New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-15
Rockefeller Foundations
Report Shows Peril of
Present Conditions.
HELPLESS MILLIONS
NEED AID AT ONCE
Homes and Farming Tools De-
stroyed, HOrdes Live Wher-
ever There's a Roof.


cult TO arouse il should conditions
alter. transportation is at a COM
plete standstill; there is nothing but
paper money in circulation. Through
the destruction Of implements and the
requisition Of stock by the Germans
agriculture has practically collapsed.
The extremely few industries still ac-
tive are running their plants at loss.
In almost every village where the
Germans were quartered some houses
were destroyed or looted. At least
100000 of the population have either
been destroyed or have fed the coun-
try. Those that remain are living a
hand-to-mouth existence in whatever
sort Of building they can find that has
a roof to shelter them.
This is the substance OF the report
Of the War Relief Commission of the
Rockefeller Foundation, which is dated
January /, 1915, and was made public
Yesterday. The commission which went
10 Belgium 10 investigate the condi-
ton of non-combatants in that stricken
country comprised Wickliffe Rose.
chairman and director general Of
the International Health Commission;
Ernest P. Bicknell, secretary OF the
American Red Cross, and Henry James,
jr., manager Of the Rockefeller Insti-
tute for Medical Research.
Seven Millions Depressed.
Summing up the state of affairs in
Belgium, the commission lays empha-
sis upon the fact that practically seven
million persons have been subjected to
absolute inactivity because of the war.
If the pressure were removed to-day
they would return TO former conditions
of prosperity rapidly. If, on the other
hand the present conditions prevail
for some months longer, it is the opin-
ion of the commission that the popula-
ton will lose all hope and initiative
and will then react only slowly If the
pressure be removed.
"A few villages have been completely
destroyed" the report says. "A num-
Der of houses have been burned in al
most every village or town along the
main thoroughfares. The inhabitants
frequently had no time TO save any
thing except the clothes on their backs.
The destruction of tools and imple
ments cannot be estimated. In the
smaller places through which the army
passed. and in some Of the larger
towns. like Louvain and Malines, where
there was fighting or wholesale burn
ing. il appears that nearly all OF the
remaining houses have been looted.
We found in many that the immovable
furniture had been broken up. The
havoc thus wrought has not been re-
paired. Little has been done to re
store even the physical disorder left
by the passing army"
Transportation and communication
have been practically paralyzed by the
Germans, according to the commission.
Civilians are forbidden to use either
telegraph or telephone. All internal
postal service has been abolished and
there is no communication with the
outside world except through German
channels.
Travel Difficult.
A Belgian is forced to procure pass
before he is allowed to travel from one
town to another. The railways are
German property and are used by that
people alone. Many Of the canals have
been blocked up. Travel by highway
is almost impossible, since nearly all
of the horses have been requisltloned
Belgians are not allowed TO use auto
mobiles. g..
All banks have closed or are limiting
their payments to very small sums.
Most Of the reserves OF money were
withdrawn from the country before the
German occupancy. The invaders them
selves do not pay for their requisitions
in coin, "but by receipts which are
said to be often of the most informal
sort"
The only industries which the COM
mission found to show any kind OF ac-
tIvity were the coal mines, which are
running at a loss, and such factories
and shops as are affording their en-
Moves a little work in the making up
Of the raw materials on hand and IN
general repairs.
While it is said that the peasants
have hidden great stores OF seed, to be
planted when the opportunity arrives,
agriculture. according 20 the report TO
the Rockefeller Foundation, is practi-
cally suspended. Many of the farming
implements have been destroyed, and
the cattle and horses have been requi-
sitioned or have been slaughtered by
the farmers TO prevent their capture.
There is spirit of general helpfulness
10 one another among the Belgian peas
ants, but no one is thinking beyond the
next harvest.
The housing conditions are also dis
tressing. The commission says:
Living in Cellars.
eve found people living in cellars
under the ruins of their homes and in
lofts over cow stables; saw children
who had been born in hen-coops and
pigsties, and learned of one man who
considered that he was doing well when
the population of his poultry house was
reduced from twenty-five TO eighteen
refugees"
Believing that relief work, like char
ity. begins at home, the Committee of
Mercy has spent s3.525 20 TO help
women and children in this city who
are direct sufferers from the war. This
local relief work, according to the COM
mittee's report. which has just been
issued, has been done through the vacs-
ton committee by giving women work
in making supplies 20 he sent TO Euro
pean sufferers.
The Committee OF Mercy is strictly
neutral, and is recognized by the Amer
dent is Elihu Root, and among its ad-
n.inistrativ6 officials arc Mrs. j. Borden
Hartman, Miss Katharine Bement
Davis and August Belmont. A total Of
sl1s,6 600 AZ has been distributed by the
committee in relief work among the
warning nations.
After taking up with President Will
son the difficulties being encountered
by the Jewish Relief Committee in OBJ
tanning n vessel TO convey supplies.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels notified
the committee on Friday that the collier
Vulcan was due 10 sail with coal for
several battleships, and the President
had consented TO make room for the
supplies the committee wanted for
yarded. The space required on the
cnlI;er for the goods 10 be sent 20 the