New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-05
Belgians Ground Between
Gigantic Millstones,
Says Hoover.
COUNTRY VERITABLE
DEMOCRACY OF WANT
City and Communal Govern.
ments Alone Remain for Dis.
tribution of Food.

stuns sent IN care OF the American
commission was well under way, bu,
stated that the condition Of famine
which threatened the population OF
Belgium was still desperate and tina.
on account OF the attitude Of the bel
/ ligerents the Belgians must still APP
/ peal TO the people Of the United States
for relief.
at is difficult to state the position
o. the civil population of Belgium
without appearing hysterical," said Mr.
Hoover in his statement. 81 do not
know that history presents any parallel
of a population Of 1000 900 people sur
rounded by a ring of steel and utterly
unable by any conceivable effort Of
their own TO save themselves.
Germans Offer No Objection
From the nature of things it is i'm
possible for the commission even 70
/ possess an opinion on the rights and
wrongs which have created this situa-
ton. The Germans state fatty that the
people of Belgium are normally de-
pendent on the importation of food
stuffs for fve-sixths of their subsis-
tence, that the Germans have not the
slightest objection 20 the Belgians or
any one else importing foodstuffs into
/ Belgium, that il is not the Germans
who have blocked the overseas supply
and that there is no obligation upon
them TO feed the civil population, which
could, through the normal course OF
trade, obtain subsistence. The Allies,
on the other hand, contend that a free
port for the importation Of foodstuffs
into Belgium would practically amount
to an entrepot for food supplies FOR
the Germans. 1t is enough for US that
there are 100000 people ground be-
tween two gigantic millstones.
1--WE are meeting with no obstruction
from the military authorities OF Bel
GUM in the prosecution Of our work
| Not one loaf Of bread or one spoonful
of salt that we have introduced has
been taken by the military. The most
stringent orders have been given that
we shall have no Interference, and our
members meet with respect and assist
ance in all quarters.
$50 far our efforts have necessarily
been devoted to provisioning the larger
centres. II requires organization and
patience TO be able 10 penetrate the
outlying towns and villages. Il will be
difficult for the people Of the United
States 70 comprehend the difficulties
which we meet in purely executive mat
tiers in the elaboration Of this work.
THE clock has absolutely stopped in
Belgium. An industrial country, which
was dependent on the overseas be-
fore, is now walled up with 70 per cent
of the people idle. There are no tele-
graphs, telephones, railways or post
Offices. except for military purposes.
The Belgians, Of a military necessity,
are not allowed 10 pass from their own
towns, and consequently there is no
communication throughout the coun-
try, except by personal visits Of our
own members.
Transportation by rail is possible IN
only a few directions, and then must
await military necessity. The wonder
full canal system is locked in many
places by the destruction Of bridges,
and some canals have been allowed to
run dry. Therefore, II becomes part
Of our business to get these cleared
and 70 stimulate the subsidiary trans
port services Of the country not only
for the transportation Of our food, but
20 permit the transportation Of coal
from the Belgian mines, a sore neees-
sity this winter.
People Most Law-Abidlng.
"There are no courts, and the pris-
ons have been emptied, but the gen.
darmerie have remained at their posts
and are themselves both policemen and
Judges. The people are most law-abid-
ing. The central and provincial gov
ernments have disappeared. The city
and communal government, however,
still exist, and through them the dis
tribution of food is being arranged.
"The detail Of the method is that
after investigation by the communal
authorities food tickets are Issued in
dicating the number and amount of rs-
.ions the holder is entitled to, and
twice daily this ticket is presented by
the holder 10 the food canteens for its
quota. and is duly punched. The ra-
tion consists of bread, soup containing
potatoes, together with a little coffee
and salt.
"All those who can afford TO pay are
compelled to pay the communal su-
tborities at the rate Of four cents per
diem per ration. The destitute are
given tickets gratis. The communal
suthorities contribute TO the relief
Committee one cent per diem per capita
an the total tickets issued in their
commune. they obtaining this revenue
from the tickets sold or by public sub
scyintion in the communes through the
national committee under our super
vision. These funds ultimately become
available to US for the purchase OF
food.
"As a type Of organization, that OF
prussels is simply a large example OF
those in each locality. In that city at
present there are Ia communal kltchens
ard 137 canteens for adults and there
are is kitchens and "a canteens for
children under three years old, FOR
adults. service food IS prepared IN the
communal kitchens and IS distributed
10 the canteens twice daily. Inc
Kitchens and csnteens for BABIES are
maintained as a separate organization
in each commune.
ain order TO guarantee that eniidren
are properly fed and that they are not
subjected 10 the rigorous ratlons issued
to adults, parents are eompelled 70 pro-
duce all children 70 communal doctors
Who are on constant duty in charge OF
tho canteens. Five different kinds OF
tickets are issued, the mothers calling
Tor different types Of rations. The
tickets for the first six months OF
cbiid's life are practically for milk
alone. Various grades of tickets gradu-
silv evolve into the introduction Of
more solid foods, until children three
Years old and over fall on the general
csntaen. In order TO provide milk the
oommunes have taken over diaries.
brussels consumed 5000 sacks OF
eour per diem. There was just 92l
saeks Of the -four in the city when our
first shipment Of foodstuffs arrived.
When / left Brussels yesterday morn
ING there were $4,000 sacks in the city,
or about FIVE days supply. We have
about two or three days supply in
Ii e and similar supplies in other CEN