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Show THE FIRST SQUARE MEAL How Red Cross Has Fed Italian Prisoners. Last spring the Red Cross workers at Berne were busy arranging to care for the American soldiers who were taken prisoners by the Germans, and now the new exchange agreement means that Italians from Austria on their way back to Italy are being cared for in hundreds. They are a pathetic pa-thetic lot, these "grand blesses" the hopelessly wounded men but they are always delighted with the prospect of going home, even though it may be going home to die. Nearly all of them are tubercular. The method employed is this : The Italian Government sends a train into Austria through Switzerland to gather up the men released under the exchange ex-change agreement. The train crosses the Swiss border anil at Buchs is met by delegations from the allied Red Cross organi .ations, and under the present plan the food is furnished by the American Red Cross. To many of these men this is the first square meal that they have had for years. Clo! fling fl-ing is also furnislKid them. Each man of the 3(10 which each train carries is given cigarettes and a small American Hag. and many who have .been in America, some of whom have taken out their first papers, are owrjnrerl a't the bit of red. whire and'ldue and most demnnsi rat ivc in their delight. ''"he representatives of the Ileil Cross remain on the train until it readies Zurich, then return to Switzerland again. it is the food which America- has sent over which gives to lliese men their first meal food which has been saved by eaiing smaller portions, and by going v-;i luiiit. |