The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-10-22
COND|T|ONS|N
BELGIUM STIR
THE ENGLISH
TWO MILLION OF SEVEN MILLION
POPULATION OUTSIDE OWN
LANO - SICK AND AGED AT
HOME IN SERIOUS PLIGHT.

fOME IN SERIOUS PLIGHT.
London, Oct 21-The plight of the
Belgian PEOPLE, both at home and in
Holland, England and France, is
stirring The hearts and minds of men
even in countries already distraught
by the horrors of war
Figures are necessarily vague, but
conservative estimate is that L.
500" pelgians out of a population
of 100000 have been expatriated.
Lord Gladstone's committee says
that 10000 arrived in London last
week, and the women's relief COM
mittee sent a ship to Holland last
week reports that in eight cities of
Holland the refugees number nearly
100000.
In other words, they are more
numerous than the native popula-
tion.
The Folkstone committee alone has
the names of $1,000 refugees on its
lists, some of them having little mon
ey and a few having clothing. Folk
stone has already established a ma
ternity home and two hospitals,
which are well filled. There are
many gentle folk among these fugi-
tive Belgians who accept charity re-
luctantly
The London committee has twenty
seven sub committee in different cit
les in England, Scotland and Wales.
and these organizations are placing
refugees in homes as rapidly as
possible. Alexandria Palace is being
used as The central point for the re-
ception work. Skating rinks, school
houses and unoocupied office build
ing all ace beng utilized.
Belgian wounded are scattered in
British noSpit1.s.
Look to United States for Aid.
The penniless refugees here are
suffering less than those in Holland
and elsewhere, however. Many of
them say that the poor, the sick and
the aged at home are in condition
mLre pitiable than is their own.
Most of the refugees look to the
United States to aid them.
The editor of the Independence
Beige of Brussels is now in London.
His paper has been published sue
cessively in Client and Ostend, and
it will shortly appear in the British
capital. This man today said
There are today 100000 Belgians
their country. 1t is doubt
full which are the better off, those
outside or those inside. Millions
more would have gone had they not
been too poor or too optimistic. 1t !
is useless to urge them to return
and live under German rule. They
will stay, whatever happens, until
he war ends.
Countless suggestions for aiding
he refugees have been made. These
include colonization in Ireland and
he establishment of lace factories
md similar industries. The fact that
British unemployment has been in
,reased by the war accentuates the
One London newspaper has
more than s155,000 for the
This same paper has pub
j. bed an interview with King Albert,
Who expressed his gratitude for what
las been done on behalf of poor
}ulgium, now merely the edge of a
,ation."
The king urges that the Belgians :
le given work and not supported by
Aarity.
Contributions Numerous.
The contributions TO the various
ellef funds are almost too numer-
MS to describe They include cash
lifts from brides, who have renounc-
d expensive weddings, and give the
money these would have cost and
money saved by factory employees by