New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-15
BELGIAN WOMEN
PLAY BIG PART
Help State to Feed Army
of Children Left by Their
Soldier Fathers.

Brussels, Aug. l4.-Mme. Wander
velde, the English wife of the Belgian
Socialist Minister, is taking an active
part in the organization of the relief
schemes.
accompanied her on several visits
this morning. We went first to the
military hospital. We left there two
bulky parcels containing seventeen
kilos of cigars for the sick and wounded.
Then we went to the depot from which
soup is sent out to all the schools in
the city. About 5000 children ere now
fed daily. Very soon the number Will
be 10000. The soup is a meal in itself:
II is made of fresh vegetables and
meat.
In the courtyard saw great piles of
vegetables. They are given by poor
statesmen for their still poorer friends.
Nine. Vandervelde explained that the
soup is provided by a committee OF
women, but tremendous quantity OF
fresh vegetables arrives every morn
ing from these generous-hearted trades
men.
NJ. Jacomain. the official engaged,
pointed out with pride the system OF
the organization. From mighty caul-
drOns the soup is poured into big yes
sells and quickly sent out to various
schools. Organized from one centre,
the cost of the relief work is thus con-
siderably lessened.
Later we saw some hundreds of hum
cry children in the poorest quarter OF
Brussels eagerly devouring the soup.
Each soldiers wife receives IL cents
l. n -. Ja,r fc- n
so they need the help greatly.
Nine. Vandervelde and | also visited
one of the schools that have been
turned into provision depots. The Bel
gian government has bought an enor-
nous quantity of provisions, and the
Rue du Vaudure school alone contains
400 sacks Of -four, as well as piles
of cheese, macaroni, sugar and so on.
mere peonle come and buy at ordinary
prices. When the distress becomes
acute the food will be distributed free.
Nine. Vandervelde accompanied her
husband yesterday on daring journey
toward the frontier. She said:
81 took with me some hundreds OF
red silk handkerchiefs, for our Bel
gian soldiers, who have nothing to pro-
tect the backs of their necks from the
sun. They were touchingly grateful.
We were, of course, furnished with all
kinds of passes, but our ear was
stopped again and again and our ere
dentials examined with minute care.
Coming back, when about twenty
five miles from Brussels, we were fired
on. We escaped uniniured, however,
and not even the car was damaged. l
did not feel at all afraid, and the
driver kept his head and hurried on.
The shots came from wood, and 1t
was a narrow escape. Our sentrles,
added Nine. Vandervelde with laugh,
"are wonderfully Jealous, but | am
going again tomorrow.
The association of NJ. Vanderyelde
with the Belgian Ministry, has done
much to identify the new spirit of de-
mocracy with the central view of ma
tional existence. An ardent advocate
of peace and international friendship,
VI. Vandervelde is known TO have been
one of the most resolutely convinced
that in this crisis in her fate Belgium
could not be content with formal pro-
test, but that she must fight for her in
dependence to her last man.
In a country hitherto supposed to be
exceptionally under clerical DONNA
ton il is significant that it is very
small part the Church has taken IN
this time of great emotional strain.
IL will be interesting TO see the effect
that the loss of the grip of the Church
at This crucial moment may have upon
her position when the new Belgian ma
tional spirit, confirmed by trial, can
turn its energy to problems Of govern
ment and personal liberty.
Pelgian women are taking promi-
nent part, and that not only in replac-
ing men in subordinate work. Much OF
the power of the resistance in the
Liere forts was due to the women of
the town of Liege. who twice a day
risked their lives in visiting the forts,
bringing provisions and new heart.