New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-07
BELGIAN EXILES'
SUFFERING ENDING
Refugees Still in Holland
Living Comfortably,
SAYS Van Dyke.

Suffering among Belgian refugees in
Holland has decreased considerably
during the last few months. Of the
$4,000 or $4,000 who have not yet re-
turned to their homes or found work
in England, the greatest hardships are
felt by the better class families who
are obliged to stay in the concentra-
ton camps. This is the opinion Of
Henry van Dyke, American Minister at
The Hague, who mas written of condi-
tions in Holland in a letter just re-
ceived by Rossiter Johnson, treasurer
of the Authors Club. The letter reads:
The Hague. Netherland. June 10. 1915
Ny Dear Johnson | have Just received your
kind letter of June /. incloslnS check i0f v-4J.
forms representing the proceeds OF me 3ae o.
manuscripts and books which was held by 'ne
Authors Club on May 20 FOR The oenent " ihe
people o. Belgium who have suffered by ms IN
The siN Is a nne one. and am much honorrd
by the confidence which the Authors CUB has
shown in intrIsting me wiki iis distribution
The best way u carrying out this trust has oeen
under my careful consideration Tor some N.eHs
The need OF the Began refugees in Holland
has decreased considerably during ne l't lf,
months some u them lave gone 10 England ana
have found work there. Larger number mas
returned O. Belgium and has found. hope, some
thing 90 10 there There are now. according 10
the best cstimates fifty or sixty thousand refugees
remaiuirg in Holland About hsf of these are
provided Tor On The large refugee camps Al NuHspeet
EIe. Uden and GOuda. where per dem atIo" %
auce running from so 20 80 cents for esch person
eminent tn others still scattered n private
homes and iu small asy.ums. which are cared Tor
by local committees Tile people who really have
most 10 suffer are those OF gentle birth and breed
iug who have "sceu better days. and 20 whom
The life In a concentration camp would De tul!
u hitherto unknown h4rdshiIs.
The camps are well managed. The food IS gCoi.
though Of course Very plain There are Schools
Tor the children. and every camp has church.
seycraI hospital buildings. aad usually some KIND
of amusement hall which Is under the control oi
the Dutch committee n management believe
that many Of The people IN these camps are having
an education IN seli-coutrol. sanitation ana 'o.
operation 90 the common iife which viii be - great
value 90 them. especially as large proportion
healthful sections " the Belgian cities But there
are other people among the refugees who are let
used o. living 900 crowd. but IN Their owl small
aud quiet homes. aud these are the ones who
suffer most 81 thelr exile
I have therefore decided 70 apply three thousand
eorr. q the sum .lyen by the Authors Club 20
the relief % people O. this Kind. Ny friend. NJ.
r stuart. president u The Central Nethcfauts
Committee for The RELIEF OK Be,gSn war Sl sun,
efs viii cooperate With me Do The matter. ha
shan ask him particularly Y there are any auth "a
among the refugees here whose families are 30
III believe that the actual pressure II want
IN Belgium i'se.i Is greater than II amlns ne
refugees here But under present conditions 10 Is
quite impossible Tor me % a. there aud 'o trage
through the county 1 shall therefore send 6.3l.
aorins N tire Authors Club fund o. my colleague
/ An Brussels Mr. Brand Whirock. and shall ash
him % use % IN his discretion for purposes sim
liar 20 those which l have tried 10 outline IN III
/ letter
| hope that This decision VIII meet with you
| Approval and with that u our fellow members &
! ths Authors Club. count Il real prules
| 10 have any share. however small. IN carrying on
! this Eood work. There is certain eontinua