New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-11

Antwerp. Jan. 1O.-The gratitude OF
the people of Antwerp for the reliei
extended by the United States TO the
war sufferers of Belgium is expressed
in a resolution adopted by the Inter
communal Council Of Antwerp. The
resolution reads:
"Our cordial thanks are due 70 the
American Commission for Keller III
Belgium. Our nation was on the brink
of starvation. Famine was being added
to the horrors of war. In this great
city of Antwerp only a short time ago
it was impossible to distribute bread,
and now soup and other food are being
given daily to the poor.
THE help of the people of the United
States is literally saving US. We are
contracting a debt of endless gratitude
to them. 1t is a great consolation that
in the midst of the sufferings which
our people are enduring the men and
women of the greatest Of modern de-
mocracies are in such splendid way
standing by one OF the smallest ma
tions in the world, which is suffering
horribly because it elected to be true
to its duty and its honor"
London. Dec. 26.-Expatriated Bel
gian refugees present as great prob
lem as the Belgians who are still in
their ruined country. In recent state
ment Chevalier A. de Stuers, the Dutch
Minister to France, estimated that the
number Of dependent Belgian refugees
now in Holland is 100000. Holland
also has modified its entire army of
$4,000, and consequently the little
country must feed more than 100000
persons who are not producers.
The burden is heavy, and the country
is staggering under it somewhat, al
though the Dutch show wonderful spir-
il, and their treatment of the unfortu-
nate Belgians is spoken of here as one
Of the finest manifestations of neigh
borliness the world has ever seen.
Typhoid and scarlet fever have APP
peared spasmodically in the Belgian
refugee colonies in Holland, but have
been stamped out before they deyel-
oped into epidemics.
England. with its vastly greater re-
sources, is caring for approximately
100000 dependent Belgians, and is not
finding the task easy. France Is az
fording refuge 10 several hundred
thousand, but the burden is not SO
great there, as all men who are able
70 work can be employed in trenching
or can take the places left vacant by
the Frenchmen who entered the mill
tary service.
Lady Lugard, who has been promi-
nent in caring for Beigians in England
since the first stream Of refugees came
here from Liege, says England finds it
extremely difficult 10 meet the social
and economic problems raised BY the
Belgians suddenly thrust upon this
country. The Belgian government does
not wish the Belgians to be handled
in such manner that they will settle
permanently in England. II desires 20
have all its factory workers and farm
ers back as soon as the war is over.
Furthermore, the English labor unions
and other organizations oppose the
employment Of Belgians where they
will compete with English labor. A
steady campaign has been kept up TO
prevent the lowering of wages as a
result, Of the sudden influx Of Belgians.
Belgians must not be permitted to
live in idleness in England, and con-
sequently relief committees are look
ing 20 the Government Departmental
Committee. under the presidency OF
Sir Ernest Hatch, TO provide employ
ment. Lady Lugard says Bslgians can