Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-02-19
BELG|UM'S PICTURE
COMMiS SSiON SENT BY ROOKIE
TELLER FOUNDATION TO IN
vEsTiGATE MAKES REPORT.
HER INDUSTRIES PARALYZ
Population Reduced by 100000 as Re.
suit Of War-Homes Laid Low and
Farming Districts Devastated
Nc Outside Communication.

New York. Belgium's population has
been reduced by about $780, 900 as a re-
suit of the war, and her condition pre-
sents situation without parallel in
history, says report issued Monday
by the Rockefeller foundation from its
war relief commission sent to investi-
gate the war upon noncombatants. 1t
is the first report from this commits
sion, which went to Belgium last No
vember.
! ldleness Greatest Problem.
J After detailing how means of trans
portation, communication and banking
exchange have been destroyed COM
merce and industry paralyzed, homes
and other buildings laid low the agri-
cultural districts devastated and the
food supply virtually cut off, the re-
port says
"Yet, if one is to understand the
Belgian problem, it is perhaps neces-
sary to emphasize, not the restitution
of few hundred thousand, but the
suddenly enforced inactivity of a
strong and healthy nation Of 100000.
This is what makes the Belgian
situation a thing without parallel in
history"
After stating that there are 1000
Belgian refugees in Holland and 1907
900 in England, the report says that
the number of people who still are in
: Belgium, but who have been driven
out of their homes, has not yet been
estimated The army, it says. has
drawn off 100000 men,
OF the destruction of homes and
property the report says:
/ Children Born in Pigsties.
I'VE found people living in cellars
under the ruins of their homes; IL
t lofts over the COW stalls; saw children
!, that had been born in hencoops ant
? pigsties and learned of one man who
7 considered that he was doing wei
when the population of his poultr,
house was reduced from % to Is refu
t gees"
s The destruction of stock is of great
S err Importance than the destruction
houses, the report declares.
0 Regarding the agricultural situation
n the commission found that autumn
planting has somehow been done ant
e that it is conceivable that Belgium
e may continue to raise most of her owl
n potatoes, fruits and fresh vegetables.
n Everybody is trying to help every
= body else
II 'In France we found that it wa
clearly the policy of the German occ,
# patton, behind the fighting lines, t
J. promote the planting of next year
Il crops and to spare mich cows an
E. breeding animals"
n In connection with the destructio
of houses and property, the repol
a says, no estimates can be obtained {
1t the total, either of the military requis
ID tons, or levies, or of the destructio
e of property, but that this total mus
a be enormous.
while the German army was figh
t. ing it's way across Belgium" it col
IS tinues, 1.-The soldiers of both sides too
Or poultry, food supplies, wines and be-
at ding to the limit of their immedia'
'e desires, or beyond.
c. "Since then the German occupatio
10 has requisitioned grain, canned good
r food supplies, livestock and horse
-~ from towns and countryside"
no The commission found that the de
an truction of tools and implements ca
20 not be estimated.
ne The population, the commission
re counts, is denied the use of commul
cation with the outside world exec
through German channels.