The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-14
I'VE SAVED SEVEN MILLIONS"
Ny COMPTON MACKENZIE

the restriction upon the export ana lfn- port of foodstuffs. Finally they allayed
 the doubts of the allies when they pro- cured from the Germans an assurance that the relief would be allowed to be distributed; indeed. they did more-they persuaded the Germans to facilitate the distribution.
 The organizer and chairman of the committee was Mir H. c. Hoover, Call fornian. and probably the greatest min ing expert in the world. This gentle man had already presided over the Amer ican relief committee which financed over GOO Americans and sent them back 10 America in the early weeks of the war Night and day for month MT. Hoover, Colonel HunslSer, Captain Lucey Mr.
 John B. White, MT. Edgar Rickard, MT. Willard Shaler and other well-known Americans living in London devoted the whole of their time to the colossal task of proving to the warning governments of Europe the feasibleness, nay more, the positive success of thar scheme for the relief of Belgium.
 They assimilated into one perfect or organization, known as the Commission for Relief in Belgium, the Belgian's s own central committee at Brussels and the various charitable activities or Italy and Spain. They did not appeal to the people of England, but they got without asking thousands of dollars' and from America with the generous aid of Lindon w. Bates and Robert D. McCarter in New York they have re- ceived millions already. Thirty
 eight steamers with aggregate tonnage Of 10000 are speeding at full steam across the Atlantic bringing l2o,Uoo tons of food valued at over SS,0OO,Ooo and costing in collection, shipping ana delivery another s2,O00,OO0. But more is wanted. Five million dollars every month Is wanted to keep 100000 Bel gians from dying of hunger amid the ruins of their homes and churches.
 America's Opportunity
 The opportunity of America at tnls moment is one that has surely never
 been offered to any nation tefore In the history of the world. The task of pre- serving from the lingering death of hunger 100000 human beings demands self f-sacrifice, determination and mag nanimity. Great victories on the field of battle have been won by these vfr- tues, but every victory in war carries with 1t also the horror and the misery of war. A victory Is afforded to the American people that will not cloud one star or smrch one stripe upon her ban ner. A victory is offered that will fn- deed add to her banner a star which may ever more bright than any star there posted.
 There is no one in that mighty re- public who can afford not to give; there Is no one who can afford to know that a nickel given now will keep q child alive for two days and not act upon his knowledge. This is not an ap- peal that calls for money about the spending of which efficaciously there can be any doubt or delay. The need Is instant; merely a nickel given now is to save a child drowning in shallow water before your eyes. No one would %<. Ia rrr,t i,,er himself a coward for the rest of his life; surely no one will think a nickel too much to give.
 But I do not write these words be- cause I have the least doubt that America will give again and again as generously as she has already given The thought is indeed unimaginable These words of mine are intended to try, however inadequate to bring be- fore the notice of an immense and char itable people the violent need for haste in giGng.
 People are dying now who can be saved; those who have been kept alive have been only kept alive by America in defiance of the memorable results of war.
 Belgium's Gratitude When the history of this time is writ ten to the last streak; when the last bCgle has sounded and the last widow is left to her mourning; when all tho heroes of all the warning nations have fought their last fight and Europe turns to regard the bloody work she has ac- complished, you, great republic, must say, We took not one life. We robbed | not one mother of her son nor any wom- | an of her lover We saved 100000 from a slow, inglorious death.
 They are grateful already in Belgium. A well known New York lawyer, who was travelling by special permission from the German authorities in order that he might see personally the work that was being done by the American commission for relief, speaks of many instances of appreciation accorded to him by that for lorn Belgian people. Amongst others he tells how in one village woman, with a child on one arm and loaf of the com missions bread on the other. came up to his car and touched with her lips the lit- tie flag of the stars and stripes flutter- ing upon the bonnet. For the love I bear your flag," she said" It has saved our lives"
 Whoever in America whether he be in 1 New York or Illinois, in Iowa or Texas of California, In Virginia or Tennessee, in Montana or Ohio or Arizona, at this mo- ment gives a nickel, gives a loaf to a starving woman and offers the flag of