Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1915-02-19
COMMISSION SENT BY ROOKIE
TELLER FOUNDATION TO IN
vEsTIeATE MAKES REPORT.
HER INDUSTRIES PARALYZED
Population Reduced by 100000 as Re-
suit of War-Homes Laid Low and
Farming Districts Devastated
No Outside Communication.

been reduced by about 600 900 as a re-
suit of the war, and her condition pre-
sents a situation without parallel in
history, says a report issued Monday
by the Rockefeller foundation from its
war relief commission sent to investi-
gate the war upon no~ncombatantS. 1t
is the first report from this commits
sion. which went to Belgium last No
vember.
IdIeness Greatest Problem.
After detailing how e of trans
portation, communication and banking
exchange have been destroyed, COM
merce and industry paralyzed, homes
and other buildings laid low the agri-
cultural districts devastated and the
food supply virtually cut off, the re-
port says:
"Yet, if one is to understand the
Belgian problem, it is perhaps neces-
sary to emphasize, not the restitution
of a few hundred thousand, but the
suddenly enforced inactivity of a
strong and healthy nation of 1000, 900.
This is what makes the Belgian
situation a thing without parallel in
history"
After stating that there are 320,0 900
Belgian refugees in Holland and 100,
900 in England, the report says that
the number of people who still are in
Belgium, but who have been driven
out of their homes, has not yet been
estimated. The army, it says, has
drawn off 100000 men.
Of the destruction of homes and
property the report says;
Children Born in Pigsties.
I'VE found people living in cellars
under the ruins of their homes; in
lofts over the cow. stalls; "a children
that had been born in hencoops and
pigsties and learned of one man who
considered that he was doing well
when the population of his poultry
house was reduced from % to Is refu-
t gees"
The destruction of stock is of great
er, Importance than the destruction OF
} houses, the report declares.
Regarding the agricultural situation
the commission found that autumn
planting has somehow been done ant
. that it is conceivable that Belgium
3 may continue to raise most of her owl
potatoes, fruits and fresh vegetables.
l Everybody is trying to help every
Y body else.
1 ''In France we found that it wal
clearly the policy of the German occu
f patton, behind the fighting lines, t.
promote the planting of next year
crops and to spare mich COWS ant
breeding animals"
In connection with the destruction
of houses and property, the repor
a says, no estimates can be obtained o
the total, either of the military requisi
d lions, or levies, or of the destruction
6 of property, but that this total mus
u be enormous.
while the German army was fight
t. ing it's way across Belgium" it col
IS tinues, 'the soldiers of both sides too
n poultry, food supplies, wines and bee
1t ding to the limit of their immediat
re desires, OF beyond.
"Since then the German occupatio,
has requisitioned grain, canned goods
food supplies, livestock and horse
from towns and countryside"
70 The commission found that the de!
IN truction of tools and implements ca
s. not be estimated.
he The population, the commission r.
re counts, is denied the use of commun
cation with the outside world exceI
through German channels.
lu