Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-23
ENGLAND Is MECCA
OF FUGITTVES FROM
WARS LURID zone
Crowds of Sad-faced Bel
gians Throng Folkestone,
Presenting Strange Con-
trast to Its Usual Holiday
Makers.
LONDON, Sept. %.

LONDON Sept. %.
BY every boat refugees from Belgium
pour into London They have lost home,
money clothing, everything, and but for
the ready and kindly help of the War
Refugees Committees would be both
friendless and destitute All that can he
done for them is being done. and many
houses in the West End and in the
suburbs of the city are being placed at
their disposal
1t is estimated that since the beginning
of the war about 5000 refugees have ar
rived at Folkstone. The hotels and
boarding houses there are crowded with
them, and they fill the streets in every
direction. But 1t is not the usual holiday
crowd which Folkstone knows so well.
These sad-faced people who walk sobcrly
about or gather in little groups to discuss
topics which arc of absorbing interest to
them, are not happy rollickng holiday
makers nor is their language that which
is usually heard at the picturesque re-
sort. Folkstone is now a city of refu-
gees. They have come from all parts Of
France and Belgium, particularly Bel
gium, and in increasing numbers as the
days have passed A fortnight ago 25O0
people would have been considered a
large number to arrive in one day. This
week 5000 is no uncommon number. and
the vast majority of these have been
refugees.
They have been of all classes, the very
poor, who are cared for by the relief
committee, being comparatively small
proportion. Though every boat fron Os-
tend and Dieppc now brings number of
little groups Of families, who have evil
IDENTIFY gathered together all their most
cherished possessions in small bundles,
and with little or in some cases no money
in their pockets, they have come to Eng
land confident that they will not be
allowed to starve
WELCOME IN STRANGE LAND.
The arrival in Folkcstone of each batch
of these refugees is a most interesting
study and a most impressive one. Their
joy upon stepping for the first time in
most instances, upon the soil of Eng
land is always evident. They smile at
the officials, who always treat them with
consideration and respect, some of them
cheer and seem. for the moment at least,
immensely happy and relieved.
Folkestone has seen many happy re-
unions and many pathetic dsappoint-
ments in the last few days. One old man,
who had been separated from his wife in
Belgium, was on the quay the other day
when the Ostend boat came in. There
she is, There she is." he cried, dancing
about in his excitement as he explained
to all who were standing by how they
hai
doubted il they would ever meet again
On the other hand there are scores of
people who stand each day for hours out
side the station gates scanning each
face as people pass out, and who come
away sadly each night when they are
told that the last passenger has left the
quay.
Last night hundreds of refugees ar
rived at Charing Cross station, most OF
them coming from Antwerp Waiting
for them on the platform were all sorts
of willing, kindly helpers. There were
Red Cross nurses, Boy Scouts, Catholic
priests and host Of lady Interpreters.
who had volunteered for the work A
feet of motorcars, organized by the War
Refugees Committee, was waiting to
take the travellers to their destinations.
EXILEs FROM CONVENT.
Not the least pathetic were party of
nearly 60 nuns of the order Of the Little
Sisters of the Poor, who had been driven
out of their converts in Brussels and
other parts Of Belgium. English sisters
of their order were waiting for them.
Only one thing was lacking in the ad-
mirable arrangements made for the re-
ception of the refugees-hardly any of
the interpreters spoke Flemish Several
of the poorer people knew no other
language. and there We're few who could
understand them. Flemish-speaking resi-
dents Of London who wish to do what
they can for these poor wanderers have
been requested TO communicate with the
War Refugees Committee al the General
Buildings, Aldwych.