Verhovayak Lapja, 1946 (29. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1946 / Verhovay Journal
Page 4 Verhovay Journal July 31, 1946 Verhovay Journal I Journal of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Ass’n OFFICE OF PUBLICATION 8502 West Jefferson Ave. Detroit 17, Mich. PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY THE Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association Managing Editor: JOHN BENCZE Editor: COLOMAN REVESZ Editor’s Office: 436—442 FOURTH AVENUE PITTSBURGH 19, PA. All articles and changes of address should be sent to the VERHOVAY FRATERNAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION 436 —442 FOURTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH 19, PA. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: United States and Canada __________________$1.00 a year Foreign Countries ________________________$1.50 a year ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: P. O. BOX 7, WOOLSEY STATION — LONG ISLAND CITY 5, N. Y. Entered as Second Class Matier at the Post Office at Detroit, Michigan under the Act of March 3, 1879. Joint Relief Commission of the Internationa! lied Cross Reports on Conditions in Hungary... —Released by the American Hungarian Relief, Inc.— The following report was released recently by the International Committee of the Red Cross—League of Red Cross Societies, 4 Cours des Bastions, Geneva, Switzerland. HUNGARY 1. General remarks: Hungary' finds herself in the tragic and paradoxical situation of a country in which before the war, 90% of the total area was devoted to farming and where, now, famine prevails. Whereas she exported 13% of its production of foodstuff, its supply at this moment depends to a very large extent on imports. Until the beginning of 1944, the food situation in Hungary had remained almost at prewar level. Since it became a battlefield in 1944, Hungary has witnessed an aggravation of its food situation to such a point that part of the populaion is now threatened with slow death by starvation. Military operations have caused widespread destruction of the cultivated areas, and, at the be‘ ginning of 1944, have prevented the sowing of crops in an important part of the areable land. Livestock was taken to Germany and Austria by the retreating armies; this caused a complete disappearance of butcher’s meat. Small livestock also decreased greatly because of the slaughtering necessitated by the drought of 1945. Military operations caused the decrease or even the disappearance of food reserves. 2. Population: There are approximately 9 million inhabitants in Hungary, in addition to a large number of refugees both in Germany and Austria who fled during the military operations and have not yet returned. Approximately one million live in Budapest; the urban population including the only two other important cities of Szeged and Debrecen, numbers 13% of the total, while more than 50%' of the total number of inhabitants work on the land. Births have decreased from 19.6% in 1939 to approximately 11% in 1945, while' deaths increased from 13.7% in 1939 to approximately 20% in 1945. 3. The Children: Out of 2,200,000 children 200,- 000 are war-orphans of which only 40,000 are looked after in homes. Infant mortality which was of 12% only in 1939 now varies between 30 and 40% according to areas and seasons. Some 17,000 children are estimated to suffer from tuberculosis. The health, and at times even the life, of some 120,000 children under 12 years is threatened as a result of the poor food and clothing situation, and by the insufficient living and hygienic conditions. 4. Food situation: The average daily ration is estimated at 850 calories per inhabitant, and in Budapest, at 550 calories only. (The normal average ration is of 2500 to 3000 calories daily.) In the country complements to the ration can be obtained. In Budapest, the bread ration of 150 gr. per day is distributed 3 times a week only. Sugar is reserved to children at the rate of 200 gr. per month. The supplies of milk and meat are almost inexistant. The same applies to fats, which in 1945 already were rationed to 270 gr. a month per person. This situation cannot but become worse until the next harvest has been brought in. 5. Clothing and footwear: There is an almost complete lack of new clothes and shoes. Stocks have been either requisitioned or destroyed. Some 40,000 children of the Budapest Orphan’s Homes are without shoes or warm clothing. The Town Corporation could supply some to but 1,000 of them. The decrease in livestock and the consequent shortage of hides cannot allow an easing of the footwear supply situation. 6. Housing: In the towns a large part of the buildings have been damaged in consequence of military operations. Fire and bombardment have caused considerable loss of furniture. A quarter of the buildings of Budapest are unfit for habitation and half of the total number damaged. Hungarian Float in Milwaukee Centurama Wins Citation 350,000 spectators admired the 104 floats participating in Milwaukee’s Centurama parade held recently. A citation for Honorable Mention was given to the Hungarian flo.at which was planned and manned by the United American Hungarian Societies of Wisconsin, fellow-member George Weiler, President. Mr. Weiler, director-announcer of Milwaukee’s famous American Hungarian Radio Hour, officer of more than forty societies, former president of the Nationality Division, U. S. Treasury Department, (which