Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-12-05
Clock Has Stopped for I'm
happy Country, Which Is
Now Hinged Around With
Hostile Armies,
100000 PEOPLE ARE
NEARING STARVATION
Germany Refuses to Extend
Assistance on Ground That
Food Would Be Plentiful but
for Other Nations.

LONDON, ice. ia.4H p M il'i
bert Clark Hoover, chairman OF the
American commission for relief ~
Belgium, returned 10 London today
after weeks trip Of inspeefion ~
Belgium Mr. Hoover reported that
the distribution of f0odstiffs sent ~
cure OF The American commission ~
well under way. but stated that
the condition OF famine which threat
ened the population is sui desperate
and that on account Of the attitude OF
Tho bclligcronts tho Belgians must
atll appeal To tho people Of the Unit
ed states for relief
No Parallel Ia History.
"it ia diffirult 10 state the condition
of The clyil popuIati0n ~ Belgium
without appearing hysterical, MI,
Hoover Hnid Ia his statement. u do
not know that history presents any
parallel 0f n population Of l,00OoOo
people surrounded by a ring Of steel
and utterly unable, by any conceivable
effort Of their own, to save them-
selves.
The Germans state fatty that the
Bolglan people are normally depend
ent on the importation Of foodstuiis
for fivc-aixthH Of their subsistence
that ID Us not the Germans who nave
blocked the overseas supply. and that
there is no obligation upon them TO
feed the civil population which could,
fhrohgh the normal course Of trade,
Iobtaln subsistence. The allies on the
other hand contend that q free pore
for the importation Of foodstuffs into
Belgium would practically amount 70
latuplvinr food for the Germans. IL rs
enough FOR us that there are seven
million people ground between two
/ gigantic millstones.
No Military Obstruction.
1--WE are meeting with no obstruc-
ton from tho military authorities OF
/ pcleium I'm our work. Not one loai
of bread that we have introduced has
been taken by the military.
eThere are considerable quantities
Of vegetables available in certain dis
ltriets. IN some localities there is still
ia supplv Of cereals for two or three
weeks. hut in ccrtain other localities
there has been no bread available lot
more than q fortnight Every soul
| will be dependent upon US for bieau
within thirty days
'sThe clock has absolutely stopped
in Belgium. An Industrial country
which was dependent ON the overseas
before, Is now walled up with seventy
per cent of the people idle There are
no telegraphs, telephones railways or
postofficcs except for military pui-
poses.
TRANSPORTATION Difficult.
Transportation by rail is possible
In only "a few directions. The Won
derful canal system Is blocked ~
many places by the destruction Oh
bridges and some canals have been az
lowed TO run dry.
"Therc are no courts and the pfls-
ona have been cmptlcd.
aThe people are most law-abidlnB.
The central and provisional govern
menta have disappeared. The city
land communal governments, however,
! ain exist and through them the dis
ltrlhution of food is being arranged,
"rhe detail OF the method is that
latter Investigation hy the communal
authorities. food tickets are issued IN
cheating the number and amount Of
fations to which the holder is entitled,
and twice daily this ticket is present
cd by the holder TO the food eanteehS
lfor its quota ana if duly punched. Ihe
ration consists Of bread, soup contain
ling potatoes. together with a llttle
coffee and salt.
Method Of Distribution.
IAN those who can afford 70 pay
lnre compelled to pay the communal
authorities at the rate Of four cents
ner diem per ration. The destitute
lare given tickets gratis. ,
''ln order To guarantee that chila-
Hren arc properly fed and that theS
Inre not subjected 10 the rigorous RAJ
Itions issued to adults. parents are
Ieoupelled to produce all children 10
communal doctors who are on con
slant duty In charge of the eanteens'
Iftve different kinds of tickets are IS
ispea. the mothers calling for different
ltvpes az rations The ticket for the
first siS months Of a child's life are
lpractically for milk alone,
pitIahlc Dcstitution.
.rrhc amount ANA character OF the
Idestitution perhaps may be appreel-
lated from the present positioh "
lHrnssels Of the population of ahuul
aa8, 400 remaining IN the city an nv
lerage OF 2iS.O00 were on the adn''
loaniecns and 5000 babies were ON me
lhnhv can,eons last week, or more than
Ione-third Of the total popula'ion.
probably no more pitiahle slsht ever
Was presented than the long lines OF
mothers Win tnlihltH ~ 81 tue '"'N'''
their turn at these canteens.
eRrussels consumed 5000 sacks Of
flour per diem. There We're Just WI
laackS az flour in the city when our
ffrgt shipment Of foodstuffs arrived.
when left BRUSSELS Yesterday morn
hne there were $4,000 sacks in the
leltv. or about five days supply we
lhave about two or three days supply
lin Tiege and similar supplies IN othet
leonters. such MS LoNain, tharieroi'
Namur and LuNemeurg