New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-06

"Merci aux Americains!' was the
sign in huge letters across one END OF
a large skating rink at St. GILES, near
Brussels. that greeted the eyes Of Dr..
Percy II. Williams. Of this city, when
he attended the distribution of part OF
the Jason's load Of Christmas gifts TO
Belgian children. And underneath was
written: Hip Hip! Hurrah! for the
Commission for Relief in Belgium!
But better than that was the sight
Of tiny American flag in each child's
hand. some with three, some with I'VE
and some with eight stars, for the
children had made them for the oc-
casion. Then all in the assemblage
sang the Belgian national air and The
Star-Spangled Banner" in French. 1t
sounded splendidly," was Dr. "iihamss
comment. -,
Reaching New York yesterday on the
Adriatic. DR.. Williams told last even
ing at the Offices of the commission, u
Broadway, of his experiences IN charge
Of the feeding of 100000 people in the
province of Liege. The one message
he brings back to America Is that II
is the commission and only the com
mission that is between Belgium and
starvation.
Merely Kept Alive.
eve arc the only people who can get
tho food through" he said. at is only
fair 10 saw that the Germans could not
and cannot feed Belgium. And we are
not feeding them well, we are merely
keeping them alive. No one can grow
stout on $50 grams Of bread and litre
of soup that is allotted a person each
dav. If our supplies should be sud
denlv cut off Belgium would starve IN
two weeks
Givet, a town in France near the
border. actually was saved from star
walton by the resOIrcefulness OF a
Young American, Frank Fleming, OF
North Carolina. DR.. Williams told no"
word came TO the commission that the
city was in dire straits, and how an
American was sent down in one OF the
commissions eighteen motor cars 70
arrange with the burgomaster LOT 'he
local distribution committee. Then
train was made up in Belgium, an en-,
CINE procured from the Germans, and
with Fleming in the cab 1t started Tor
Giyet. On the way the engine was
seized for some reason, and only
through the Americans persistence IN
demanding and obtaining another loco
motive was the train able TO reach
Givct in time.
Wise is completely destroyed, says
DR. Williams, not single house being
/ ioft standing. at looks just like Pom
neil only a lot Of walls. Part OF the
reople still live in the ruins under
/ iean-tos. and the children go to school
in trains OF unused passenger cars. In
Iiege. however, the damage was con-
fined to one part of the town burned
in retaliation for some attack on the
soldiers" =
One out OF every three persons in
the province Of Liege is now being
sustained by the commissions foad
and by March this number viii be IN
creased TO one-half. An odd fact IS
that certain Injuries like flowers and
/ dollhouse grapes are available, pul
| there is no money to buy them.
No Proofs Of Atrocities.
Not once did he see a German sol
/ der take a particle OF food from 2
Relgian, nor was he able to md PROOF
of a single atrocity. The army. OF oc-
cIpation has given the relief work
every possible assistance consistent
with the necessities Of war, and mas
oycn cleared the debris of broken
hridpos out Of river channels so that
The barges, in which all the food is
distributed from Rotterdam, may have
easy passage. c,,.
poIciurn no one knows. The passes TO
r,embers of the commission allow
,bem 10 travel only east OF line
Drawn from Antwerp through Brussels
w. Mons. Half rates are allowed them
on the railroads by the Germans, and
u, Uolland transportation Is free. The
motor cars used by the workers, carry
n,,au American flags, al are cheered
~. tba Relgians wherever they so. Inc
gGSsiro Of certain Belgians to kiss his
uond caused some embarrassment to
DR.. Williams. al ,Los.
49, " he continued, us one OF the
Soonost gloom. never saw smile
1 paePnIe co about just waiting. ihey
ore not frightened: they are not mop,
&C.. tbey simply wait: Seven mlilioI
,ne are living off black bread ant
peUp. their homes are mostly IN runs
Sup, If their relatives are lost sho
'h eThcre are children everywhere IT
yisa thew were living IN cellars my
oo;rg 70 school IN sidetraekeo am
S,ecked passenger cars. we gSse M nr.
WIZ r,esls a day-one at J. $50 ana one
t"o ,.1o~so that they might Keep ~
~ 80" >. ~ larger towns. VIM