THOUSANDS LIVE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 122, 20 November 1922, Page 7

THOUSANDS LIVE

RESULT OF DOMINIONS' HELP,

FOOD FOR THE NEAR EAST, REFUGEES

dr; wirt's immigration scheme

(UNITED PRBSS ASSOCIATION.—COPMiaHT,) (AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZBAI.AND CABLI ASSOCIATIM.) (Received 20fch November, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 19th November. Doctor Wirt, the International Commissioner of the Near East Relief Federation, has arrived from Athens en route to New York. He stated that two shiploads of food and clothing from Australia and New Zealand saved thousands of lives among the perishing refugees. He ' paid a tribute to Australians and New Zealanders as being amongst the most generous people in the world. The Federation, co-operating with' the London .Lord Mayor's fund, is administrating 229 orphanages, containing over 100,000 orphans. Between 50,000 and 100,000 Greek refugees are encamped and shelterless at Athens and Piraeus. Most of these are women and children, and' about one:third of them are threatened with death from cold and starvation. Dr. Wirt appealed to Australia and New Zealand to continue the relief shipments, because another million Christian refugees will probably be homeless during the coming winter, Kemal Pasha having decreed that the evacuation of all Christians in Asia Minor must take place before the end of the year. He 1 expected the arrival- of a number of Australasian officials,' which would ensure Australasian administration of the Australasian relief (shipments. Dr. Wirt estimates that there are about 10,000 eligible immigrants between the' ages of 14 and 16 years among the orphans, and he intends to ask the American ■ Government to permit the ' settlement of some thousands in America. He will also appeal'to the Dominions to extend to these orphans the'same facilities as accorded to Barnardo orphans. / ■ I