1184

COPY
MFC
Compared with

{Copies to War Judge??
Brand & State
May 24/18]

[64]

Berne, May 22, 1918.
President Republic of the United States,
Woodrow Wilson.

Russian Section Bureau Relief Prisoners of War of
Berne the largest institution of that kind still in opera-
tion at Berne respectfully taken the liberty of making ur-
gent appeal in behalf Russian prisoners of war to you
noble representative of powerful American Confederation.
More than two million unfortunate prisoners who heroically
fought on the side of the Allies are now suffering and
dying in captivity. From the depths of those camps
comes the outcry to appeal to sublime charity of idealistic
and humane American people. No hope of early repatria-
tion for prisoners. On the other hand according to reports
of our mutual delegates who visited camps, especially those
of Dr. Schneelli and testimony of Sister of Charity
Szymkievitch, official representative of Russian Red Cross
in Austria condition prisoners became enormously worse
from absolute stoppage of any relief whatever from abroad.
Insufficient food causes disease, particularly tuberculosis,
We beg you to grant benevolent reception to our special
delegate Obereoutchef who arrives in America. We beg
first

41839