The American Red Cross Magazine (Vol. 8, No. 2, April 1913)American National Red Cross
History
The American Red Cross Magazine (Vol. 8, No. 2, April 1913)
American National Red Cross
American National Red Cross -- Periodicals; Red Cross and Red Crescent -- Periodicals
It seems clear, however, that as the harder part of the winter comes, aid
will, in many instances, have to be given in other ways than the one I
have mentioned, as 12 ounces of bread a day will not indefinitely keep
the body and soul together. Thus far, in fact, most of those who have
received aid have enough money for a little salt and a few olives, for a
few candles and a bit of charcoal. But lately we get the complaint more
and more frequently that these resources are exhausted and that the bread
ration no longer suffices alone. Once in two weeks, in fact, each person
gets a half bowl of soup. This is made possible by a very efficient
little soup kitchen which the Catholic sisters have opened. But this,
too, is certainly only a trifle. Again, as wintry weather comes, we get
calls for clothing, bed quilts, etc. Practically nothing has yet been
given in this line.
I have thus far been speaking exclusively of the people under the care
of the “Societe de Secours.” There is also in the city an “International
Committee,” which has been taking up other sides of the same work. It
has, for example, in operation an observation camp for those who have
been exposed to smallpox. It also charters steamers to convey to Asia
Minor free of charge those who wish to seek employment there. I had a
long interview with Mr. Forbes in Smyrna and brought to the committee
details about his offer to employ several thousand men in licorice
digging. They are therefore now sending him a first load of 1,100 persons
by the steamship _Assouan_. It strikes us all that to give them like this
an opportunity for steady work is about the best service that can be
rendered. The largest enterprise of this committee is the maintenance of
a concentration camp, which houses 6,000 refugees. Though they have to
live in tents they are otherwise under the best of care. The government
is military, the sanitary conditions are excellent and everyone directly
under the eye of the workers. Unfortunately the operating cost of
this camp (about Lt. 80 a day) is so great that the scheme cannot be
extended to the others. This committee, moreover, finds itself in a less
encouraging financial condition than the “Societe,” and with a deficit
already on hand, is not venturing beyond its present range of work.
Then, finally, the needs of the towns in the provinces are begging to
be brought to our attention. In many respects they are more sadly in
want than Salonica itself. Naturally the armies have absorbed all the
available foodstuffs. Moreover, dozens of villages have been burned to
the ground and many towns have been quite thoroughly looted. The same
sort of story comes from all the surrounding regions, Monastir, Uskub,
Strumitza, Brama, etc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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