New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
QUEEN THANKS YANKEE TOTS
Duchess of Argyll Sends Letter of Royal Acknowledgment
to American Children for Christmas Gifts
Milk for Belgian Babies.

Mrs. John Hays Hammond, chairman
of the War Children's Christmas Fund
Yesterday made public a letter she had
received from Princess Louise, the
Duchess Of Argyll, conveying an &C
acknowledgement from Queen Mary, OF
, England of the Christmas gifts made
by the American children to the chill
dren of England. In her letter Prln-
cess Louise writes:
Queen Mary desires me to say that
she is very much touched. Her maj
esty thinks it a most thoughtful and
svmpathetic movement which mas
prompted the children Of America TO
offer these gifts of warm clothing Tor
our children over here at this Christ
mas time.
you will receive letter from Prln-
cess Mary saying that it will be very
pleasant duty for her 70 accept these
Goods. coming from the children OF the
United States, thus receiving the CONT
dence reposed in her by each lttle
river who has at some small sacrihce
contributed to the War Children
Christmas Fund"
-Four thousand cases of condensed
milk for the babies Of Belgium were
Skinned on the Massapequa yesterday
bv the Committee of Mercy. The en-
tire mercy fund amounted TO S92, 100 Of.
Milk sent TO Belgium for the babies
Is guaranteed not to be consumed by
greedy adults, according 70 the BEL
oian food committee, the Comlte Ma
tional de Secours ct d'Almentation.
All children under three years OF age
are brought 10 the milk stations ana
fed there. Rations for grown-ups are
distributed az appointed hours, ana
each applicant presents a meal ticket
which is punched TO prevent repeating
j. Rogers Flannery, chairman Of the
Foreign Trade Commission OF flttS-
hurgh, Yesterday described actual con-
ditions as he saw them IN three
months visit to Belgium recently.
I'VE were very little troubled with
becgars." he said. The people are
taking their hunger and restitution
silently. do not remember that ! saw
a single tear shed in all my obserya-
ton of Belgium. The people just stood
numb and despairing. waiting for some
one TO come and feed them.
zone of the most interesting sights
I witnessed was the work Of the cloth
ing bureau of Brussels. Some OF the
wealthiest women of Brussels are
working in this bureau like day labor
ers. They are giving work 70 hundreds
Of poor women by paying them Tor
knitting shawls and stockings, and for
rcpairing old garments which are given
10 the committee. After being repaired
il goes % the disinfecting department
and is then cleaused. / saw piles OF
second hand clothing which looked 20
the superficial eye just like new when
qptlicants come 20 the bureau they are
required 10 leave their old clothing IN
nlace of the new. This is then sub
iected 10 the same renoyating process
If 10 is worth IT,
"All clothes and shoes sent out are
irdelibly stamped with the brand or
the committee So far as ] can see inc
committee has eliminated every posi-
bility Of fraud. The Germans. while
they refuse officially 70 give food to
Belgians, are assisting IN every way
81 found the average German SOLDIER
a kind and charitable being. but he .
must obey his orders. On one occasion
when starvation threatened town the +
Germans lent enough loNu " Nli' vi. .
mission 20 pull the inhabitants through.
OF course, il had to be returned from
the next consignment. J was told mat
in number of cases German soldiers
had voluntarily given Of their ratons
20 the women and children.
"Ehen one considers that a soldiers .
rations are calculated to give him just
enough food for health and strength,
and no more. this is a noble charity. .
The Germans also have placed every
kind of transportation az the disposal .
Of the commission when this does not
interfere with military arrangements.
1T would be impossible FOR me TO
describe the pathetically crushed con-
dition of Belgium and the gratitude 20
America. Our automobile carried two
American flags, and often | have seen
the emotional Walloon women push
forward and kiss them. They look on
America as their big sister and pre-
server. Some OF this impression no
doubt ia due 20 BRAND Whitlock. Tie
IS the BIZ '." .' P''g.um to-day"