sold more than 40 million dollars worth of War Bonds while Mr. Weiler was its chairman), has been elected President of the Milwaukee Civil Service Commission a few weeks ago. His manifold duties, however, do not prevent him from devoting a great deal of his time, energy and efforts to the causes of American Hungarians. As President of the Uunited Hungarian Societies of Wisconsin he is the ever present representative of this important body which, under his inspired leadership, has distributed more than five thousand dollars among American Hungarian societies and needy individuals in Wisconsin. Civic pride, devotion to common causes and cooperation are characteristic of the American Hungarians in Wisconsin whose enthusiasm was marvellously demonstrated by the beautiful float representing the United American Hungarian Societies of Wisconsin at the Milwaukee Centurama. President George Weiler and treasurer John Sinitz are seen standing in front of the float depicting above. A few days after the parade the following letter was received by Mr. John Fejes, Marshal of Hungarian Groups: “Dear Sir: Please, deliver this citation for Honorable Mention to your societies for the beautiful home-decorated float which the Hungarian people produced for the Centurama parade on the 100th anniversary of the city of Milwaukee. We all enjoyed and admired the combined spirit of your float, which means America and Hungary. We also appreciate the effort of your Presidmt, Mr. George Weiler, corporation member of the Centurama, who had charge of the entire nationality parade as Chairman. We hope you will be with us again, Yours truly, MILWAUKEE CENTURAMA.” Congratulations to the members of the United American Hungarian Societies of Wisconsin and their President, fellow-member George Weiler whose magnificent public record has earned him the respect and admiration of all Americans of Hungárián descent! * * * Speaking of floats, we just hear that the City of Cleveland, O., too, had a nationality parade on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. 175,000 spectators applauded the Hungarian floats, one produced by first generation immigrants and the other by their professional descendants. First prize for popularity, $100, was awarded to the Hungarian float representing a Hungarian village scene, and second prize for planning, $50, to the second float. The Hungarians of both cities, Milwaukee and Cleveland, are to be commended for effectively demonstrating their abilities! The lack of building materials prevents the reconstruction of damaged buildings; window glass and concrete, especially, are unobtainable. 7. Hygiene: In addition to nutrition diseases and hunger oedema, tuberculosis has considerably increased and detecting means, particularly XRay apparatus, are lacking. Venereal diseases have become widespread; there are more than 100.000 cases of syphilis. Hospitals lack essential equipment, medicines and sterlizing means. The number of beds has decreased from 42,000 to 20,000. An example may be given: the personnel of the Pathological Anatomy Institute of the Faculty of Veterinary Surgery of Budapest, through lack of the necessary equipment, has to perform dissections without rubber gloves. 8. Transport: Instead of the 45,000 trucks and 28.000 locomotives in use before the war, the serviceable rolling stock now only numbers approximately 10,000 trucks and 1,000 locomotives. More than half of the bridges and tracks are in use again. A great number of ships and barges have remained in Austria. 9. Coal and Industrial Production: Already largely dependent on imports of coal and coke, Hungary lost part of her mines through destruction during the war and cannot restore them owing to lack of wood for mine props. The coal necessary to the needs of industry and public services is in a large proportion lacking; this lack is complete for private needs. Industrial activity also suffers from the insufficiency of raw materials. The losses caused by destruction and by rebuilding are: Buildings 60% Rolling stock 70% Iron and metals 60% Textiles 50% Furniture 50% Available tooling will only allow a production capacity of 20 to 25% of that available in 1938, and some 70% of that is absorbed by reparations. 10. Inflation: The material and moral life of the country is overshadowed by an uncontrollable and extravagant inflation, as shown by the following figures relating to the volume of currency in circulation: Date Pengős Dec. 31, 1939 ............. 975,000,000 Dec. 31, 1945 ...... 765,446,000,000 Mar. 31, 1946 .. 34,001,600,000,000 Apr. 15, ’46 110,299,000,000,000 Apr. 30, ’46 .. 434,304,000,000,000 May 15, ’46 2,913,832,000,000,000 May 23, ’46 14,111,512,000,000,000 The U. S. dollar, originally worth 5 pengoes, was quoted on July 2 in Budapest at 30,000 trillion pengoes. Conclusion: Hungary is nowadays in a disastrous position. Everything is lacking. Relief consignments can be distributed according to the wishes of donors and to the exclusive benefit of the most distressed sections of the civilian population. They should include first of all: Milk and building up foods for children; footwear and clothing to insure their clothing next winter; pharmaceutical products for hospitals. It can be stated without risk of exaggeration that the despatch of such goods, even in small quantities, would save the life of many children and would in some measure relieve the distressing living conditions of the Hungarian population.
