SUFFERINGS OF GREEKS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 9, 9 August 1946, Page 3

SUFFERINGS OF GREEKS

CORSO NURSES REPORT AFTERMATH OF OCCUPATION ff A distressing picture of the dislocation of Greek village life, and of the aftermath of German occupation is drawn by Miss Iris Lawson of Dannevirke in a letter received at CORSO Headquarters, Wellington. Miss Lawson, a former dental tutor sister, is with a CORSO Public Health Team in Western Macedonia.

“We climbed 2400 ft. to Paliogratsanon, a village just below the snow line—hard going, as we had only a mule track to follow. I carried out examinations, and did some extractions, and the nurse and I examined the children for scabies and visited a number of people who were sick in their homes. All the children are thin and small, and had such old faces. It is pathetic. Their living conditions are awful. “This village was absolutely destroyed by the Germans as a punishment for sabotage. I believe that the men from here made a practice of blowing up ammunition dumps and destroying communications. An old Greek who lived seven years in America and seems to run the village, told me vivid , stories of the war years. He said they hid Australian and New Zealand soldiers for a long time. Now there is not one building standing, and the people live in bits of shelters they have constructed against the side of a ruin.

“I took up some boiled sweets, and there was great joy when the children found out what they were. Their clothing is very poor, and the footwear dreadful—mere bundles of rags tied up with string, surely most inadequate in the winter time. I feel convinced that there could be a drive for children’s shoes in New Zealand.” To maintain the teams of workers in Greece, and to send similar teams of doctors, nurses and welfare experts to -China, CORSO is appealing for funds. Donations should be addressed simply “CORSO Wellington” or they may be forwarded to the nearest CORSO Committee.