New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-30
UPRISING FEARED IN
STARVING BRUSSELS
Germans Unable to Sup
ply People of City
with Food.
~ Cable 70 The TrIhune. l

%@Ne'SSAls OSHS. s9s--1 ne COIEmlGteo Tor
the relief and sustenance of the people
OF Brussels is arranging to buy ire
mendous food supplies, The committee
is headed by Brand Wb:tl6ck. United
States Minister to Belgium, and the
Spanish MinNter as patrons. MIR.
Whitlock is taking the leading part in
the management Milton Shaier, an
American business man of Brussels, is
here to see about purchasing 1900
tons of cereals.
Supplies are being purchased by
funds subscribed by the people OF
Brussels. The German authorities
agree to permit transit of the supplies
through their lines, ard guarantee them
against seizure for military uses. Mr..
Shaler describes the needs Of the peo-
pie as great, and says that on Septem-
Der 20, the committee fed 100000 in
Brussels, There will be great suffering
IN Belgium during the winter.
Despite the possession of credentials
from the German authorities of Brus-
sells, Mr.. Shaler was detained in iail
two days at Liege en- route to Holland
and London. It is probable he will
purchase most of the supplies in Hol.
land.
The scarcity of food in Brussels has
raised grave problem, according to
Reginald c. Hawkins. who has Just re-
turned from Belgium, where he COM
pleted arrangements for the transfer
ring. Of wounded Belgian soldiers to
England
"The situation in Brussels is one of
great uncertainty" said Mr.. Hawkins
tonight. There is the gravest dan
ger Of starvation. Food is scarce, and
10000 people are applying for ratiOns
when the German administration is
finding it difficult TO supply. There is
the further danger that the working
men OF the city may lise in revolt"
Mr.. Hawkins was greatly impressed
by the spirit of the Belgian troops at
Antwerp. Regarding conditions there
he said:
Every night sortic is made and
every morning brings its quota of dead
and wounded, sometimes as many as
1000, making heavy drain on the gar
rison, but the usefulness of these eXpe-
dltions cannot be exaggerated. The
German Outposts are reported as almost
terrOriged, not night passing without
some Of them being picked off or some
OF their supply trains being blown up.
All these incidents tend to upset the
carefully planned arrangements of the
German army. The Belgians at Ant
werp have been nicknamed the black
rats on account of their destructive
noctural activities.
at is remarkable that in spite of
the vigor of the military operations the
greater proportion of killed and wound
ed are civilians. The Germans un-
dOubtedly have tried to strike terror
to the hearts of the people of Antwerp
in order that their determination to
hold out to the end might be shat
tered, but the firm resolve of King AL
bert to resist all German offers has
endeared him to the hearts of his peo-
pie and they are content to follow his
lead. This was shown when his ma
jesty refused even to receive the last
German deputation."
Mr. Hawkins added that the Antwerp
hospitals we're full and the fact that
the Germans with the occupation Of
Brussels had annexed the Belgian Red
Cross organization, including its funds,
left its Red Cross branches in great
difficulty. Consequently the Belgian
government gladly accepted the pro-
posal that convalescent wounded SOL
diers who, owing to the nature of their
injuries, would be unable to rejOin tho
colors, should be brought to England.
BurgOmRster Max of Brussels, who
Was dEEtoLGu yGbbC4ueJ Ou VIC SAhCl
of the German military governor on
the charge that he had ordered the
banks TO refuse to pay an instalment
of the indemnity which WAS due, has
been released, according to an agency
dispatch from 0stend. The release
followed the payment to the Germans
of 100000 francs (S6,000,0O0).
The war tax levied against Brussels
after the Germans had occupied the
Belgian capital was said at the time TO
be S40,00O,000.
The release of Burgomaster Max
again gives the picturesque Mayor Of
the captured Belgian capital chance
10 serve an intermediary between his
people and the Germans, position
which he has filled with extraordinary
originality. When the invaders entered
the city he procured very liberal terms
from them by guaranteeing good be-
havior on the part Of his people. By
means of posters distributed over the
dead walls Of the city NJ. Max con.
veyed orders and war news to his
people after the regular press had been
suppressed, and when this was forbid
den he mounted the steps of the town
hall every morning and read out the
Belgian version of the war news, VIII ch
patches printed in official German
papers.
a Reuter- dispatch from The Hague
saws that a Dutch committee has been
formed, under the presidency of DR..
Fr1iin, keeper of the state archives.
with the purpose of restoring the IL
brary at Louvain, which was destroyed
INV the Germans. Many of the coun-
try's prominent persons have been in
vited to cooperate in the work.
Rotterdam (via London), Sept. o.
The activity along the Belgian from
tier indicates that the Germans are
planning for siege of Antwerp within
a few days. More than 10000 men.
German naval reserves, have been
bTougbt from the North Sea towns of
KEEL and Hamburg to Brussels, and are
being held in readiness to serve on
ON iuproyised German feet should
Antwerp and Ostend be taken.
AS direct result of this move the
Dutch authorities along the Scheldt
have increased their watchfulness, for
during a siege of Antwerp England
MIGHT like to send reinfoFcements
tbTonqh the Dutch Scheldt, which
would be breach Of neutrality, while,
an the other hand, German victory
would bring danger Of an attempt on
the nart of Germany to use the mouth
Of the Scheldt as a base from which
to attack the British naval forces in
the North Sea.
been almost suspended. The town can
be reached by automobile, while one
small freight line from Rotterdam
maintains a desultory daily service.
Oniy those provided with extraordinary
Ss.ss..r4n md first class credentlals