Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-20
HOLLANDS WAR BURDEN.
Border Towns Double Population b,
Receiving Belgian Refugees.

| N0C0tvtOSs G0tSbdn SNoSNSSSSs
Correspondence Of Associated Press.l
Bergen op Zoom, Holland. Nov. A.
Conditions among the Belgian refu-
gees crowded into this little city are
typical Of the situation in all Dutch
towns near the Belgian border. With
a population of 10000 ordinarily. Fer
gen op Zoom now shelters about 10000
persons. Most of. the homes have given
over rooms to refugees. Earns. ware
houses churches and other public
buildings have been turned into dormi-
tories and eating houses.
During the siege Of Antwerp refu-
gees were sent here by the trainload.
Most of them were penniless, for the
Belgians who had money went to Lon
don or some of the large Dutch cities.
The burden of feeding the refugees
has fallen heavily upon the Dutch gov
eminent and the various municipalities
which are doing their best to make the
homeless Belgians comfortable. Most
of them have only the clothes they are
wearing and philanthropic committees
are providing underwear and endeavor-
ting to supply warmer garments for the
peasants, many of whom are lightly
clad.
Thousands of Belgians who were un-
able to get into crowded trains walked
to Bergen op Zoom. Invalids were
brought on pushcarts. Some of the
refugees carried enlarged portraits OF
relatives. Others carried chairs. FIRE.
quently the women, had sewing ma
chimes on dogcats together with
bundles of clothing tied in sheets.
The Belgians and Hollanders living
near the border have a common Ian
guage and are similar in appearance.
Many wear the wooden shoes seen so
generally in Holland and the little girls
have quaint white caps worn on frames
with wire curls that project In front OF
the ears. The peasant men also wear
distinctive Flemish costumes-trousers
extremely loose and buttoned to q
short wasted shirt Of the same mater
ial.
Having no work or means Of recre-
alton the refugees in Bergen op Zoom
gather about the railway station where
Dutch soldiers stand on guard and keep
the Belgians away from the passages
to and from the trains.
Refugees who have lost members OF
their families have chalked notices on
the walls Of stations in many OF the
Dutch towns. Such signs as Jean
Marie de Maries Of Antwerp went to
Amsterdam on Oct. Is" or will Marie
de Maries Of Antwerp please write to
her mother In care Of Roosendaal Re-
| lief Committee where she is? may be
seen written on the brick walls Of rail-
way buildings or posted in station win
dows. Relief committees in all the
towns are flooded with letters from
persons seeking lost relatives.
The same il fugees may be seen In
six different Belgian and Dutch towns
within a week. They walk or ride as
they may, constantly searching for lost
| members OF their families. eagerly
seeking the lists Of various relief COM
| mittees for traces Of missing relatives
or friends.
There are many blind persons in the
| throngs. Some are without friends or
relatives to lead them, but good Sam
aritans always seem to lend hand.
The kindly natures of the people are
plainly shown in the present crisis
Heavy as the burden IL upon Holland
there Is little disposition on the par.
Of the Dutch to urge the Belgians 'un-
duly to return to their own country