The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-01
REFUGEES OVERRUN THE
HAGUE. WRITES resident
Letter Received in This City Tells How
Released Prisoners and Fleeing Min
ers Are Giving Holland Much Diff
Guilty

A glimpse of side of the European
war which is little known to Americans
is given. IL letter received in the
city to-day from the American wife of
a physician of The Hague, who has been
in that country for 20 years.
The horrors of contact with prison
ers suddenly released from the peni-
tentiary and the vicious element of the
Belgian mines brought in close relation
with men and women of the business
walks of life are vividly pictured. The
writer also expresses a doubt as to
there being lasting peace, if any.
Her letter was made public at head.
quarters of the Home and War Relief
Committee. South Front street, and
reads. in part, as follows:
1.-THE misfortunes of the stranded
Americans this last sGmmer really gave
me a new life, for | was down low in
my mind, and to be able to speak lot
of ''good American and TO hear 1t
gave me fine 'boost into, or rather
out of, the winters nists and rain that
has been ineessant for weeks.
"Our city still is overrun with refu-
gees. The streets and cafes are filed
with French-speaking people, Thea
tres, ditto. Among the poorer lot that
have to be held in check. we have very
unpleasant times. / fear we soon shall
be given the reputation the allies gave
the Germans-murderer the au-
thorities are obliged to use strong meas
ures to hold these refugees in control.
'I4ast week there was big upris-
ing in Zeist, where many thousands are
encamped-beeause they did not want
to be under arrest, that is, under con-
troll. but wanted to be about as they
liked. The authorities were obliged
to shoot eleven leaders. This has made
a big stir. of course. These people who
walked over from Antwerp, were
dreadful lot. First. the officers of pris-
ons simply fed. The inmates escaped
and we have most of them as guests,
and they want to do as they please. In
leland they have mostly 'the boat
people of Antwerp, and the drinking IS
something frightful.
Rows-not police enough to take
the men in charge-the outside world
can scarcely understand what Holland
has had to deal with. l think the
American government would do well to
take lot of them away to the mines
in America, for there are hundreds of
miners here. Coal is scare and dear
because there are no miners in Belgium
to work the mines.
Business there in small directions,
such as shops, really goes on nicely.
Mr. is now in Brussels-will be
back before Christmas, when shall
hear a lot of Pelpian news
''The armies move slowly. The Ger
mans hold their own, but advance very
slowly. We get very little news we can
depend upon from the west lines. In
East Prussia and Poland there is fight
ing which we hear of, as you surely do,
also.
Germany now has nearly one mil
lion prisoners to feed. Surely the Unit
ed States should insist on their having
food come to them. How can Germany
feed them if she gets short for her own
people 1t is all horrible, and 1 cannot
sleep often, thinking about it. You
must come over some time if the world
ever sees peace again
Paying out more than $3.50 yester-
day to women who had sewed for war
sufferers, the Home Relief division es-
tablished record for handling ap-
plcants. Incidentally, the supplies divi-
sion broke all previous records for is
suing supplies, though it ran short be-
fore the day was over. The Foreign Re-
lief division sent away box for ship
ment to Belgian sufferers, mainly con
sisting of shawls and sabot Innings,
skirts and warm woolens for children.
The Red Cross division will ship box
TO Servia on Saturday. All depart
ments are closed to-day.
Supplies will be given out on Mon.
day, Wednesday and Friday. Hours, 10
TO IL and 2 to 5.