The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-17
To the Rescue---America!
BY JOHN GAIswoRTHY.

Generate de Belgique). based on .
careful estimate made by authorities
entirely familiar with their own coun-
try and its present material needs, Ii
that, the minimum monthly require
ments OF the Belgian population are
1000 tons of grain. 5000 tons OF
maize. and 5000 tons of rice and
peas This estimate Is accurate and
wholly reasonable, is made by con-
servative and practical men of affairs,
AID may be accepted as an expression
of the needs of the population"
To meet these requirements the
Commission for Relief in Belgium,
whose chief offices are 3, London Wall
Buildings. London, have now complet-
ed aheir organization in the UniJeo
States ION basis adequate for the
emergency CT sending into Belgium
abount one million pounds worth OF
food every month
Sufficient funds have been secured
to enable the commission to supply
vessels to take cargoes OF RELIEF do
mated in any part OF the world, free OF
all cost, to Rotterdam. and to dis
tribute the food In Belgium. Offices
have been opened at II Broadway.
New York. under the charge of promi-
nent American business men who. Ike
the other members of. the commits
sion, are practically giving all their
time to this work of philanthropy.
What the Germans Do.
Finally, the following document re-
cords of official permit from Baron
Won der Goitz. the German Governor
In Brussels:
II welcome with lively satisfac tion
the undertaking of the Cormite de
Secours ct 'Alimentation. and do not
hesitate formally and distinctly to give
assurance thai foodstuffs of all kinds
Imported by the committee under
Your Excellency's patronage, for the
use Of the civil populace in Belgium.
shall be kept exclusively for the use
OF the Belgian populace: that these
foodstuffs shall hereafter be exempt
from requisiuon by the military an
thorities, and finally that they shall
remain entirely at the disposition of
the committee" The machinery Of
distribution is thus complete.
The Blackest Case i'm History.
Such is the record.
II there be in all history so black,
so pitifui a case. I do not know II.
A nations life torn up--not by the
roots as yet. for faith and fortitude
remain--but mown off level with the
ground. Belgium In deflowered, and
done to living death; Belgium Is starv-
Ing.
L. the hands of pity be not extend
ed swiftly, The shame OF this must
forever haunt the dreams of all man
kind. II Belgium he left to starve,
how shall the world ever again sleep
quiet in it's bed?
America, you are great and gener-
Gus You stand for humanity as no
country has ever yet stood. You alone.
of all the nations fortunate enough TO
be outside the ring OF this mad war.
have wealth and strength for task
like this. You alone can keep the
flame OF hope alive. the pulse Of life
beating in this starving nation.
The world looks TO you. America:
looks 10 you to do justice to your own
great heart. You have already lifted
this burden Of good deeds from the
ground; shoulder Is as You alone know
how, with thst fine, fierce energy Of
you're See this work OF rescue
throuRh-~and all the world shall bless
you.
WIN America Raise Monument OF
rTtyY
No words have eloquence to voice
the misery and peril OF that little
country Words are an insult There
", there can lie no american, OF what
ORIGIN soeser, who has not suffered.
thinking of decentralization Of that
chafFed laHd restoration will come.
Eut to restore needs must that the
nation shall not have died first OF
sheer cold and hunger.
Famine Is very simple thing First
VIII 40 the old men and women:
then the chiiaren--cold and hungry
chtldren-young birds with gaping
heaks. And the strong last. Yes.
famine Is very simple thing, with
lis stark and Icy clutch.
Eight hundred thousand to a mil.
ton pounds month are needed to
keep that clutch from the throat OF
Belgium
Give. America, give. Raise the
GREATER monument to Pity ever built
Let 1t be star In the sky of ali your
future that you rescued from this
miserable fate the old. the little ones
the strong, of q whole nation whose
only sin was that ii stood firm to
serve mankind. Let 1t be a golden
memory that you succeeded and up
itfted them. keep the breath in their
bodies and in their souls faith living;
faitn that humanity the sweet hu-
mainly which alone can warm and
sanetify our lives. Is not a spent and
driven ghost. but still flesh and blood.
and a comrade in the dark.