New-York tribune., 1914-11-01
KING ALBERT ASKS
U.S.. TO Aid BELGIUM
Makes Direct Appeal for
Food for His Starv-
ing People.
S2,500,000 A MONTH
WILL BE REQUIRED
II. c. Hoover, Relief Chairman,
Requests Newspapers to Open
Subscriptions.

London, Oct. 31.-Albert, King Of the
Belgians, has asked the American peo-
pie through the American Commission
for Relief in Belgium, to help feed his
starving people this winter. The Kings
message, written under fire in the bat
tie before Dunkirk, follows:
81 am informed that American officials
and citi. ms in Belgium and England
are working to save my people from the
horrors of famine which now threatens
them. IL is a great comfort to me in
this hour of sorrow and misfortune 10
feel that q great-hearted. disinterested
people is directing it's efforts to reliev-
ing the distress Of the unoffending
civilian population oil my country.
Despite all that can be done the
suffering in the coming winter will be
terrible, but the burden we must bear
will be lightened If my people can be
spared the pangs Of hunger, with its
frightful consequences Of disease and
violence.
81 confidently hope tnat the appeal
of the American commission Will meet
with generous response. The whole
hearted friendship of America shown
my people at this time always will be
precious memory"
Commission in Sole Charge.
The American Commission for Re-
lief in Belgium is an official body rec
ognized by the various governments
for the transmission of foodstuffs into
Belgium. 1t is the only channel
through which food can be introduced
into Belgium and by its association
with a committee in Belgium, has the
-, 20 Tho 1ictt.t hn-
tion of food within that country. II. {.
Hoover, chairman of the commission,
which has headquarters in London,
makes the following Jpeal to a
American newspapers:
1--WE hav received reports from
members of this commission who were
sent into Belgium. They have the as
sistance of the National Committee OF
Relief and it's branches throughout
Belgium, together with the help of the
American ministers and consuls and
local officials. Their reports show that
there are still some 1000 900 people in
Belgium. In many centres the people
are receiving an allowance Of little
more than three ounces of flour per
capita daily.
This is not question of charity
or relief to the chronically poor-it IS
a question of feed ng an entire popula-
ton. The situation affects the wealthy
and well-to-do as well as the poor. 1t
touches every home IN Belgium. Our
experts calculate that in order TO avoid
actual starvation Belgium must have
every month a minimum OF $4,000 tons
of wheat, $1,000 tons of corn, 5000
tons Of peas or beans. and limited
amount of bacon or lard.
Only Ten Ounces a Day.
This will allow rations of ten
ounces per capita daily, which is about
half the usual soldiers ration. All this
will cost S4,0O0,000 or S5,O00,000 month
ly. There is no money in Belgium.
The whole cr.dit machinery has
ceased. Eighty per cent Of the people
are unemployed.
"A plan may be devised whereby
such Belgians as possess property may
give obligations 70 pay when the WAT
ends. hut even If we could realize on
these obligations we must still have at
least S2.500,O09 monthly in food or
money with which to buy 1t. mat
these figures are no e%aggerauon Is
proved by the fact that Belgium I'm.
ports in normal times an average Oh
100000 tons of cereals monthly. Ihls,
together with us own plOuuNIiN"'
which with accumulations IS now eX-
hausted.
During the last week We have re-
ceived and expended in emergency 1000
$500 600, and yet this is only four days
supply. The problem is immediate
The Belgians are helping themselves,
but they can do little. The British and
French are under such such strain that
they also can do little. Besides, these
nations. together with the Dutch, nave
million refugees on their hands
Americans must feed Belgium this WIN
ter. There never was such call on
American charity, and there never was
a famine emergency so great
"Will you, therefore, in the interests
Of humanity, open subscIlPIloH
among your readers earmarked FOR
the Sole Purpose of Purchasing and
Transporting Food? Every dollar so
raised will be used to purchase food
in ne United States. Information as
to what centres and what relief age 4
cies in the United States viii under
take the purchase and dispatch VIII be
cablcd later"