The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-10-06
COMMISSION FLAG FLEW ON
1876 SHIPS LEAVING PORT
London SENDS A REPORT
Vastness of Work Accomplished
Among Belgians and That is Now
Being Carried Out in France is
Given-People Sent Many Useless
Things in Their Zeal to Help.

mission for Relief in Belgium receiv-
ed from London at the New York of,
fees, II Broadway. New York, much
interesting information is obtained
and side lights thrown upon the va
rious phases of the Commission
work of distributing food and cloth
ing in Belgium. Up to June 80 the
commission has had one hundred and
ninety-fve ships in its service.
The chartering of these ships has
been entirely free of any commits
sions and great saving in harbor
dues, wharfage, stevedores, insur-
ance, etc., has been effected. These
ships have discharged at Rotterdam
655,295 metric tons, or 1,467, $780,
500 pounds, Of food and clothing.
In Belgium there are more than
1000 separate committees engaged
in the work Of distribution to the
population, numbering little more
than 1000, 1000, and outside of Bel
gium about 1000 charitable organi-
cations have aided in the work of col
lecting money to buy food for the
destitute, who number around $780,
900.
Comparison of the commercial re-
sources of Belgium with other Euro
pean nations showed, from the latest
obtainable data in 1912, that Bel
GUM imported IS per cent: of it's
wheat and flour; it's population at
that time being $50 to the square
mile
The United Kingdom, with popu-
lation of 374 to the square mile, i'm
ported 90 per cent. of its wheat and
flour. Germany, with 80 to the
square mile, 35 per cent; and France
with 1S9 to the square mile, but is
per cent, showing that France nor
mally raised more wheat than any
other of the belligerent powers, ex-
cept Russia
Belgium also imported 70 per cent.
of it's peas and beans, so per cent. Of
its barley, AZ per cent. of it's rye, 21
per cent. of it's oats, and 100 per
cent. OF it's corn and rice. The Bel
gians did not use barley, oats, rye, or
corn directly as bread-stuffs to any
material extent, but consumed these
grains as fodder and brewing mate
rials.
Under the immediate direction of
an American delegate in each prov
ince, the food distribution throughout
Belgium is conducted by the local
committees; the principal committee
being the provincial committee and
the subsidiary committees being the
regional and commu These turn
over to the local millers the grain
provided by the com mission, and the
millers are compelled to account for
every pound.
Something Of an idea of the
amount of wheat that has been con-
sumed within less than a year may
be gained from the fact that $4,000
tons Of bran have been accumulated
as a by-product; this bran being used
to feed cattle.
Through the businesS-like methods
used by the commission in its pur-
chasing department, it has been en-
abled to furnish to the Belgians, who
can pay for their food, bread at
cost Of from 10 to 20 per cent. lower
than London prices, and moreover
this bread is sold at a point, which is
used absolutely toward supplying the
destitute.
In it's financial department the
commission has accomplished Won
ders. 1t is estimated that 1000
people in Belgium, who would with
out the commissions aid have been
absolutely destitute, have been saved
from resorting to the bread line
through the operations Of the COM
missions department which trans
mits funds from neutral countries to
the non-combatants and commercial
organizations in Belgium.
Many Belgians now abroad remit
money every month to relatives and
friends in Belgium through the COM
missions financial department, and
the recipients of these funds are at
least partially provided with money
wherewith to buy food. Payments Of
this character are limited to two
pounds sterling per month to one in
dividual. ...
In the matter of the food contribu-
ton, the report notes natural weak
ness Of many hundreds Of open-heart-
ed, generous people in the United
States and even in other countries.
These hundreds out Of many thou
sands of contributors have fondly be-
lieved that luxuries would be most
acceptable to the Belgian people, and
have sent some thousands of tons OF
dainties.
AS a matter of fact. this kind OF
food was not desired by the commits
sion, which has opened shops in Bel
sium where such luXuries are sold
and the proceeds have been lnyarl-
ably invested in food for the destl-
tute. AS very good prices have been
realized, the gifts have had admir-
able results.
In France, where the commission is
now feeding something like 2,2OO,O ,O0O
people. the same methods that have
been adopted in Belgium are adhered
to. There are nine districts in France
which are provisioned by the com
mission. These are as follows: Lille
with population of 100000; Valen-
ciennes. $4,000: st. Quentin, $780,
900; Vervins, 100000; Charleville
l150,O00: Longwy. 105,00O: Man
beuge, 100000; and Givet, Fumay
10000.