Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-22

cry and restitution prevail. The ut
terly destitute women and children are
unnumbered, flying in every direction
like rats before a flood.
A peaceful, thrifty, self-reliant peo-
pie, almost in an hour, have been
overwhelmed. Is it Gods judgment
Be that as it may. the sympathies of
great and rich America, as yet UNI
| harmed by the conflict, have been
aroused. A committee of American
citizens, acting with the Belgian con-
appeals for substantial manifestation
of your sympathy. This committee
expresses no sopinion as TO the merits
of the struggle now in progress. but
brings forcefully to the attention of
Americans that immeasurable suffer-
ing stalks abroad in Belgium and
wherever her unhappy people have
fled before the devastating hosts. It
says:
We cannot better indicate the situa
ton than to quote the words of an eye
witness. the wife of a present Minis
ter of State of Belgium who in a re-
cent address to the women of Ameri
ca, said.
Seven out of the nine provinces
that go TO make the Kingdom of Bel
GUM have been devastated by tho
most dreadful war known to history.
The peaceful countryside Is strewn
with the dead and dying. Thousands
and thousands of people have nothing
in the world left, not a roof over their
heads, no money, no clothes, and no
chance of earning a living of any sort.
THE sight of the poor refugees
streaming into Antwerp from Lou
vain and Malnes, women with babies
In their arms, their older children
elinging to their skirts, men wheeling
their decrepit fathers in wheelbar-
rows or helping along crippled
brother or son, is more pitiable than
any words can express
We may quote another eye witness,
DIR. Charles Sarolea, Belgian Consul
at Edinburgh, Scotland, who tele-
graphs thus from Belgium.
"Other belligerent nations may suf
fer from unemployment. but in Bel
GUM alone there has been created
whole nation of unemployed 1t is lit
orally true to say that a whole peo-
pie nave taken 10 tue Toad. Lay ait
er day, in every direction, mile after
mile, / met these melancholy process
sions of fugitives of every age, OF
every class. whole families huddled
up in carts, old women and infants
trundled in wheelbarrows."
America, comparatively unframed
by this world catastrophe, certainly
will not ignore the appeal of the Bel
gian non combatants for relief, with
out disregarding in any manner her
duty of neutrality, she can and will
succor the women, children and other
non combatants of stricken Belgium.
The Federal Trust Company, SIS
Devonshire Street, Boston. has kind
ly consented to act as depository of
this special fund and we earnestly ask
you to send without delay to that
Company such contribution as you
think proper. Checks should be made
payable to THE Federal Trust Com
pany. for Belgian Relief Fund"
All moneys collected will be for
warded through the Belgian Legation
at Washington, or other responsible
medium, unless otherwise specified by
the donors.
Clothing and other necessaries,
packed in cases, may be sent directly
to Hon. Pierre Mali, Belgian Consul,
rs Madison Ave-, New York City, or
to some nearer place by arrangement
with the Committee
All contributions will be duly ac-
and lists of donors pub
lished.
LARz ANDERSON,
Ex-U. s. Minister to Belgium,
Honorary Chairman.
E. SUMNER MANSFIELD,
Consul of Belgium, Chairman.
CHARLES S. RACKEMANN,
Secretary.
JOSEPH H. O'NEIL,
Treasurer.