The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-11-17
OVER 100000 MUST
BE SHOD AND CLOTHED
Most VI the Needy In Belgium and
Northern France are Women and
Children, and Their Needs
Must be Supplied Soon.

| New YORK, NOV. lis-ONer tnree mil
lion persons in Belgium and northern
France, mostly women and young chill.
dren, must be clothed and shod by
Christmas. Ii the garments and shoes
for these destitute people are not forth
coming at once, their suiferngs during
the winter will become desperate.
Such is the note of an urgent appeal
issued to the people of the United States
by the commission for relief in Bel
GUM. The New York committee have
received from Mr.. Herbert Hoover, chair
man OF the commission the following
statement:
at appears to me that il is necessary
for us to go frankly to the American
people and ask them to cothe the desti-
tute in the occupied areas OF Belgium
and northen France during the coming
winter.
"There are nine million people in these
areas and of those over one third are
now either wholly or partially destitute
and are to-day receiving their food Ell
Their wholly or partially without pay
ment
Gas you know we have set up eco
nomic measures based on the ability OF
a portion of the population to pay for
| its food which, with the contributions
of other countries, enables us for the
present to find the bare minimum of
food supplies for the yaole nine million
people, but we have no reserves with
which to provide clothing for the des-
titute. We now appeal for help on their
behalf.
even If these nine million people had
money they could not import clothes, or
the raw material with which to manufac-
ture them, through the blockade into /
an area under military occupation. |
While the better classes have some cloth |
ing with which they can get along, the
destitute are composed of the working |
classes which naturally had little re-
serves of clothing when the war broke
out The only additions they have re-
ceived since then have been thu. generous
from America, Canada and
elsewhere. BY Christmas all the cloth
ing which we have in our various estab-
lishments will be exhausted.
1T is a certainty that the undue ex
posure of UNDERGRAD men, women and
children to the bitter winter viii great
" increase mortality. The clothing for
these people can be provided only if
we receive gift supplies for the pur-
pose. We must depend upon the Amer
can people.
1--WE have arranged that the cost of
of clothes from any cen
rial point in the United States to Bel
rum and northern France and of the
will be paid for out OF funds
which have been especially provided so
hat the whole American contributions
will reach the destitute without one :
ent of deduction.
TN the matter of the character OF
lothing for these people, we are sur
ounded with a multitude of difficulties.
n the first instance the drastic sanitary
arrangements made by the governments
through whose territory we must pass |
make the introduction of second hand
lothing, especially in the areas of the
armies where the want will be
reatest, practically impossible.
1--WE therefore must ask frankly for
he clothing and more particularly for
nmade material. Not that the des-
tute in Belgium and northern France
re not intensely grateful for second Sc
and clothing, but as matter of neees. Z
ty, we are forced to ask only for un. p
orn stufs. p'
at must be borne in mind that those s.
} whom we appeal are living under al "
ost total industrial paralysis; that Il
any millions of them are idle, and that er
he cry we have from them daily is;
live MS something TO do, give us some al
ling 20 work on, so that we may con- pr
ibute 10 our support Therefore If an
2 can provide them with materials they ny
in make up their own clothing. Fur al
ermore the poor Of Belgium and north in
n France can devise an extraordinary hs
Mount of clothing out Of given piece no
cloth and can work in such material
patch up their own clothing. For this pc
ason we are anxious TO secure piece LEI
,ods az far as possible, or. alternative mi
unworn made-up clothing. ia
ave have established workrooms in wi
the leading Belgium cities The one M,
Brussels alone gives employment to
er 1900 people. This clothing j.
distributed free through our local
committees after they have a.
'de a careful investigation OF the
cessities Of each recipient. There are giN
day between thirty and forty thous.
a Of the noblest and best Belgian and bal
cnch people giving their whole services
the volunteer conduct Of these local Is
nmittees. underwriting with the great me
possible devotion and under the abb
attest strain, 20 exc out 90 their at PR
1T usefulness the meagre supplies 70,
ieh We are able 20 furnish "a
What We urgently need IL now wool dul
clothes for women and girls and boys, efi,
0len and cotton materials for habies' !
thing. shawl. stockings. Jerseys. in
eaters. blankets boots and shoes. an. exT
overeaats, petticoats. and snl
T. Of al descriptions. and IN fact every ser
icle in the rsmut If warm clothing. sou
u seems e. us that there must b. On 50,
shelves % the stores and in the ing
ises If the United STATES a large
ouft ~ remnant cloth materials ana =
: ready made clothing which would :
contributed Or could - purchased ~
various committees interested in ouf
n On terms II the great possible eoon
u seefus 60 me that With ere rener-
.v 81 the Ameriran u,Hrfhauf and
oar laaai confnittsrs frum
nies tllat nav - ssflsztriised e. them