The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-10-27

Minister Living or Black Bread,
and the Supply of That Is Giving
Out.
BRUSSELS, Oct. 27.-Nearly 1000
600 persons in Belgium face famine
unless they receive help from the out
side at once
The American minister to Belgium.
Brand Whitlock, says that less than
two weeks supply of food remains in
the cities, while conditions in the
country districts are even worse
Though Germany has seized the food
in some cities for her soldiers, she still
disclaims responsibility for feeding the
Belgians
Mr.. WhitIock has had only peas
ant : black bread for two weeks. ana
the supply of that is short One hun
dred soup Kitchens are feeding over
100000 of the needy in Brussels Fam
lies formerly rich are discharciug
their servants because thev are bank
rupt. Noblempn may be seen slipping
into soup kitchens.
The factories are closed Many
stores remain open, but have no bust
ness. The street ears are being opera
ated. but the railway train service has
been abandoned. The supplies OF cof-
fee, tea, Hour, rye and salt are prac
tically exhausted
Reports received by Minister Whit
lCcll from Louyain. Liege and Namur
say that the conditions in those cities
are even worse than they are in Rrus
sells. Louvain has only a four DAYS
supply OF flour, while Licge has no
flour ut all. The peasants in many
districts have been forced to exist on
legumes, as the crops of beets and
cabbages have been ruined. The meat
ana milk supply have also been eut
| of. the army having taken the cat
tie
1t is declared to he absolutely essen.
| tial that food be obtained from Eng
| land. and il is hoped that the first
shipment is now on the water.
People Wandering Hopelessly.
Nearly half of these people who
have been able to remain in Belgium
are wandering helplessly from town 20
/ town. seeking shelter with friends and
relatives. Nalines, which formerly
had 6n000 inhabitants, has but few
| undamagcd houses standing. a sim-
| liar situation exists 1T Namur and
| Louvain.
The road from Antwerp to Brussels
is black with professions Of people
| moving in either direction. Wagons
and carts are filled with the wreckage
of their household effects. Thousands
on foot are carrying bundles or push
ing dogcarts, always moving, but with
| nc definite destination.
Other crowds are gathered about the
ruins of forts and rifle pits, staring
/ blankIy at mounds that are covered
with withered flowers and surmOuntee
by wooden crosses upon which the hel
NETS of dead Germans have been
placed to mark their graves.
Belgians OF all classes appear dis
heartened. Old women and cripple:
may be seen sitting near their shat
tered homes in Malines. nodding mute
lv at the cathedral with its shattere,
windows and totteriug walls-damage
beyond repair by shell fire.
Similar conditions are found in tn,
small villages between Antwerp an,
Brussels. Few stores are open Thosi
attempting to re-eStablish their home
find their roofs, which have beer
pierced by shells, no protection from
the rain that is now falling every day
The villages that stood near conteste,
q forts were literally razed, vet many o
) the inhabitants remain living in rudel,
$ constructed sheds. or tents.
> In Brussels the sides Of building
e and billhoards are plastered with Ger
a man military notices printed i
French, German and Flemish. TIL
+ streets are filed with German soldier
+ and marines. The automobiles of tn
a officers, carrying buglers to warn pc
destrians, are dashing in all direction,
n The city is quiet. All the shops an
> houses arc closed at Q O'Clock q
night. though the buildings are bright
J ~ lighted.
Jailed for Insulting Germans.
BY an official order there hay
been posted throughout the countr
o the names of Belgians and Britons VIII
i have been sentenced from month s
; one year 5 Imprisonment for insult
offered to German soldiers. Others ~
= warned to obey the military order
: and are also advised that the Ge
II mans have no intention of seizin
II non-combatants. The Germans al
II paying for everything obtained
II stores, the German commandant ha'
H ing requested that the names of an
III soldiers who Communicated bicycles
II food be furnished to him.