New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-03
STARVING BELCIANS
APPEAL TO HOOVER
All of Those Remaining at
Dendermonde Absolutely
Destitute.

London, Dec. Herbert Clark
Hoover, chairman of the American Re
lief Committee, received to-day from
the municipal authorities Of Bender
monde letter which is typical Of the
many pathetic requests for relief
which come to the committee daily
from Belgium. In this letter it is said
that 1900 houses in Dendermonde
have been destroyed and that the popu-
lation OF the city has been reduced
from 10000 to 1000. All of those who
remain belong to the working class,
and as they have no means of obtain
ing employment they are absolutely
destitute.
1--WE have nothing here" says the
letter. "0ur greatest needs are for
food, beds, clothing and coal"
Twenty thousand Belgian refugees
are expected from Holland in the
course of the next few months. Gov
eminent officials gave this information
bO-udy 10 the W dt heAuSseS NNi-ii'''N
tee, which issued an appeal for as
sistance on behalf Of these persons.
Brussels, Dec. Brand Whitlock,
the American Minister, is subject to
great demands on his sympathetic
heart. He is the court of last appeal
by Belgians from the decision and
orders OF the German military admin
istration.
Belgians can hardly speak to him
without tears in their eyes. He has
become one OF the heroes Of the coun-
try. They come to him with every va
riety OF trouble, if there is sickness IN
their families, or IL news has been re-
coived of death or injury TO relatives
at the front, and in the thousand con-
tentions that arise between individuals
and some officer or non-commissioned
officer of the German army OF occupa-
ton.
Mr.. Whitlock's position with the
German military people is also extraor-
dinarily strong, even though they may
prefer that he was not here. Ihey
seem never TO have resented seriously
his going 10 the markets at or
O'Clock in the morning and preventing
German commissary people from tax.
ing all or nearly all of the stocks OF
food. He is being actively supported
by the Marquis de Villalobar, the
Spanish Minister, who used 10 be IN
Washington as minister, but, as he Is
in delicate health, Re is not able 70 40
es much as he would like. Mr.. Whit
locks health also seems to have sur
fered by his great responsibilities.
Not even the words Merry Christ.
mas" may be written on packages OF
supplies sent 10 the starving Belgians.
The American commission for re-
lief in Belgium announced yesterday
that the placing by donors Of an IN
scription of any sort inside or outside
the package might subject the entire
CONSIGNMENT 20 confscation by officials
suspicious OF a military code message.
In one case which has come 20 the
commissions notice, it is instanced.
whole shipload Of goods bound for
Genoa-not, however, one OF the reiiet
ships-was held up for month De-
cause OF a single word printed on
bag-"Dantsig"
The prohibition extends TO expires.
sions Of sympathy and even initials Oh
senders. Private marks or tags are
equally Objectionable. The neutrality
conditions under which goods go from
Rotterdam into Belgium are that POSI-
tivelv no mark or message OF any de-
scription is permitted TO which Ger
man officials could object.