Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-21
People Driven From Comfort
able Homes Have Become
Objects of Charity.
OVER 100000 REFUGEES
CARED FOR IN ENGLAND
Appeal Made to the United States
for Assistance to Suffer
ing Nation.

LONDON. October 81, a.m-Lord
Gladstone, former governor general OF
South Africa, and his associates, who
are directing the war refugees commit
tee, regards the temporary assignment
of the Belgians to the hospitality of
the various English cities are merely
an emergency work.
Lord Gladstone, in statement made
today. explained that the government is
bearing the cost of the railway trans
portation of the refugees and that the
local government board. which is a de-
partment of the English government
under the direction of Herbert Samuel,
is considering plans for the permanent
relief of the Belgians and for their en-
ployment under satisfactory social con-
dftions. More than 100000 Belgians
are already in England, and Mr.. Sam
uels' board will probably name a COM
mittee shortly to consider means to pro-
vide for their permanent care during
the winter and possibly during the en-
tire war
Glasgow now has 5000 Belgians;
Leeds, 1000. Birmingham 1000: Cardiff.
5000; Dublin, 200: Cork, 900, and TWEEN
ty-hve other cities have smaller num-
bers. There are also many of them in
villages and on farms. 1t is estimated
that there are $4,000 in London.
Probably 100000 Belgians in all are
refugees in England. but $4,000 still
have some money. Many of these how
ever. VIII also soon be penniless.
Inc boats from Flushing and Calais
are still bringing large crowds of Bel
glan refugees daily.
Plight Excites Pity.
The plight of the Belgian people, both
at home and in Holland, England and
France, is stirring the hearts and minds
OF men even in countries already dis
traught by the horrors of war
Figures are necessarily vague but a
conservative estimate is that 1850, 200
Belglans out of 4 population of 7,00O,-
600 have been expatriated Lord Glad
stones committee says that 10000 ar
rived in London during the past week,
and the womenS relief committee
which sent a ship to Holland last week,
reports that in eight cities of Holland
the refugees number nearly 100000; in
other words, they are more numerous
than the native populations. The Folke-
stone committee alone has the names
of $4,000 refugees on its lists, some
among them having little money, and
only a few having winter clothing
Folkestone already has established a
maternity home, and two hospitals,
which are well filled.
There are many gentlefolk among
these fugitfves. Belgians who are not
used to labor, and who accept charity
reluctantly The London committee
has twenty-seven subcommittees in
different cities in England, Scotland
and Wales. and these organizations
are placing refugees in homes as rap
idly as possible. Alexandria Palace is
being used as the central point for the
reception work. Its skating rink.
cob
buildings all are being utilized. Lady
Mcdowell and Lady Emmott head COM
mfttees for collecting warm clothing,
for which work is done by Boy Scouts.
Wounded Soldiers in Hospital.
Belgian wounded are scattered in
British hospitals. Their whereabouts
have been registered and this informa-
ton is available at the Grand Hotel,
in London.
The penniless refugees here are suf-
fering less than those in Holland and
elsewhere who are without money.
Many of them say that the poor, the
sick and the aged at home are in a
condition more pitiable than is their
own.
A prosperous glass manufacturer of
Charleroi, an employer of several hun
dred people, may be taken as typical of
the way most of these people look to
the United States for help. This man
requested the publication in the United
states of ar open letter addressed to
president Wilson craving American
help for the people in Belgium.
Their money soon will be gone" this
manufacturer said today, and the pay
rolls are discontinued. Food is scarce
My people must either starve or beg
where they can find givers."
The editor of the Independence Beige
of Brussels is now in London. His pa
1rs, TIL
Client and Ostend, and it will shortly
appear in the British capital. This man,
speaking today of the Belgian exodus,
said:
There are perhaps today 2,0oo, 900
Belgians outside the borders of their
country. 1t is doubtful which are the
better off. those outside or those in
side. Millions more would have gone
had they not been too poor or too opti-
mistic. 1t is useless to urge them to
return and live under German rule
They Will remain away until the war is
over. no matter what happens l came
out with my family of four persons
All our baggage was in two handbags
and we had little money. 1 have a city
home in Brussels and a country home
outside. 1 do not care to see them
while the Germans are there"
Problems for Solution.
The tremendous responsibility of car
ing Tor these Belgian refugees presents
problems which are being discussed at
length in English newspapers.
Countless suggestions have been
made. These include colonization and
the establishment of new lace facto-
ries and similar industries The fact
that British unemployment has been
increased by the war accentuates the
problem. One London newspaper has
collected more than S155,00O for the
refugees.
This same paper has published an in
terview with King Albert who ex-
presses his gratitude for what has
been done on the behalf of poor
Belgium, now merely the edge of the
nation" The king urges that the
Belgiahs be given work and not sup
ported, by charity.
The Contributions to the various re-
lief funds are almost too numerous
to describe They include cash gifts
from brides who have renowned .ex-
pensive weddings and given the money
these would have cost; money saved
by factory employees by denying them
selves and their children outings, cash
obtained from the selling of toys at
auction and money gained by disposing
of personal treasures. One man
fyiy h,y