Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-05
Confederates Say Free Port for Sup
plies Would Be Just Depot
of Enemy.
TERRIBLE CONDITIONS IN LAND
Chairman of American Relief Com.
mittee Describes State of Affairs.
NO OBSTRUCTION BY INVADERS
Hoover States that Not Loaf Of
Bread or Spoonful of Salt
Taken by Military in
Little Kingdom.

LONDON, Dec. G.--Herbert CLARK
Hoover, chairman OF the American com
mission for relief in Belgium, returned
to London today after a weeks trim of
inspectIN in Belgium. Mr. Hoover re-
ported that the distribution Of foodstuffs
sent in care of the American commits
sion Is well under way, but stated that
the condition OF famine which threatened
the population is still desperate and that
on account OF the attitude of the belliR-
erents the Belgians must stilI appeal TO
the people OF the United States for relief.
1T is difficult to state the position of
the civil population OF Belgium without
appearing hysterical," Mr.. Hoover said
In his statement. 1T do not know that
history presents any parallel of a popu-
lation OF 100000 surrounded by a ring of
steel and utterly unable by any eonceiv-
able effort OF their own to save them
selves,
e Statement of Germans.
From the nature OF things II f. impos-
sible for the commission even to possess
an opinion on the rights and wrongs
which have created this situation. The
Germans state fatty that the people OF
Belgium are nominally dependent on the
importation of foodstuffs for ffve-sixths
of their subsistence; that the Germans
have not the slightest objection to the
Belgians or anyone else importing food
stuffs into Belgium; that It is not the
Germans who have blocked the sea and
there is no obligation on them 70 feed
the population who could, through the
normal course Of trade, obtain sustenance
The allies. on the other hand. insist that
free port for the importation OF food
stuffs into Belgium would practically
amount to an intrepot for food supplies
for the Germans. It Is enough for as that
there are 100000 people ground between
gigantic miIlstones.
Meet with No Obstruction.
"We are meeting with no obstruction
from the military authorities of Belgium
in the prosecution Of our work. Not one
loaf OF bread or one spoonful OF salt
that we have introduced has been taken
by the military. The most stringent or
ders have been given that We shall have
no interference and cur members meet
with respect and assistance In ali Qnar-
tiers.
There are considerable quantities OF
vegetables available IN certain districts.
In some localities there Is sti1 q supply
of cereals for two OF three weeks, but
in certain other localities there has been
no bread available for more than q fort
night Every soul win be depend upon
US for bread within thirty days.
80 far our efforts have necessarily
been devoted to provisioning the larger
centers. 1t required organization and
patience to be able TO penetrate the out
lying towns and villages. It win be diff
ficult for the people OF the United States
to comprehend the difficulties, which we
meet with in purely executive matters in
the elaboration OF this work.
Clock stopped in Belgium.
The clock has absolutely stopped i'm
Belgium. An industrial country, which
was dependent on the overseas before
is now walled up. with 70 per cent OF the
people idle. There are no telegraphs.
telephones. railways or postoffiees. ex-
eept for military purposes. The Belgians.
OF q military necessity. are not allowed
10 pass from their own towns. and CON
seqnently there is no communication
throughout the country. except by per-