Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-16
Their report? of
parative statistics.

parative statistics. Their report Of
April showed:
81. That tho mortality rate Of their
men during the frst three months In
1917 without any epidemic) was Sc
times as great as that for tho same
period. in the average Of tho preceding
three years.
"(2), That the physical resistance to
sickness had been cut down to 1-3 of
tho normal resistance. that Is, three
times as many men were on the sick
and disabled list.
"(3) That the weight Of all their
workers. except that Of developing
young men 6 per cent? had made an
astounding drop during the first tri-
mester of 1917. Since the beginning Of
the war. IS per cent Of the men showed
pounds. The balance OF losses GO per
cent? were under the first figure. The
report brought out two further sig
nilicant facts. The high mortality rate
was due to the fact that the men no
longer had resistance to combat the
simplest illness. such as La grippe
Secondly. tho workers had been so re-
duced ~ to temporarily lose their WI
tai force In many cases.
The LIST OF April a general strike
Of workers took place throughout the
province. There were no demonstra-
lions and no lll-feeling between work.
ers and employers. The men simply
explained that they no longer had the
physical strength to carry on their
work. Without employment and with
out resources they soon found them
selves before situation OF absolute
starvation and shortly returned to
work. where they are reaching tho
same end little moro gradually.
SERIOUSNESS OF PRESENT
SITUATION SHOULD BE CLEAR
1T is to be hoped that the English
people. as we'll as the other allies
and neutrals realize the state of al
fairs. Up TIL 1917, by vigorous cam
paign abroad. the health and welfare
Of Belgium were safeguarded and no
reasonable Belgium complained. With
the c. r. B. ration during the last
four months 65 per cent OF It's 1916
value. and with the comparatively fair
reserves of native foodstuns existing
in 1916 now practically exhausted. the
seriousness of the present situation
should be clear.
Southern Belgium is the arrival of the
French refugees. The $4,000 allotted
to the province and placed, unfortu-
nateH. in the Industrial parts by the
German authorities. make an addition
al demand on tho already lacking ma
tive foodstuffs The French arriving
at two large towns were astoundcd at
Though their money Secours IS AL
most double that paid to tho Belglans.
and though their c. r. b. ration Ia
ma5ored by an additional kilo OF rice
and kilo OF sailed meat per month. they
complain bitterly of the contrast TO
their more favorable living in the ro-
gion OF ST. Quentin. This preferential
treatment was given to the French at
three places. AZ an indemnity for the
ct ran
country, without gardens and without
local resources. In this respect, how
ever, the daily laborer. q class of
100000 or 100000. tho poor and the un-
employed. are no better of than the
French refugees. If tho favored
Frenchman complains (and we admit
rightly. for he does not have enough
to eaU what is the situation of the
needy Belgian?
PLACE RESPONSIBILITY
SauARELY on GERMANS
Though the Intelligent BeIgtans
place the responsibility of the c. r. B.
spring shipping situation squarely on
the Germans. feeling Is gaining way
IN Belgium among the uneducated that
the allied nations have deserted their
country in the time of it's greatest need.
Belgium. without appeal to her in
Vader, and In vice, as 1t were. be-
s"SSH SSfHiunS anu the allies, Is In an
extremely delicate and unfortunate no.
sition. 1t should be said to the credit
or her people that. despite the under
hand campaign of anti-English propa-
8anda which Germany has continually
carried on. they have steadily main
tanned their confidence in tho c. r. g..
and the efforts OF the allies to remedy
the situation. The Belgian morale
which. unfortunately has been the OBJ
1ect OF misinformed discussion abroad.
Is, l may Houch confidently for the ter
ritory know SO we'll beyond reproach.
Resistance to submission. quiet but
never relinguishing, maintains Its his
toric reputation. This would be evil
dent to anyone who has had the occa-
sion to observe the stern fight put up
by the province against German re-
QUESTION OF men since last October.
in which not one of the AS communes
gave up the "chomeurs" lists; in which
one town paid 100000 francs rather
than give up the name of a single
man; in which hundreds of men have
laid down their lives in Germany or
in Northern France. or have undergone
unbearable physical torture, or re-
turned home in broken health rather
than submit for an instant to the Ger
mans-any one who has been a wit
ness to thest events knows tho mean
ing OF Belgium's sacrifice.
The very quietness and resignation
with which Belgium is bearing her
present double burden of starvation
and oppression should urge us to ex-
ert every force and influence in finding
0 solution OF her unfortunate situa-
ton"