The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-23
Nau,ur Inportant C,ity.

Namur Is a very important city OF
81, 900 inhabitants and is picturesQuely
situated at q confluence of the Sombre
and Meuse rivers. Its strategic i'm
portance was quite as great as that OF
Liege and 1t was an important link in
the chain of Notifications along the
Mouse. 1t was encircied by nine de-
tached forts, which extended to the
east and towards the south half way
to Dinant, another rich town in the
valley seventeenth and one-half miles
south of Namur and very nearly
to the French border. In the
Neuse Valley also are the wealthy
towns of Seraing and Huy. Namur
has been likened in a way to
Paris, a small Paris, of course, but it
takes its place among the most inn
portant cities In Belgium. More than
a score of other towns and villages
are situated along the banks of the
Mouse River, and these as we'll as the
larger cities and towns were bustling
and active in manufacturing and in
agricultural production.
Labor was never very highly paid in
Belgium, although skilled labor al
ways commanded compensation great
enough to enable the people to live
well and to save money. They worked
on an average of nine to ten hours
day, although in some branches.
twelve hours was days labor.
Americans can only realize the desc
lation of this wonderful industrial Sec
ton by a comparison. The coal min
ing districts of the United States and
the steel-producing sections are the
greatest in the world. but 1t must be
remembered that the population of
the United States Ia. about 100000
900. as compared with 100000 in
Belgium Conditions in the great VAL
ley of the Mouse are therefore very
similar to conditions throughout the
State of Pennsylvania. the mining re-
gions of Lake Superior and the coal
districts Of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois,
would be If all the coal and iron in
dustries were to be stopped entirely.
In proportion to the population, the
distress Is even greater. because in
this country, IL any section or sections
had their industries completely par
aylzed, the wealth and charity OF the
balance of the country would come to
their rescue and they would not be
allowed to starve. Conditions In Bel
GUM are, of course. such as could
hardly be conceived In the United
States.
All Food Imported.
Completely hemmed in by the belli-
gerents of three nations, the whole
seven millions of people of Belgium
have had their food supply completely
cut off. There is no food In the coun-
try except that which 10 imported and
there is no source through which the
Belgians can obtain the food than the
Commission for Relief in Belgium.
II Broadway, New York., which by
full agreement between the powers Is
permitted to carry food to the starving
Inhabitants of the country. This food.
a great part of which lie paid for by
the Belgians themselves (those who
are able to pay being compelled to do
SO, while free food ID provided only to
the absolutely destitute), is carried to
Rotterdam, Holland. in ships. that fly
the flag of the Relief Commission, a
flag that Is respected by all the powers.
The United States leads the world In
this great charity and no doubt will
continue to do so as long as the neces-
sity exists. Other nations have given
generously. Canada and Australia have
come nobly to the rescue OF the poor
in Belgium and have done nobly. Very
few notable contributions have been
made from other neutral countries,
with the exception OF Holland, who
has harbored more than 100000 of
the refugees from Belgium, and is
doing all within her power to feed
them.