New Britain herald., 1915-02-15
BELGIAN SITUATION
 WITHOUT PARALLEL
Population Of Llttc Kingdom Re-
 duCsd by .600,900.

New York, Feb. 5.-Belgium's pop ulation has been reduced by 600,0oO as a result of the war and her condi- tion presents a situation witho out parellel in history, says a report is- sued last night by the Rockcfeller's Foundation from it's war relief com- mission sent to investigate the effects of the war upon non-combatants. H. is the first report from this commits sion, which went to Belgium last No- yember
 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 neccs- sary to emphasize not the Restitution of few Hundred thousand, but the suddenly enforced inactivity of a strong and healthy nation of 7,O00,O ,O00. This is what makes the Belgian situa- tion thing without parallel in his tory.'
 After stating that there are 32O,O0O Belgian refugees in Holland and 100,- 900 in England. the report says that the number of people who are still in Belgium, but who have been driven out of their homes, has not yet been estimated. The army, it says, has drawn off 250,000 men.
 Stock Almost Gone.
 The destruction of stock is of great CT importance than the destruction of O nrt country is pretty we'll cleaned of horses and oxen." it continues. "The armies have not refrained entirely from requisitioning milch cows. The peasants are in the greatest terror that the few animals that remain to them may be taken. They are, therefore. killing them and disposing of them for what they can get. Meat is selling abundantly at half it's usual price in som places. If this process continues such localities will have no livestock of any sort by spring"
 Regarding the agricultural situation the commission found that autumn planting had somehow been done, and that it is conceivable that Belgium may continue to raise most of her own potatoes, fruits and fresh vegetables No one is calculating beyond the next harvest and such reckoning indicates that a harvest is expected" the report says. Everybody is trying to help everybody else"
 Total is Enormous.
 In connection iwth the destruction of houses and property, the report says that no estimates can be obtained of the total, either of the military acquisitions and levies, or of the de- struction of property, but that this total must be enormous.
 The commission found that the de- struction of tools and implements can not be estimated. In smaller places and in larger towns like Louvain and where there was fighting or l wh olesale burning, it appears that nearly all remaining houses have | been looted," the report says
 No Mail for People.
 The population, the commission re- counts, is denied the use of the tele- graph and telephone and there is no mail or other means of communica- ton with the outside world, except 1 through German channels. The col lapse of the banking exchange, the l commission found to be due to he 1 fact that reserves of coin and negoti- able securities were removed in ad- vance of the invasion
 Comm merce and industry are at q standstill The only tradespeople who do any business are those who sell foods and clothing. All government employees (railways, post office, etc. ) are, therefore, either necessarily out of work or are striking against the German occupation. The report notes that some coal mines. factories and shops are working on shoEt time