REPOPULATING THE WAR ZONE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 49, 26 February 1921, Page 4

REPOPULATING THE WAR ZONE

CARD-nft)EXED BABIES.

An extensive survey of conditions noy prevailing in the Arras district has, just been completed by the American Ked Cross, which is still engaged in relief work all along the battle front. In the larger towns the population is even becoming congested; Arras has increased in population from 25,000 to more than 41,500; Bethune has-increased from '15,000 to 20,000; Lens, however, which was entirely destroyed, has only 9000 of its prewar 21,800. ' - :. ■ ■■■''■ French and American welfare organisations are working side by gide to establish hospitals, dispensaries, maternity homes, and schools. The entire population is card-indexed so that their needs may alw4ys be known to the authorities; to the needy food and clothing are supplied free; those who can afford to pay are asked a. nominal^ price. ■ Their capacity of irayment is clearly marked on the card-index. Every baby born in the district is promptly enrolled and must be brought at least once in two weeks to be weighed and examined; school children are medically examined every -month. Maternity .allowances and layettes for babies also . form part of the welfare scheme; .The io^al number of children registered in rho Av-ls district at the! present time is 108,900, this inoluding both infants and school children. The greatest difficulty ' experienced by workers hf the devastated .regions' is the lack of milk. In 1914 the Arras region had 41,000 cows, to-day it has j"!y fXC-0, and this number includes more than 50?0 supplied by Germanyi of which 50 per cent, are unsatisfactory owing <o fooi-and-mouth disease. In spite of all difficulties, the progress already made is stupendous when it is considered that only two years ago the district was a \vild3rness pitted with shell-Holes and overed with tangles of barbed wire.