Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-10-09
HOlANDS POSITION IN EUROPEAN WAR
PECULIAR; MUST GRIN AkDBEAR PRESENT
CONDITIONS: ALL TRADE RELATIONS CUT
of PARTICIPATION in Tremendous Fight Isn't
Spoken Of Except in Whispers-country Doing Ev-
erything Possible to Avoid Conflict.

/ Rotterdam. Oct. s.-Prudent men
in Holland continue to talk of the
European wal in whispers and behind
closed doors. and n would almost
think the Duke of Alba was making
another descent on the lowlands. A
few days ago-before Queen Wilhel-
nina addressed the opening session
Of the Staten-General on h subject
Of neutrality, expressions pro and COLI
could be heard in the cafes and other
public places. But the gentle language
Of her majesty. penetrated. deeply
editors have again taken to their
mental retreats and the burghers
again think Of the flods that will in
undate most of north-central HOLLAND
IN case any warning nation should at
tempt an invasion.
delicacy and difficulties OF her posi-
ton. and the danger of any pro-
nounced sympathy with n pr the
other Of the belligerent powers. 1t is
feared that London might take adj
vantage Of any expression OF feeling
In favor Of the allies in the hope OF
getting The Hague to make conces
mans over the Dutch borders. This
part. Of the issue is clear enough-ev-
on to the, Germans, whose press re-
.fers. to 1t now and then guardedly,
and with the intimation that 1t is bet
ter to have Holland afraid of Eng
land than in love with Germany.
Hollaud's Interest.
Holland On the whole seems to
have beer we'll satisfied with the pre-
vas a good customer of the Dutch
colonies and put annually millions in.
to the Dutch railways and oversee,
river and canal bottoms. That there
are at. present out OF work in Rotter-
dam some $4,000 men who hereto
fore made a comfortable living in the
transport business created by Ger
after. all the interests of Holland do
not wholly lie in the destruction or
: Germany's commerce. Holland, in
addition to handling. q great part OF
Germany's supply of food, also car
ried fully one-fourth Of the raw ma
terial imported by the German manu-
%facturers Inc about one-1fth Of the
Gernan exports, having almost n
tirely the traffic originating in Rhen-
i~sh-Prussia, Westphalia Inc other
parts of the empire enjoying canal
transportation facilities accessible
from the Rhine.
After the War-What?
What the conditions of this traffic
will be after the war. Is a problem
with the Hollander. Certain it is that
Germany's Industrial position could
GUS losses 10 the Netherlands-of thb,
soma $1,000 men,. women and chill
dren- suffering from unemployment
are the evidence. Formerly about 800
Rotterdam each week. At present the
average is below IS, and most Of these
are said to go with half cargoes.
River and canal traffic is all but para
lyxed. and the railroad receipts are
dwindling constantly. AS a member of
the local chamber Of commerce re-
marked: "Our railroads are kept busy
hauling coal for themselves" He
might have added that when not do.
ing this they are obliged to handle
one-tenth Of the Dutch army back
and forth, h men under arms being
entitled to one day with their families
every tenth day.
Government Does Much.
Much has been done by the govern.
ment to avert disaster, employ the
unemployed. and lessen the SUFFERING
OF those unable to find work. The
government has issued "Zilverbons''-
script calculated to replace the &C
tual currency which disappears from
circulation as soon Is war threatens.
The cities. too, have been given the
right to issue such money, backed by
the municipal property. This has had
the tendency to restore confidence
and recently much silver has been,
taken out Of hiding so tha$ oow con-
dftfons are fairly normal.
DO Public Work.
Public work which had been delay.
ed for one reason or another has
been inaugurated by the national
government. and most cities are hay
Ing their sewers given a thorough oy.
erhauling. In Rotterdam, for instance.
many streets have been torn up from
one end. to the other, and a large force
Is being employed in lifting black,
evtl-snelling ooze from the canals by
means Of wire baskets at the end OF
q long pole primitive way Of doing
things. but n which helps to keep
people In bread, II not in butter.
Then. too. the artificial advancing Of
food prices has been given much at
tention.
Proclamations and announcements
everywhere direct that this or that be
sold ct such and such a price.
Money Is being collected for the
support Of the poor. The fact Ia hat
Rotterdam, Hike all port cities, has a
sub5stratum Of Inhabitants to whom
bare feet. ill-clothed back and empty
stomach are Of greater concern than
all else. Already the policemen patrol
in pairs. and where formerly It wa.