The Washington herald., 1914-10-04
BRITAIN HARBORS
$4,000 BELGIANs
Refugees from All Classes
Flee Before Approach Of
Kaiser's Armies.
ALL IN PTTFUL PLIGHT
Fall of iege, Started the Exodus. ard
Stormins Of Brussels Accen-
tuated the Rush.
By HERBERT TEMPLE.
aal Cabs 70 rhe WaLhington HeraA.

Specah Cabs 70 The Wa1hington Herah.
London. Oct. a.-London Is now enter
tanning about 5000 Belgian refugees. They
are OF all classes-peasants, artisans
shopkeepers and diamond merchants
ana few have money with them. The
charity organizations are heavily taxed,
however.
Several times have been accosted by
Belgian refugee on the street, who
insists IN pouring out an euloEy of Eng
land and Englishmen. British hosts are
taking the Belgians TO see the sights Of
the town. and many 'alien friends'' are
noticeable in the show places
The pitiful plight Of the BelEians Is
especially touching because they are
naturally frugal folk. Every man. high
and low. owns his own home in Belgium
and usually has a little saved besides
for investment. Now most OF them are
ruined.
Flight to FoIkstone.
The great Belgian trek began shortly
after the war started. After the first
rush Of success, when the Belgians held
back the advance guard Of Germans, a
few OF the wealthy classes made a pre-
cipitate removal to FoIkstone, not, how
ever, WITHOUT bringing with them plenty
OF money. their Jewels. and other port
able property. They were welI-to-do mer-
chants whose supply of ready cash and
liquid securities were easily negotiable
at that time They put up at the better
class hotels st FoIkstone and remain
there to this day.
The sudden fall Of Liege changed the
whole situation. German heavy artillery
which could reduce this fortress in so
short time became q compelling menace
to the whole Of Belgium, and there then
commenced a rush Of Belgian refugees to
the safe shores Of Great Britain.
Mixed with the wealthier classes there
commenced to arrive a large number Of
middle-class merchants, shopkeepers, and
artisans. Liege Is one Of the wealthiest
OF the Belgian towns. It 10 the center
OF an extensive coal and iron Industry
and contained wealthy coalmasters and
ironmasters, who. along with their hordes
OF workmen, their wives and families
Ned with haste to the coast, leaving be-
hind them practically all their belong
ings. The boats from Ostend to Folk
stone began to show the dire straits OF
these people, and many Of them who
were able 10 scrape together the peces-
sary passage money landed on our shores.
Fall of Brussels.
The fall Of Brussels accentuated the
rush. Ostend was threatened; all Bel
gium was at the mercy of the Germans,
Then the rush to FoIkstone reached
climax. All sorts and conditions OF
people, all sorts Of nationalities fed the
country. Following quickly the sack of
Louvain. the fall of Namur. and the
tragedy Of Malines. the rush became a
rout- Three steamers a day. bringing as
many as 1000 refugees. arrived at Folk
stone from ostend.
LOuvain. short time ago a seat of
learning, with its famous Catholic Uni
versity. now a heap Of ruins, contributed
some Of its most learned professors ana
teachers to the rush. and many of its
1000 scholars. Louvain also boasted a
large railway construction industry whose
artisans swelled the debacIe. There were
also the wealthy shopkeeper and his
ruined assistants side by side.
From Namur. which. like priceless
Louyain, was a tourist center with a
season came lodging-house and hotel
keepers.
Mslines. with its 5000 inhabitants,
which boasted a large wagon and car
construction works for the state rail-
ways and thriving furniture industry,
sent over its quota Of well-to-do citi-
zens and clever craftsmen, many of
the latter now in poverty and distress
Citizens Of Termonde. whose chief in
ldustry is jute spinning and weaving
for the making OF ropes, also were among
the REFUGEES
The Folkstone hotels are full Of Belgian
women and children whose fathers are
nshting the great fight for their home
steads. The little ones romp about while
the mothers cherish them anxious-eyed.
telegram arrives whole family
Is plunged into mourning by the loss Of
a father or brother. The children's games
cease and an unmitigated sorrow claims
them. the details OF which are too pain
full to write.