The Detroit times., 1916-02-08
THE HAGUE
EXTENDS WARM
WELC COME

eConunueo fvo0 Pogo OooD
and The thro~ing OF weights.
Trenches are dug. each man having
IN his Kit, small. short Handled
shovel, which he seems to use with
only one hand. The army is kept at
!ts highest efficiency for purposes
Of defense only. Holland being most
desirous Of keeping out Of the war.
Probably its greatest means Of de-
Tense Is In the natural situstjon. BE-
yond the city OF Leiden DYKES have
been constructed and 70 Arranged
that at the slightest move toward
entrance OF belligerent. this sntire
country can be flooded q mo-
ment's notice. completely. cutting olf
the approach 10 Amsterdam, Leiden.
Haarlem and The Hague The pso-
pie In this district are on the alert
and would be Obliged to take refuge
In the cities while their homes ana
tiny farms we're submerged.
According TO high authorities,
there is ever decreasing danger Of
Holland being forced into the war.
The government il ably upheld by
the prime minister, . pacinst, who
Is apparently. AZ careful to avert
catastrophe as is President Wilson.
A movement against conscription IN
this country, 10 gaining support.
Fully 700 young men have refused
to be drafted into the army: they
have been promptly imprisoned for
a few months, released. drafted
again. and the same process gone
over many tines. No cne has been
executed for this insubOrdinatioa,
for the Dutch people have in their
sturdy fiber, brought about through
their long struggle for freedom, an
indOmitable spirit which would not
tolerate such autccratic measurea
The government Is, at present. lib
erol and seems most acceptable to
the people and Holland like the
Scandina Wan countries, 10 moving
toward democracy.
Van Eyden, the most celebrated
poet of Holland. expressed the senti.
mant Of the people when he said
that while we still support royal
ty we take good care that it, hsnds
are tied" This speech was made at
a banquet given by the Ford party
to the Dutch people, and was round.
ly ,applauded by the guests. The
Socialist element 10 a large factor
In this evolutionary process.
Six million people live in this
small land and VIC are told that all
the property Is entailed. Very few
manufactures exist, the industries
being mainly agricultural. Tiny
farms. each field surrounded by
draining bitches and each connect
ing with a canal are seen In monot-
onous succession between the
cities. The wind mills serve to keep
the water back rather than forcing
It in, although different levels are
maintained through . system Of
dykee. Jan. l3 a heavy east wind
forced the sea up to the canals Of
Rotterdam, ani streets, houses and
shops were from three to six feet
under water. when we Waited the
city the next day the work of clean
ing up was going on. Our traditions
OF Dutch cleanliness have not been
ever emphasized. Everything
shines beyond the most exaggerated
claims Of our household friend the
"old Dutch Cleanser" even the iron
fences and brick door yards being
secured.
Holland is harboring $4,000 refu-
gees, 5000 Of whom are in camp
near The Hague. At one time this
number reached 100000 and we
are toA that American money was
used for these people. relieving the
Dutch Of burden almost unsupport.
able. interncd armies OF Belgians
t30,000) and English are also here
In four different camps England
Icing financially responsible for her
{ wn men. The problem of finding
employment for all these restless,
able-bodied men has been dificult
one to solve.
Schools have been established and
various trades have been taught.
Many have been kept busy making
uniforms. shoes, etc.
Many Belglans Of wealth are liv-
ing I'm the most expensive hotel In
The Hague and seem to he little
concerned with the financial plight
Of their countrymen. Many Dutch
people resent bitterly the gross ad-
vantage taken by Belgians OF their
hospitality.
Naturally the one question
which 10 OF Vital importance to the
neutral countries which we have
visited IS that Belgium may be re-
stored 10 her people and ell her
rights upheld. The conservative
party Of Holland Is pro-German.
probably because the husband OF
the queen 10 German, but this fact
Is only whispered by the Dutch into
curious ears, The people. them
selves. are opposed to Germany.
Though the queen seems wellbe-
loved, her husband has always been
by her people. = .i.--- ---i-.- --
Holland. itsclf 0ives ali, iudiea