The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-11-03
HELP NOW OR STARVATION
Seven Million People Without
Money or Work Face Death
From Hunger This Winter
Unless Much Relief Comes
Quickly; Newspapers Are
Appealed To
by the Associated Press

London. Oct. 31-(5:ee - nh
King Albert, of Belgium. has asked
the American people to help feed his
starving people during the comm.
winter. His message. written under
fire in the battle before punkirk and
transmitted TO the American commits
sion here for relief in Belgium. fol-
lows:
Il am informed that American Of
fiCials and citizens in belgium and
England are working TO save my peo-
pie from the horrors of the anime
which now threatens them. 1t is a
great comfort to me in this hour OF
sorrow and misfortune to feel that a
~great-hearted. disinterested people is
directing its efforts TO relieving the
distress Of the unoffending civilian
population of my country
Despite all that can be done. the
suffering in the coming winter Will
be terrible, but the burden they must
bear will be lightened if my people
can be spared the pangs of hunger
with its frightful consequences OF
disease and violence.
Il confidently hope that the appeal
of the American commission will meet
with a generous response. The
whole hearted friendship shown by
American people at this time always
(signed) ALBERT"
Inc american &OIIliIllSSiOI lOI e
lief in Belgium, an official body rec
Ognized by the various governments,
is the only channel through which
food can be introduced into Belgium.
BY it's association with a committee
in Belgium it has an efficient agency
for food distribution. H. c. Hoover,
chairman of the commission. today
issued an appeal to American news
) papers,, in which eTsaid:
, I'VE have received reports from
members of this commission who
t were sent into Belgium. Their re-
ports show that there are still some
: 100000 people in Belgium. In many
centers the people are receiving an
, allowance of a little more than three
: ounces of -four per capita daily.
+ "Our experts calculate that to avoid
! actual starvation Belgium must have
l every month a minimum of 5000
tons of wheat, $1,000 tons Of corn
5000 tons Of peas or beans. and Z
r limited amount Of bacon or lard. Al
: this will cost $4,000 900 or $1,000. 00t
monthly. There is no money in Bel
t GUM. The whole credit machiner,
+ has ceased. Eighty per cent of tn
: people are unemployed.
"a plan may be devised whereof,
q such Belgians as possess property ma,
V give obligations to pay when the wa
s ends, but even if we could realize o.
these obligations we must still hav
e at least $500, 900 monthly in foo
n or money with which to buy it.
During the past week we have re
ceived and expended in emergenc
food $500, 900 and yet this is only fou
h lays supply. The problem is i'm
n mediate. The Belgians are helpin
themselves, but they can do little
The British and French are unde
n such strain that they also can do Iii
h tie. Besides these nations. togethe
with the Dutch, have a million re
fugees on their and American
n must feed Belgium this winter. Their
never was such a call on America
"a charity and there never vas a famin
.r emergency SO great.
will you. therefore. III the II
- terests OF humanity, open a subscriI
2 ton among your readers,
For the sole purpose of ~purchasin
" and transporting food Every dolla
so raised will be used to purchase foo
= in the United States.