AN EPIC IN CHARITY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13670, 18 June 1942, Page 2

AN EPIC IN CHARITY

AID FOR WAR CHILDREN Switzerland’s Plans Huge Undertaking Berne. Switzerland. May 1. Eighty little war-weary Parisians, who recently arrived in Bern from Geneva, are the latest group to benefit from Switzerland's drive to help Europe’s war-victimed children. At present 4000 French and 550 Belgian children are enjoying privileges of the plan. Estimates vary as to the limit to which Switzerland can go in this campaign. Gottlieb Duttweiler, Switzerland’s number one business man. nicknamed “the American,” has called for 200.000 every three months, a number which would cost 50.000. francs to take care of. To show that he meant business he launched a wartime loan from members of his co-operative chain of stores and within a week collected 2.000. francs for the children. Heavy Load on Transport However there are other difficultties. A group of Belgians were to come to Switzerland and a group to return to Belgian. In the last half hour before departure of the Swiss group, news came that the trip was impossible due to the overloaded transportation facilities. A group of Serb children were ready in Beldrade when the trip was called off 10 minutes before departure for similar reasons. Negotiations Avith the occupying poAvers take a long time, and furthermore Switzerland’s food reserves are shrinking due to the double blockade. Those Avho do manage to reach SAVitzerland fare very well after the initial pangs of uprooting are overcome. A recent group Avho Avere met at the railAvay station by women social Avorkers certainly looked like Avar victims —pale, poorly clothed, each Avith a little packet of belongings. Candy to the Rescue One little fellorv with the appearance of a little old man Avho had experienced many wars, stood in the middle of the croAvd. Tears rolled doAvn his face in forlorn loneliness. This writer caught his eye Avith a piece of candy. Soon the candy Avas in his mouth and his face Avas wreathed in smiles. Others came around, at first shyly, nodding and smiling, Avaiting the signal to come get their piece. Soon the feeling of strangeness had disappeared. When the candy Avas gone one youngster reached into the writer’s pocket and said heartily, “Come on there, get out some more.” Walking double file across Bern to supper at the Baereneck restaurant, Bernese Avatched the guests with great interest, particularly the working folk who had contributed to make the visit possible Avere unable to resist patting the little fellows on the back making encouraging remarks in the Bernese dialect which Parisians scarcely understood: “Keep up your chin, little fellow.”

Lively and Cheerful

At supper table the children became lively and cheerful and showed a talkativeness unknoAvn to the stolid Bernese.

“Look! —real apple sauce!” said a broAvn-eyed girl. “Look! —real milk!” exclaimed the little old man Avho a feAv minutes ago Avas crynig. “E\ r ery thing’s gone in Paris —no shoes, no dresses, no hats —everything’s gone—A'egetables, milk, egg, meat nothing left,” the little broAAm-eyed girl said refiectiA r ely.

Unanimously the little visitors agreed they Avanted to live like peasants because peasants have something to eat Avhich they thought must be lacking in the city. After supper they marched to the schoolhouse and Avere got ready for bed by Bernese matrons.

Stories for Bedtime

“Who will tell you bedtime Stories?” the writer asked. “Oh., don’t Avorry about that. I brought my book along. I * will read to them,” said one cocky little gamin, shoAving “Ali Baba and the Forty ThieA'es” in a crumpled cover edition Avhich had not left his hands all the way from Paris. Before going to bed all Avanted to slioav small sums of money Avhich their parents had given to them. The children Avill be distributed among families Avith a knowledge of French. There are many more families available than children. They will be placed in the most beautiful and healthful spots.

Get Best of Care

The children are to receive the best of care. Each child must be a war victim, that is, affected by the

war through the loss of a parent or destruction of its home. All arrive undersize and underweight, for they gain from 6 to 10 pounds in three months.

The Swiss contribute food and clothes tickets. Boy Scouts and Rotarians collect money on -the streets.

Permission for 30,000 has been received from the Swiss authorities. Ten thousand Swiss each pay 10 francs a month, to support a child in France.

Swiss milk kitchens are maintained in France, Finland, and Greece. No Greeks will come as they are too weak to stand the long trip, and transportation difficulties exist. For the same reasons Finns will not come. When Serbs come they will be kept in summer camps at Tessin, since the Swiss do not speak Serbian. No Hungarians or Jewish children are „ accepted, du.e to the fear that the return visas would not be granted by the Nazi-dominated French Government. The Swiss, of course, are absolutely impartial and help Jewish, children in milk kitchens under the foster parent system m France.