Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-09-23
WILL ASK AME RiCANS
TO FEED THE NEEDY

Believing that the war VIII con
tInue at least another full year, the
commission tor relief in Belgium
mas announced that it faces the ne
cessity Of asking and soon will ask
the American people to give million
dollars every month min order TO
avert widespread sickness and death
from lack of proper food
W. L.. Honnold has just arrived in
New York TO succeed Captain j. f.
Lucey as director OF the commission
in America after having filled a SINH
lar position in London.
Just before he sailed for America,
Mr. Honnoid inspected conditions in
he occupied areas and he comes here
convinced that The commission must
Increase its activities on behalf of
The children, and, particularly, must
combat an alarming increase OF tu-
bercular troubles among both child
rem and adults. Mr. Honnold added:
Since it is the opinion of the com
mission that the war will continue
ior at least another year relief must
De afforded for corresponding per-
iod. This means that the commission
viii probably have to deliver during
the next year about 1850 900 tons of
loodstuffs into Belgium and northern
France, caIiIng for an expenditure of
more than $l50,0O000O. A large por-
ton OF the population say 100000
peopIs, are wholly or partially desti-
luJe and have to be provided with
food free of charge. This class will
call for fully 100000 900 of charity in
the coming year, or over 100000
per month.
The commission has lately made
a thorough investigation of health
conditions in Belgium and northern
France to determine the degree of
success that has attended it's opera
tons. Dr. Williamm Palmer Lucas of
the medical department of the UniyeI-
sity of California, who undertook this
Investigation, spent three months i1
close association with Belgian physi-
clans and health authorities. He re-
ports that the agricultural class is,
broadly speaking, in a normal state
OF heaI th The same may be said of
The well to do classes. On the other
hand, the high prices obtaining for
native products have made it prac
JicaIly impossible for laborers and
mmiuor commercial people to secure
the necessary supplement to their pro
rata of the commissions importations-
These classes, comprising something
like 100000 people, generally show
vitality, although the in
fauts, owing largely to the solicitude
Of The women of Belgium and to the
special measures supported by the
relief organization are really above
normal in general health.
The improvement in infantile NOR
,ality, however, has been more than
offset by a marked reduction in the
birth rate, considered to be largely
lue to the under-nourished and anx-
ous state OF possible mothers, and
by an ncreas percentage of mper-
'ectly developed newborn babes, the
ll-nourishment of mothers being also
'esponsible and being further reflect
ed in a much curtailed nursing period.
IN the case of the older children
belonging to the poorer classes, par
iculariy those in the adolescent stage.
here is an alarming increase in tu-
} rculosis, due to the lower power of
assistance consequent on inadequate
lIet. 1t is to correct this serious ten. {
lency that the system of school feed
ne is being installed and it is this
-dded service that will entail the ex-
ia expenditure of over one million |
.oIars per month which it is hoped
\merica will assume,
Asked as to the attitude of the Ger
nan authoriti towards the crops of
he country, Mr.. Honnold states that
he whole of the native products of
Belgium have, through the interces-
ion of the commission, been reserved
or the civil population. Herbert
looyer, chairman of the commission,
lfeCted last year an arrangement
nth the occupying army whereby a
lrge part OF the wheat crops act
ally raised by the people of the
ountry, roughly one-third of their re-
uirements, was set aside for the civil
opulation, This arrangement has
cen extended to the present harvest,
nd, in addition, a similar quantity is
ow to be released by the Germans
rom the harvest resulting through
heir own exertions.