New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-06
SIR GILBERT PARKER
PLEADS FOR BELGIUM
Distinguished Novelist Pictures the Hunger and Desola
ton of Invaded Kingdoms People, and Appeals to
American Generosity as Chief Means of Relief.

carry with them. Ihis Httle town OF
$4,000 people did its best TO meet the
terrible pressure, and its citizens went
without bread themselves 10 feed the
refugees. How can small municipal
/ ity suddenly deal with so vast catas-
trophe? Yet slowly some sort OF order
was organized out Of chaos, and when
/ the government was able to establish
refugee camps through the military the
worst conditions were moderated, and
now, in tents and in vans, on fortu-
nately situated piece of land, more than
! three thousand people live, so far as
comforts are concerned, like Kaffirs IN
a karoo or aborigines in camp IN the
back blocks of Australia.
"The tents are crammed with people
and life is reduced 70 its barest ele-
ments. Straw, boards and few blan-
kets and dishes for the rations, that
constitutes the menage. Children are
born in the hugger-mugger OF sucn
conditions. but the good Holland cltl-
zens see that the children are cared
/ for and that the babies have milk. De
voted priests teach the children, and
/ the value of the military organlza-
ton Eliminates the whole panoply OF
misery.
"Yet the best of the refugee camps
would seem TO American citizens like
the dark and dreadful life of an un-
derworld in which there IS neither
work. purpose nor opportunity. II Is
a sight repugnant 10 civilization. Inc
saddest and most heartrending thing
have ever seen has been the patience
of every Belgian, whatever his state,
whom | have met.
Sixty-six Cents for Family.
Among the thousands of refugees
| have seen i'm Holland, in a long
stream that crossed the frontier at
Maastricht and besieged the doors OF
the Belgian Consul, no man, no woman
rallied or acclaimed against the horror
of their situation. The pathos OF
lonely staring apathetic endurance Is
tragic beyond words. So grateful, so
simply grateful are they every one Tor
whatever is done for them. None oegs,
none asks for money, and yet on the
faces Of these frontier refugees saw
! stark hunger. the weakness come OF
long weeks OF famine.
zone man, one fortunate man, from
Verviers, told me he could purchase
as much as 66 cents worth OF food Tor
himself, his wife and child for week.
T 4 H.
cents worth of food for a man, his
wife and child for whole week, If he
was permitted to purchase that much
Sixty-six cents! That is what an aver
age American citizen pays for his
dinner in his own home. He cannot
get breakfast; he can only get half
3 breakfast for that at the Waldorf or
the Plaza, New York. This man was
only allowed TO purchase that much
food. if he could, because II he pur-
chased more he would be taking from
some one else, and they were living on
rations for a week which would repre-
sent the food of an ordinary man Tor
a day. The rich man can have no moro
than the poor man.
"It is a democracy of famine. There
is enough food wasted in the average
American household in one day TO keep
a Belgian for fortnight in health
and strength. The American committee
needs So. O00,0 900 a month until the next
harvest. IL is huge sum, but 1t must
be forthcoming.
"Of all the great powers OF the world
the United States is the only one not
now at war or in peril of war. Of all
the foremost nations Of the world the
United States is the only one that can
save Belgium from starvation IL she
will She was the only nation that
Germany would allow a foothold for
humanity's and for Christ's sake in
Belgium. Such an opportunity, such
responsibility, no nation ever had be-
fore in the history of the world. Spain
and Italy Join with her. but the initia-
tive and resources and organization are
hers.
Around Belgium is a ring of steel.
Within that ring of steel are disappear
ing and forever disappearing the popu-
lation. Towns like Dendermonde that
were ten thousand are now only our
thousand, and in Dendermonde twelve
hundred houses have fallen under the
iron and FIRE of war. Into that vast
graveyard and camp of the desolate
only the United States enters with ade-
ouate and responsible organization
upon the mission Of humanity. No
such opportunity was ever given to a
people: no such test ever came TO
Christian people in all the records OF
time. viii the American nation arise
TO the chance given it TO prove its civ
ilization is the real thing, and will its
acts measure up with its inherent and
professed Christianity?
Wards of the World.