Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-07
Professor Howard McCIenahan
of Princeton Makes Report
on Recent Trip Through
Devastated Country,
RELIEF COMMISSION
PREVENTS STARVATION
Industries Are ParaIyzed and
Every MouthfuI of Food Is
Brought Into Country by
Charity Organizations.


Princeton, n. j., March G-Thc
needs, condition and treatment of the
Belgian people are recited in report
which Professor Howard McClena-
han, dean of Princeton university. to-
day submitted TO President John
Grier Hibben of the university, of his
recent visit TO England, Holland and
Belgium, Professor McClenahan was
sent abroad by the university author
tiles for this purpose
In England and Holland Dean Nc
Clenahau found that Belgian refugees
were treated with every kindness and
in both countries, he stated, every
effort was being made to furnish
employment, but owing to the oppos-
tiOn Of labor unions To giving the
Belgians any form of permanent work
only a few opportunities to place the
Belgians in a position to help them
selves We're available.
Great Strain on Holland
Holland, Dean McClenahan de-
clared, was doing relatively more for
support OF over a milton moneyless
the refugees than any other nation.
The Dutch admit, he said that the
strangers is a great strain; yet they
declare their determination to con-
tinue the work and decline TO receive
aid from the outside.
In Belgium, Dean McClenahan said
he was treated with the utmost cour-
tesy by the German military authori-
ties who permitted HIM TO go every
where except near the firing lines
In Brussels he found almost life
less the once gay city bearinr the
appearance Of Wall street on sun
day afternoon. His tour Of Belgium
was made in company with two GER
man university men, who had enlist
ed as private soldiers and Professor
Rathges, exchange professor last year
at Columbia university. who was his
guide.
Ruin Seen Everywhere.
THE whole country from Mons TO
Charleroi shows the stubbornness
with which the fighting was carried
on, Dean MeClenahan said IN his re-
port bearing ON his visit to Belgian
battlefields. The trip from Charlie
roi to Dinant," he continued, was
one of the most depressing expert
ences of the tour The trip up the
lovely valley of the Meuse was sad
dened by the spectacle of ruin on all
sides
Referring to his visit to Liege,
Dean McClenahan said that "it is
source of unmixed pleasure to be
able to say that the beautiful hotel
De Vile has come through the de-
struction without trace Of damage
The cathedral he found had suffered
heavy damage, both by shell fire and
incendarism.
Industries Arc Dead
OF general conditions in Belgium, I
Dean McCienahan sa id
with the single exception of coal
mining the industries Of Belgium are
dead. The mines are worked two or
three days week and, according to |
the owners Will continue to be oper- !
ated, even at a heavy loss, if the I
money for running expenses can be |
procured. No other form of produce /
ton can even be attempted. Some |
grain has been planted and should |
yield harvest during the coming /
summer, but the quantity seems I
small The outlook for Belgium I
seems black as night. If America /
and the other neutral nations fail her |
she will surely succumb to starva- |
tion."
Praises Relief Work.
OF the work of the commission for /
the relief Of Belgium and the Rookie |
ltlltf com iilSSlOIt lJtdu M'tl'ld nan (
said that the magnitude and the sue
cess of the labor undertaken is .
brought home oyerwhelmineW to one .
who travels about Belgium.
Whether one eats in the Palace
Hotel in Brussels. at the restaurant
Ray in Mons, at the hotel De Ia Eur |
ope in Liege, in "A wayside makeshift /
cafe in Louvain or in the bread lines
in Charleroi and Brussels, as I did, .
he eats of bread which he could not
have except for the devoted efforts
of the commission for relief" he .
said.
Gratitude Of Belgians.
In concluding his report, Dean Nc
Clenahan said,
The gratitude Of the Belgians to .
America is the most touching thing .
one can imagine It is shown in many
ways. It is evidenced
by exalted regard for the stars and
Stripes which never goes unnoticed. /
1t is expressed in broken tongues of
all classes of people whenever any
offers As one noble
Belgian heroine, who risks her life
and property every week to help her
stricken working people, expressed 4
it. with tears streaming from her
eyes: "Ohl We love America. But
for America we would be starving.
Next to our own flag we love the
Stars and Stripes