Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-03
CHAOTIC CONDITION
RE|GNS IN BELGIUM
Crops Destroyed, Factories
Closed, Industry ParaIyzed,
Starvation at Hand.
Men IN ARMY OR EXILES;
WOMEN CLEAN THE FIELDS
q. S. Food Ships Hurrying Relief to
the War Stricken Natives
Who Remain.

BRUSSELS, November German
money Is in general use. Military
proclamations in all the store windows
announce that the mark, approximately
IS cents, must be accepted.
Conditions throughout Belgium are
chaotic Brussels has no postal COM
munication except with Germany
Everything is censored. No railways
are being operated in central Belgium.
Most of the lines are without bridges.
The canals are the only avenues for
the shipment of freight.
1t is estimated by Belgians here that
one-tifth of the Belgians remaining in
the country have employment of some
sort. These include farm owners and
lessees. The beet crop has been ruined
by the armies and the sugar and beet
factories are closed.
There are no horses or other equip
ment for harvesting or trains to move
the small amount of heetS that have
survived the devastation of war. and
few able-bodied men to assist the brave
off starvation by gathering what little
remains of the crops in the field.
Antwerp's diamond cutters are all in
the army. Maline tapestry factories
ruins and those that still stand are
closed. All universities and schools
have been abandoned. Nearly all the
physicians are at the front or serving
and nuns are caring for the sick and
wounded. Few churches are fit for &C.
cupancy as hospitals or otherwise. The
convent homes have been deserted nee
badly wrecked that they could afford
no shelter.
Belgians Entirely Isolated.
The canals leading from Belgium to
Holland and the one railway line be-
tween Antwerp and Rosendaal consti-
tute Belgium's only communication
with neutral territory. There are no
mails or Geographic service to Dutch
territory. The disheartened Belgians
are unable to communicate with their
relatives whether they are refugees in
Holland or soldiers on the battle line.
Their isolation is almost complete.
To the grief over their dead and the
exile of their government Is now add
ed the awful specter of starvation. The
single ray of hope is afforded by the
American commission for relief in Bel
GUM. The liberality of Holland is de-
scribed as splendid, but the country's
grain supply is exhausted. Great Brit
ain having limited Dutch importations,
the sole source of an adequate food
supply is the United States.
Even the lew BSlSianS with money
cannot buy food. There is no wheat,
-four, coffee or salt to be had at any
price. In many cities conditions are
worse than in the country districts
The bakeries are closed and vegetables
are practically the only diet The sup
plies that the American commission is
shipping will help a little, but thou
sands of Belgians are now positively
hungry. Imperfect means of communi-
cation have prevented the American
minister, Brand Whitlock, and other
prominent men from advising the world
FULLY OF the terrible situation that con-
fronts the Belgians as winter opens.
The absence OF King Albert and high
government officials have rendered it
impossible for the local authorities to
make their plight known.
The Germans are trying to induce
expatriated Belgians to return. but the
refugees appear suspicious and slow to
come back. The cargoes of food now
leaving the United States will actually
save limitless suffering and countless
lives. The bu-gomaster of I.imbourg
states that opportunities to work would
be preferable in the eyes of the people,
but since these are lacking, food from
the United States is the noblest contri-
button that can be ma lie to Belgium.