The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-11-10
-ropy FROM BRUSSELS SHOWS
HOW THE PEOPLE ARE FAC
ING STARVATION.
SIX MILLION ARE HOMELESS


world, Except With Germany, and
Are Using German Money. Food
Scarce. and Women Work Fields.
RRUSsELS.-The Belgians are a
.oooDle almost without a country as
Tho result of the ravages of the Euro
noan war. Between 100000 and
100000 peopel are homeless. The
lowest estimate here places the num-
bor Of homes destroyed or so badly
aomaged as to be uninhabitable at
millions.
Supplies are exhausted Food
stuffs. forage, horses, cattle and
automobiles not commanded by the
BeIgians when he war began have
baen seized by the Germans. Practi-
cally every acre is now swept of ev-
arything valuable.
Malines, Louvain, Liege, Namur,
rharIeroi. Mons, Dinani and a score
.of small places have been so shat
tered by the artillery of the opposing
armies that less than half Of the nor
NAL population is decently sheltered.
II is estimated that there are now
100000 Belgians in England and
5000 in Holland.
A report from Lfmburg says that
the supplies for the bread line have
been exhausted and the feeding can
be resumed only when American food
arrives.
Country Without Beef.
The seizeure of cattle for the armies
has left the country without beef,
milk and cheese. The supply of grain
ordinarily imported from the United
States and Canada has been cut off.
For several weeks Flanders was able
to help the eastern portion, but now
that the lowlands have become the
scene of fighting Bruges, Client, Ant
werp and Ostend are suffering the
same distress which earlier befen the
eastern part of the country.
At Liege, the Pittsburg of Belgium,
the steel industry has been brought
to a standstill. At Antwerp, the New
York of the Belgians, all shipping
has been stopped. Hundreds of big
steamers lie idle at the docks along
the Scheldt. Thousands Of freight
trucks are rusting beside the canals,
while the horses are dead on Flemish
battIefeIds. The drivers and freight
handlers are in hospitals or with
King AlbeTt's army.
Newport and Ostend, the latter
suggesting Atlantic City to an Ameri-
can, are occupied by the Germans and
the hotels are filed with German
wounded. A row of hotels along the
beach at the resort fly the Red Cross
flag.
Brussels, the deserted capital, has
been spared destruction, but it's in
dustries are shut down. Lace work
ers are being fed at soup kitchens.
The stores have no food to sell and
the public has no money to buy If
opportunity offered. Members of no.
Bile families have discharged their
servants and Joined the bread line.
The fear is commonly expressed
that the city with its famous build
ings will be destroyed either by at
tack or by the Germans themselves
should they be compelled to retire.
German Money Used.
German money is in general use.
Military proclamations in all store
windows announce that the mark
must be accepted. Brussels has no
postal communication except witt
Germany. Everything is censored.
No railways are operated in central
Belgium. Most of the lines are with
out bridges. Canals are the only ave-
nues for the shipment Of freight.
Belgians here estimate that one
fifth of the Belgians remaining in the
country have employment of some
Sort. These include the owners and
Iesees. The beet crop has been ruin
ed by the armies and sugar factories
are closed. There are no horses or |
other equipment for harvesting or
trains to move the small amounts Of
Deets that have survived the devasta-
non Of war and few able-bodied men
10 assist the women, who are endeay-
oring to ward off starvation by gath
ering what little remains of the crops
IN the fields.
Antwerp's diamond cutters are in |
the army. Malines' tapestry factor
les are in ruins. Many cotton mills |
are in ashes and those that still stand |
are closed. All universities and |
schools have been abandoned. Nearly |