Babies Like Old Men

"The babies of Athens have the faces of old men."--report from Greece.

It is estimated that 40,000 people died of hunger in Athens and Peiraeus between last Oct. 1 and Jan. 26. But last week starving Greece had a glimmer of good news. Germany and Italy would allow the Red Cross to supervise distribution of 14,000 tons of wheat and flour which had already been received from Haifa and other ports. Underfed Greek stevedores who are to unload the cargoes are so weak that they will be allowed twice as long as usual to empty the ships. Germany and Italy also agreed that 500 tons of Turkish food could be sent to Greece.

This news raised hopes that the Axis would sanction a Red Cross plan to distribute 15,000 tons of wheat monthly. The plan was being promoted by the Swedish Red Cross, and Sweden had agreed to provide the shipping tonnage. Canada and the U.S. were ready to furnish the wheat. It was believed that that amount of wheat would be enough to prevent actual starvation in the Greek cities and islands where conditions are worst.

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