INASMUCH

Evening Star, Issue 17394, 2 July 1920, Page 1

INASMUCH

[By Eev. C J. Bush-King.] In tho face of the latest information from Europe of the appalling conditions amongst the women and children, one cannot but stand amazed at the decision of a public body " declining a request that they should organise a collection in aid of tln» fund for the relief of starving children in Europe." Tho latest files from England publish facts and figures that arrest the attention and demand action. "Starvation not a threatened calamity, but a frightful and actual tragedy." Multitudes of helpless mothers and stricken children are perishing for the want of food. This is not m Tibet or Africa, liut in Europe. •It is a terrible fact that in some districts there is not a child alive under the age °f seven years. Thousands of adults and children have not tasted any normal food for weeks, but have existed on roots and leaves and dandelions. The olive-green color of their skin and the deep-sunken evos testify to their ghastly sufferings. These poor people—mad with hunger—-have in some cases eaten the flesh from the bodies of their dead comrades." No meat, -no fats no milk, and a white loaf valued at £4-0. Babies have died in the thousands, their starved mothers, unable to give them anything to eat but frost-bitten potatoes. The Relief Commission now at work have not enough food to meet all che cas*s before them, and it has been necessary deliberately to select which children shaft be saved and which must be 10-ft to die. Serbia, one of our Allies, is suffering. Major Hanau writes: "The war has left Serbia, with 503,000 fatherless children, and of tnese 100.000 are quite destitute . The amount of tuberculosis among children is alarming." Austria, an unwillinsr enemy, has similar experiences. Dr Hilda Clark writesEven toddlers of one to five years are hardly ever seen m the streets, for thev can hardly toddle, and unless you undress them and ask their ages you would not realise what had happened. Yet many, of these children can be saved quite quicklv it tresh milk can be given, and even the bad cases may be cured bv cod liver oil " General Smuts writes: "It is the most awtu! spectacle m history, and no one with any heart or regard * r human rleatiiiy can contemplate it without the deepest emotion. It is a, case ... for a mission ot rescue work such as the world has never seen. Britain never makes war upon women and children, and, further, Britain never stands aside and allows her erstwhile enemies to starve In the face of these facts, in the face of our national traditions, we cannot allow such an appeal as this to pass without our help. Bribin's honor is at stako in this matter. Britain's future lies in accepting this burden or rejecting it. Lord Weardale, the chairman of the "Save tho • Children Fund" in London, has arranged that " every donation is put on active service in 24 hours." " Life is made up of opportunities, character of choices." Here is our chance to help five million starving children.