Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-29
BELGIUM DEPENDENT
UPON AID FROM U.s.,
SAYS YSPHILADELPHIAN
Country a Veritable Prison
and People Subjected to
Severest Treatment, Ed
ward Burton Robinette
Reports.

Belqians are still looking to America
10 relieve the distress and suffering that
daily are increasing in that country.
This statement was made in London
yesterday by Edward Burton Robinette'
member OF the Philadelphia banking
firm of George S. Fox & Sons. Mr.
Robinette has just completed an auto
mobile tour Of Belgium, and declares the
country is veritable prison, that the
people are subjected TO the severest treat
ment and that their state is deplorable.
The description Of Belgian conditions Is
contained in dispatch published in the
New York sun today. The authenticity
of the interview 10 vouched for In a cable
gram received in this city today by c.
C. Harrison, Jr, from the American
Commissioner in London.
MIR. RoBINBTTB's STORY.
he story told by Mr.. Robinette is:
"old men, women and children are dy-
ing because the right kind Of nourish-
ment for sufferers from various diseases
cannot be obtained and before long, un-
less supplies keep pouring into the coun-
try healthy Belgian men and women
will die OF actual starvation. But be-
fore that happens the pangs OF hunger
will probable drive them to measures,
futile but desperate, which will bring
terrible retribution from the army of
occupation.
Burnt indelibly upon my memory are
pictures of Louvain, Malines, Lierre. Duff
fel, Wise and Temines. In these towns,
which have populations ranging from 5000
to 10000, the destruction was so terrible
that It reminded me of Pompeii. The
only difference was that bricks and walls
are still standing and look newer than
In Pompeii. In Wise, for instance. with
a population before the war OF 6oOOO'
1 had heard that only three houses were
left standing, but DR.. Wickliffe Rose,
chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation
Commission. who is now in Belgium
! studying conditions, told me that ne
could find only one house not burned
1 myself was unable to find even one.
FEW RESIDENTS VISIBLE.
with the exception of Wise, where
only one or two families have returned to
their ruined homes, the burgomRsters
of the various towns say that 60 to 80
per cent. of the population has returned.
A casual observer motoring through the
country would not think this true, as so
few people are visible. on closer eNami-
nation one finds family, or what is left
of II. in the cellar or behind the charred
and broken walls, with the broken places
in the windows filled with bits of bricks.
Here they live without protection or
roof under the most terrible and pitiful
| conditions None, except in isolated in
stances has decent bedding or sufficient
clothes. The weather during the week OF
my trip was very bad and 1t will become
worse, but even under these conditions
the people could live II sufficient food
were furnished them. Yet, paradoxically,
| In many districts meat may be had, and
It is today even cheaper, in some places,
than normally. The reason is that the
people have no fodder and sell what cat
tie they have left.
30 PER CENT. DESTITUTE.
These people now face lack of dairy
products, such as butter and milk. At
MaHnes there is no milk at all. However,
the great need is for bread and salt, and
in many places for potatoes. There ia
practically no wheat, -four or salt in Bel
! gium except that shipped by the relief
commission. The percentage of the popu-
lation which is absolutely destitute is 30,
Everywhere l went was told that by the
| end of January IL would be so per cent.
|
This information 1 got from reliable
| business men and bankers in LieRe,
where stayed overnight with NJ. Van
IHoegaerden, whose Arm employs moro
than 60OO in its steel works and also owns
/ extensive coal heids. Van Hoegasrien
told me that LieEe had been without
bread for a couple OF days the week be-
/ fore, The commission is now getting
wheat and -four through. and while was
IN IAegs four boatloads were received
| from Rotterdam.
"As / watched the T.oor being fed in
Brussels and as l saw them standing I'm
groups in the thiciSly populated cities of
Iiege, Namur. Charleroi and Mons, with
/ hunger and despair hunting them MIC
| tured what might happen II the flour and
wheat and salt which our own and other
countries are generously supplying should
give out. One of the first places / visited
was Malines. where the people had been
on the verge OF starvation several times.
| When / was there they were greatly dis-
i tFessed lest the supplies should again give
| out before relief could come from Ameri-
| ca.
PHILADELPHIA FOOD ARRIVES.
"aappily found when I returned 10
Rotterdam that a shipment would arrive
in Aialinas in time TO prevent prlvation.
1t was part OF that shipped from Phlla.
delphia. On the day left Rotterdam Oh
eight boatloAda sent on the canals hvs
were from the Philadelphia. shipment
They go 10 ohent, NamuF Antwerp and
Brussels and will be hne New Years
presents. l saw 1000 tons OF supplies
shipped on canal boats in one day, Thli
Is magnificent work
"on the day that / left Namur 1 wa
told by Baron de Gasiffier, head OF tn
Belgian Commission cooperating with
ours there. that he understood there wal
great suffering In Tamines, south oi
Chartered. Little seems to be known oi
the terrible ordeal undergone by the pso,
pie Of this town. / went there and found
Il almost totally destroyed. At the Tow
Hall found bread line reaching som,
distance up ne street, All those IN Il wait
lnE Tor the half lear and plnt u SON
which they received. The BurEomastal
and the Relief Committes showed me tha