Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-02-16
GERMANS LEND
ASSISTING &c IN
BELGIUM RELIEF
American Minister Says German Authori-
ties Are Cooperating So Far as Possible
in Service Which Outsiders Are Trying
to Render.

Correspondence of Associated Prr~-.D
Brussels. Feb. l5.-Bran,l Whitlock. the
american minister IN Brussels. and Henry
W. Dcdcrich. the American Consul Gen
cral u Antwerp, who were sources from
whom the A~~ociatcd Pres correspondent
sought Information a. a. the progress Of
relief work. both declared tina. the German
authorities were cooperating =" Tar a.
possible M the service which outsiders were
irving 10 render "a the distressed Bcleian~.
Mr.. Whiilock. fresh and alert notwith-
standing the strain ot the past few months.
4 still actively Interested IN the work al
the American Relief Committee. and di~-
cu>~lng IT. Importance. h. said:
There are places where the cessation
81 our work tor = week would mean ~tarva-
tion. believe that it, cessation for three
weeks would mean hunger throughout Bel
GUM. \ German officer sand to me yc~rcr-
day that 1" -iup ID for day would mean
suffering ~ ~"mc localiiic~.'
The Committee J. now . systematically,
established. that IT. headquarters occupy
NJ les than TWENTY-FIVE" rooms. which. like
the "ilicc~ oi an American ~kv-~crapcr. are
lcttcrcd at the door with the names ~ the
various departments.
Throughout brussels there l. such magic
in the word american" that even the rab-
man II" longer posters Americans for tips.
Hand him The exact fare. IL nc knows YOU
are American. hc will smile and say Thank
lou " and appear ~ be- sufficiently reward
ell with the honor 81 having an American
fer IN fare. u 4 4 tritling thing. but y
strange contrast {" the anlebellum day.
when 4 Brussels rahman looked ~ .hmrri-
cans Ter hi- tip. and was never satisfied.
however In the tip might ~.
Although there l. much bitter want IN
all Belgium. Brussels. t. one ahu knew the
"itN well before the war. luuk~-apart
from the German uniforms III the street
much ~ ~ normal times. Striking. how
ever. = the number ot b~cggar~. mainly old
women and very Young children. and the
swarm ut vendors. chiefly ~ postcards. A.
NIGHT there 4 the same cra~clr~~ prone
nading through the main streets that has
Away formed such 4 characteristic Pie
tnrr~pu" part 81 htc IN the Belgian capital.
bu' ~ II o'clock most ut the street Ii.ht~
are cNiln.ui~hcd aud the BAR and cafe,
are closed.
Tins early closing. aud the fact that only
beer and light wines are permitted ~ ~
sold. are the chict outward evidences of the
strict German rule 1T the conquered citv.
These conditions. however. are more an
parent than real. The German older, are
good patrons ~ the ~hops, paving tor their
purchases IN cash. but the buviny power II
the people i ~tcadilv-and raridlv-.ruw-
IN" les. Industry. except IN some of The
coal and iron mlnc~ along the Mru-r BE-
tween licgc and IIuv~. j. PROSTATE. The
better class people remaining arc living IN
Their incomes or savings; the poorer ON
charity. IN the Bon Marrhc. for instance.
one If the largest of the Brussels stores.
there appeared ~ bc only about A third a-
many clerk ~ before the war. and the
same = true 81 other establishments. A
large lace factory visited ~ the cure
>pondcnt wa quite idle.
"Thcrc ARE ne more Americans. ne more
'-''H w. WI FIailHlb~. Nl~llllG IL
sand the Young woman ~ charge. THE
girl who worked here are IN the fields"
In Antwerp conditions are FAR worse
Business i PROSTATE aud actual want in
rrra~Ing. .Al"ng the miles ~ wharvr~ NJ
the city splendid harbor the idle -hip- lie
ru~tm" ~ their m"uriug-. Millions ~ feet
81 lumber are stacked ~ the deserted ward,
and where ordinarily y swarm II workmcn
load and unload the busy ships. . solitary
Waterman make hi deserted rounds. tn.
city y ovcrrnn with ~hc-.ar- and vendors
III" shops are empty. Scattered about the
city are wrecked and burned buildings.
showing who're German shells tcIl during
the bombs rlmcht 81 the city.
The lite 4 most munoturon~." com
planned Consul General. Dicdrrirh. with
the exception ot members Of m, staff AMI
~ the American relief WORKERS. there are.
:" tar - ! know. only two Americans left
~ Antwerp"