Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 244, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1915 — TO EACH AN APPLE [ARTICLE]

TO EACH AN APPLE

Soldiers in Trenches and Hospitals to Get Fruit Growers and Dealers Plan to Send Immense Consignment of Apples to Soldiers of All Armies Now Aft 'War. Chicago.—Every soldier In the trenches and hospitals in Europe will be given an apple in the near future, if plans now being worked out by a committee of the apple trade throughout the United States nre successful. It is proposed to have a vessel take over a big cargo of apples to be distributed free under the auspices of the Red Cross, and efforts will be made to get President Wilson and Secretary of State Lansing to have the several warring governments permit safe passage for portions of the big consignment to the various fronts and hospitals where the fruit can be placed in the hands of the Red Cross for distribution, especially among the sick and wounded. Apple growers and dealers who are endeavoring to send over the big consignment have learned that many of the lighting men are suffering because of lack of fruit juices, giving rise to scurvy and other disorders. Returning surgeons who have seen service iu the European hospitals are said to' approve heartily the plan to provide more fruit juices not only among the wounded but also for the men in the trenches. “We are working on this undertaking purely from humanitarian motives,” said one of the committee who is a leading wholesale apple distributor. “It’s going to cost a lot of money for the fruit alone, and we shall call upon all the people engaged in the apple industry to contribute a portion of the expense. At first the trade did not take kindly to the plan, as it was feared that vessels could not be found to carry over the applep. Then the Idea was conceived of chartering a ship which would take nothing but apples, and we believe that when the purpose is disclosed to foreign governments none will oppose free passage of our ship, for it will go on a mission of charity.”

A local apple man who has Interested himself in the matter, and who has figured out how it can be done, says: “It is a big proposition and will require skillful handling, but it can be done. The value of the fruit alone would approximate about $300,000 aboard ship at New York. We understand that there are about 25,000,000 men actively engaged in the various armies and navies in the European war, and probably as many more indirectly involved. To give them all an American apple apiece would mean at least 50,000,000, and taking 500 apples to the barrel, which would mean me-dium-size fruit, we shall have to provide 100,000 barrels-or 300,000 boxes, at the lowest estimate.”