; "National Religion," Henry
Collins Minton, LL.D.; "Woman's
Place in Public Life," Mrs. Ella A.
Boole; "Christian Ideals in Official
Life," Hon. Arthur Capper; "The
Family and the State," Bishop Wil
liam M. Bell.
The conference will be open to the
pubac and to delegates from Christian
organizations of every character, in
any part of the world. Programs and
further information will be sent upon
application to the National Reform As
sociation, Pittsburgh, Pa.
B!G RED CROSS
PEACE PROGRAM
New Plans of Organization
bring II to Every Person
and Heme in Gouniry.
AS IMPORTANT AS IN WAR
Nation-Wide Activity For Improving
Public Health and Expansion of it*
Nursing Resources Two Objects.
The peace program of the American
Red Cross has just been made public
aud it is gigantic in its scope. It is
so comprehensive that it will bring
the activities of the organization into
practically every home and into the
life of every person in the country.
The Program.
Foremost will be nation-wide ac
tivity for the promotion of public
health and hand-iu-haud with this cru
sade will go a vigorous campaign for
the extension of the country's nursing
resources; the broadening of the Red
Cross Home Service, which in the war
proved so helpful through the assist
ance it was able to give the families
of soldiers and sailors, to be of gen
eral usefulness where other social
agencies are lacking; greatly increas
ed Junior Red Cross activities; ex
tension of Red Cross facilities for
emergenc> disaster relief; completion
of relief measures for the victims of
the war in this country and overseas,
and preparation to fulfill whatever
duties may be laid upon it as the vol
unteer relief society officially author
ized to assist the artuj and navy.
The plan <>l the Red Cross public
health campaign rails for co-ope ra
tion with other existing health pro
motion and disease prevention organ
izations throughout the United States,
acting by itself where no health
agency now exists, in an effort to
reduce the high mortality due to pre
ventable disease and to improve gen
eral health conditions.
The Public Health.
Public health nursing will be ona
of the important features of this cam
paign. Re;l Cross public health
nurses will he assigned to as many
small communities as possible, thus
extending to the rural population the
bedside nursing, school inspection,
classes in hygiene and home nursing
and search for tuberculosis and other
preventable disease that has been so
effective in the cities and larger
towns.
In this connection it is planned to
offer to every woman in America in
. struction in home sanitation, h.vgiene r
care of the sick and dietetics, thus
providing first-hand knowledge of how
to keep tin* family well and what to
do where illness or accident cannot be
avoided. These courses are now be
ing introduced in the public schools
and colleges and are offered depart
ment store employes, factory opera
tives, girl scouts, nursemaids and oth
ers, fitting them to help combat infant
and child mortality, malnutrition, un
sanitary living conditions, preventable
disease and epidemics in their own
homes.
The seven thousand public health
nurses in the United States are far
too few to meet the ever-increasing
! demands for their services.
Home Service.
Home service among the families of
American soldiers and sailors haa
brought out the important fact that in
90 per cent of the places where Home
Service is now operating there is no
other social work agency. According
ly there is an imperative demand,
national in scope, that this service
with its thousands of highly trained
workers, be continued and expanded
to assist all needy families in im
munities where other neighborly re
lief is not at hand.
As always, the Red Cross must hold"
itself ready for instant relief service
in time of public disaster, such as
great tires, floods, cyclones, ship
wrecks, earthquakes, pestilence, fam
ine and epidemics. Experience in the
war and the great organization built
up through that emergency will with
quickly available funds make thl*
branch of Red Cross activity more ef
fective than ever before.
The Junior Work.
The Junior Red Cross, with its mil
lions of members in the schools, pub
lic and private, throughout fhe United 1
States, has laid plans* calling for
$500,000 for relief work abroad, tliit
amount constituting 00 per cent of the
money the Juniors raise, the remaind
er tx> be used for local relief in co
operation with Home Sendee. It is
also planned to have the junior mem
bers supplement and assist in the work ,
of the national organization where
ever possible, with especial regard to
the needs of children.
The turning over to the American
Red Cross of the surplus medical and
surgical supplies and supplementary
food stores of the American army
abroad for distribution among the
srill suffering native populations, to
gether with the foreign relief pro
grams still being carried out largely
in Poland, fhe Balkans and Siberia,
necessitates the continuance of Red
Cross operations overseas.