Putnam patriot., 1914-11-06
HOLLAND LETTER
Thousands of Belgian Refugees Invade
 Country
Letter from Rev. John Van den NOort


 land. Ne can hear the cannons booming and laundering. We daily see flying machines over our heads high up in the air, autos dashing through the town by dozens, soldiers marching through our villages by the thousands and strangers walking up aud down the streets by the ten thous- ands
 The papers state that about one mil Hon refugees are in Holland mostly Beleians living near the boundaries, also about S6,oo0 Belgian soldiers and about 8 ,u0O English included Nearly 5u0,000 fled from Antwerp as soon as the siege beean. They all crossed out boundaries and were welcomed here.
 There are towns of l9,opo and less inhabitants where 60 Co 70,e00 refugees are housed and fed. Roosendash, Flushing, Breaa, ftlhurg sand our own town are filled to overdowing. It banies my description how all these people are fleeing into Holland. On the main roads leading 10 Holland could be seen for miles vehicles of all descriptions from automobiles and hi- cS eles to wheelharrows, some people bareheaded and hafeioeted. lt was a race for life. Most of them had left everything behind them.
 Among this immense crowd were priests and monks and religions of every description. There were a few sisters who were pulling n hand cart, a very old. sister sitting on 1t. Some times dozen families were carried by two or three wagons tied together dragged ahead by old plugs. All the good horses were seised by the army.
 Ali these were fleeing not knowing where, but they were all glad to be on Dutch soil and the Dutch people did all in their power to relieve them and to feed them, but where to lodge them and where to find food Imagine in a little town called Putte, loo, ,000 ar rived in few hours. Nothing left but to seek shelter in the woods, in barns and stables, but most people rushed on fearing they were not even free from Germans on peaceful Dutch soil
 The ladies with their thin and styl- ish shoes, not being used to tramp of ten or twelve miles, suffered most and several had thrown their shoes away and were walking on their bare feet or stockings. There were among these crowds sisters with all their orphan children, who had fled from the city.
 You will know from your newspa- pers that most of the Belgian people whose property was destroyed around Mechlin, Louvain, Liege, etc., fled to Antwerp, the last refuge in Belgium. Antwerp, being fortified and consider. cd impregnable with its numerous forts, which ,hnve cost millions upon millions, the people considered them selves safe. There were provisions in the city to last many months. Vessels full of grain and provisions were moor ed in ,the 5chelde. There were about 200, 900 soldiers in the city, English in- cuded, but the siege lasted only twelve days. As soon as the siege to the city began and the impregnable(3l forts began to crumble one after an- other, the people were warned and ad- vised to leave but the great exit began when bombs and pfojectiIes began to fly ,over the city. The bombardment did not last long and little damage done. Of these strong fortfesses one collapsed at the first shot.
 The Belgian army became panic stricken and left the city in fairly good order, as the newspapers stated. Then the heroes from England took upon themselves the defense of the city but AS soon as they saw the Germans com Ing to the attack they also ran for dear life and like good sportsmen they ran for Several hours, to reach the Dutch boundaries, where they arrived hun gry and thirsty and where also they were we'll received with the Belgian soldiers. There are about 85,0O0 Bel gian soldiers and between two and three thousand English Of course they had to give up stheir arms and will be detained here till after the war is over. Among these prisoners are two generals and many officers.
 The worst feature Of the flight Is that 800 prisoners were set free in Antwerp and these also fled to Holland. How to get rid and bow to feed all these people will be q trying ordeal. Yet so far there has been no want. The reia- gees are divided and scattered in every town and city. The ladies have every where organized committees, money is collected in large sums, provisions are sent around by automobiles and other wise. The people are lodged in halls, churches, schools, tents, and even the soldiers have given up the barracks to give shelter to the unfortunate.
 It Is wonderful to see the exertions of these ladies to make people comfort. able. some even do the washing and cleaning, although they never had a bfoos in their hands before. This is
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