Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-15
CONDITIONS GROW
WORSE IN BELGIUM
Large Increase Reported in the
Number of Persons Compelled
to Seek Public Relief.
PRIVATE CHARITIES EXHAUSTED

Correspondence Of The Associated Press)
LONDON, May 10.-A striking picture
of the condition of affairs In Belgium is
given by an article in the Berlin Vor-
waerts, protesting against too optimistio
views IN the German press Of the Belgian
political and economic situation. The
extraots of the article ae published in
London are:
THE attempt to apply the slogan
Business as usual to the present state
Of things in Belgium is due IN part 70 the
inability OF the nezszpa1erz-.to make the
necessary investigations there. We are
told that the boulevards OF Brussels are
crowded and that great numbers OF peo-
pie occupy the chairs i'm front of u }
| cafes; therefore we deduee that social
life is going on as usual throughout the
country.
But we can correct such a Judgment
promptly from the figures of the public
relief institutions. For an appreciation
! OF the real economic situation in Brus-
seIs and of the psychological situation
Of the people there. a knowledge Of pub
lie relief is more important than the ap-
pearance Of the boulevards.
More Demand for Relief.
ut is undeniable that in Brussels the
number OF burghers forced to fetch their
food from ono of the relief conters Is
growing, In September the figures were
16.2 per cent: April / they were 2s per
cent of the population.
Another point of Importance is the
increasing dearness OF things. II is an
exaggerated view to take that normal
conditions are returning TO a city where
10000 people are fed daily by charity.
For this purpose over ;l3 900 day is re-
quired, and this does not provide for
the distribution of clothing, relief of
unemployed and care of children. Pri-
vate charity is almost exhausted and
voluntary collections produce less and
| less.
TN the Belgian provinces the situation
Is about the same. The German authori-
ties are willing TO improve these condi-
tions. but there are many difficulties.
Railway tariffs are constantly altering,
so that business people are unable to
regulate their traffic in the light Of
knowledge of the cost of transportation
| Public telephone communication is not
allowed. Business letters are subject 10
delay and rigid censorship. Telegrams
/ frequently take three days for delivery
No BusiResS Improvement.
| Another difficulty is the uncertainty
into which industry is thrown by the
constant requisition OF machinery. The
possibility OF such reduisitioning by the
military authorities does not encourage
the setting up OF new machines or the
maintenance OF old ones. The revival
of Belgian industry of which many OF
our newspapers speak amounts 20 E1is;
A number OF businesses are working two
or three days a week.
These facts should be a warning
against exaggerated optimism as tc
amelioration OF affairs in Belgium. In
neutral countries such talk can only
have an unfortunate effect.
The greatest organizing genius would
not be able to restore the crushed in
dustries of this most troubled OF all
countries by a wave of the hand. OF
raise again the courage OF a people who
are as deeply attached as Germans them
selves to their political Independence