The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-11-05
KING ALBERT ASKS FOR BREAD.
Belgium's Fighting Ruler Writes APP
peal From Battle Line.

London, Oct 3l.-King Albert. OF
Belgium. has asked the American
people to help feed his starving peo-
pie during the coming winter. HIS
message, written under fire in the
battle before Dunkirk, and transmit
ted TO the American commission here
for relief in Belgium. follows:
Il am informed that American Of
ficials and citizens in Belgium and
England are working to save my peo-
pie from the horrors OF the famine
which now threatens them. 1t is a
great comfort to me in this hour or
sorrow and misfortune to feel that
a great-hearted, disinterested people
is directing its efforts to relieving
the distress of the unoffending civil
ian population of my country.
Despite all that can be done, the
suffering in the coming winter Will
be terrible, but the burden we must
bear will be lightened if my people
can be spared the pangs of hunger,
with, its frightful consequences of
disease and violence.
81 confidently hope that the ap-
peal of the American commission will
meet with a generous response. The
whole-hearted friendship of America
shown my people at this time always
will be a precious memory. (Signed)
ALBERT
Commission Busy.
The American commission for re-
lief in Belgium, an official body rec
ognized by the various governments,
is the channel through which food
can be introduced into Belgium. BY
its association with a committee IN
Belgium it has an efficient agency for
food distribution. H. c. Hoover,
chairman of the commission, today
issued an appeal to American news
pepers. 1t says:
1--WE have received reports from
members of this commission who
we're sent to Belgium. They have
the assistance of the national COM
mission of relief and its branches
throughout Belgium, together with
the help of the American ministers
and consuls and local officials. Their
reports show that there are still some
100000 people in Belgium. In
many centres the people are receiv-
ing an allowance of a little more than
three ounces of -four per capita
daily.
"This is not a question of charity
or relief to the chronically poor-lt
is a question of feeding an entire
population. The situation affects
the wealthy and well-to-do as we'll as
the poor. 1t touches every home in
Belgium.
"Our experts calculate that to
avoid actual starvation Belgium must
have. every month minimum of 6o,-
600 tons of wheat, $4,000 tons OF
corn, 5000 tons of peas or beans and
a limited amount OF bacon or lard.
All this will cost s4,000,000 or So
900, ,00O monthly. There is no money
in Belgium. The whole credit ma
chinery has ceased. Eighty per cent.
of the people are unemployed.
"a plan may be devised whereby
such Belgians as possess property
may give obligations to pay when the
war ends, but even if We could realize
all the obligations We must still
have at least s2,500,000 monthly in
food or money with which to buy it.
During the past week we have
received and expended in emergency
food s6O0.OO0 and yet this is only
four days supply. The problem is
immediate. The Belgians are help
ing themselves, but they can do little.
The British and French are under
such strain that they also can do
little.
..It is our earnest hope that all
funds raised for Belgian relief in the
United States will be translated into
actual food.
will you, therefore, in the inter-
est of humanity, open subscription
among your readers, ear-marked for
the sole purpose of purchasing and
transporting food Every dollar so
raised will be used to purchase food
in the United States"
ROTH CLAIM TO BE CONSUL.