New Britain herald., 1915-03-25
TONS OF CONDENSED
 MIX FOR BELC|ANS
Cans Sent From England AppTtei.
 ated by Mothers an1 Sick

tcorrespondence of the Associated Press'
 London, March 23.-The problem of providing employment and proper habitations for the Belglan refugees both in Holland and in England, is oaily growing more urgent, in the opinion of Percy Alden, member of parliament, who has represented the British government in it's dealings with the refugee question since the beginning of the war.
 The number of Belgian refugees in England is now officially estimated according to a government statement in the house of commons at 180,0O not including 1S,OO0 wounded soldiers sn British hospitals. This total con- sists of 65,00o men, 69,000 women and 46,000 children under sixteen.
 Alden's Statement.
 TT feel very strongly" says MT Alden in a statement to the public.
 that, through lack of work and proper housing, these Belgians run a serious risk of returning home at the end or the war in a demoralized and deteriorated condition. Tn Holland especially the method of dealing with the refugees is still of temporary ard unsatisfactory nature; they are living in churches, schools, barns sheds, and barges, and rne food they are receiving is none too good As tc the employment question, little OF no attempt has been made to deal with it, either in Holland or England. ,
 I have made several visits to Hol- land at the request of the president of the Local Government Board. to fn- vestigate conditions there. England and Holland are faced with a very awkward task, but serious attempt will have to be made, and that soon tc provide remun erative work and adequate residence for these people.
 My belief is that the -ext step should be the building of some thou sands of wooden huts, each containing three rooms, which could be con- structed by the refugees themselves | and could be taken to pieces at the 1 end of the war and transferred to ! various parts of Belgium to be used | as dwellings until permanent homes 1 ca be built. The building of the huts l could be made to provide work for 1 n. any thousand refugees. I calculate | that at least $5O0,0OO will be required for the adequate launching of this scheme. It is the only way I know | in which a proper semblance of family | 1iAC CdI OC IcSLOIcu LO these Belg1anS | during their temporary exile from | their own country
 Warm Gratitude
 The commission for relief in Bel l. gium has sent over five thousand tons of condensed milk into Belgium and no form of foodstuffs supplied to the Belgian people has brought forth such warm expressions of gratitude as the supplies for the baby canteens.
 The latest expression ofJthis feeling is; in the form of a letter from Car dinal Mercier to Herbert Hoover, as follows: Dear Monsieur le Presi- dent: The commission which you conduct with as much devotion as dis cretion has just forwarded me, for those in need, the considerable supply Of 3,210 cases of condensed milk. Your consignment arrived in the heart of winter at a time when deprivation makes itself felt more acutely than ever. Kindly accept, and transmit to your fellow workers as we'll as all those who assist us through your in- term ediary, the expression of my deep gratitude, and believe, dear Monsieur le President, in the assurance of my great esteem"