Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

ands. Immediate steps were taken to assist in the work. The first shipload of relief supplies for the Near ORGANIZED AMERICAN MENNONITE RELIEF 43 East, accompanied by forty-two men, left New York on the transport Pensacola, January 25, 1919. This group of workers included nine Mennonites, among whom were the brethren, Aaron Loucks of Scottdale, Pa., and William A. Derstine of Germantown, Pa. The latter two went as special investigators and general directors for the opening of the work, and remained four months. The others were sent out for a year or more. On February 16, 1919, a second group of 252 men and women, including four Mennonites was sent. It was found necessary to abandon our first idea of organizing a separate work for our representatives; and our men were assigned to important places of duty under the organization of the Near East Relief. Special atten- tion was given at home to the raising of funds and clothing. Twenty-seven men and two women served in this field for a period of one or more years. One worker, Menno Schellenberger, Hesston, Kansas, died on the field from an attack of small-pox. His remains lie buried in the soil of the country for which he gave his life. It was found that the Quakers had done some definite work in Russia during the war and now an opportunity for greater work was apparent. In April, 1919, the Ameri- can Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, Pa., ‘sent out invitations for codperation in sending a unit of relief work- ers to Russia. About this time a letter from one of the Men- nonite workers in France contained the following expression, “The future of the Unit lies in Russia.’”’ This suggestion was given serious consideration. In the month of May following, a committee consisting of Vernon J. Smucker, Orrville, Ohio, and S. E. Allgyer, West Liberty, Ohio, was sent to Europe instructed to investigate the field with a view of undertaking relief work independent of other organizations. These men spent about two months on their mission. Their report favored an effort to open an 44 FEEDING THE HUNGRY independent work in the countries of Central Europe. Accordingly another Committee of three was appointed to continue the investigations. These were chosen from the men on the field who had had actual experience in the work in France. They were, Alvin J. Miller and Roy Allgyer who together chose a third member, A. E. Hiebert. This committee commenced its work about October 1, 1919. They traveled through Germany, and after reaching Austria reported from Vienna October 23, 1919, that they found extreme need in these countries which were only partly supplied by the Hoover Food Commission. Leaving Bro. Hiebert at Vienna the brethren Allgyer and Miller proceeded via Budapest, Hungary, Bucharest, and Galatz, Roumania to Odessa and Cherson, Russia, where they spent some time in investigation. Returning from there to Paris, on Decem- ber 4, they sen