Evening star., 1917-04-08
BELC|ANS STILL
/ IN NEED OF RELIEF
Plans for Continuing Collection
of Funds in Washington and
Elsewhere Discussed.
SITUATION IS DESCRIBED

Plans for continuation of support in
Washington, as well as throughout the
United States. of Belgian relief work
and for obtaining government cooper
alton in the movement Were discussed
at meeting yesterday afternoon at the
home of Hennen Jennings. 2221 Massa-
chusetts avenue Speakers at the
meeting were Ed-ar Rickard and Mrs
Vernon Kellogg. both members of the
American commission for relief of Bel
Gians. Mr.. Rickard also spoke at a
luncheon given yesterday by Mr. Jen-
alucs at the Metropolitan Club.
In his talk Mr.. Rickard stated that
the people of the United States have
already contributed S210.000,ooo for the
relief of the Beigians, which sum mas
been disbursed by the commission OF
which Herbert {. Hoover IS the a.
rector. The governments OF Engiano
and France are contributing Sl4epO,-
GOO per month toward the work OF the
commission. Mr. Rickard stated, in urg-
ing that the government OF the Jnliea
States assume portion "t thiS htat-
CIal burden. thus relieving the treHth
and English of a least a part of the
expense. The necessity IS as great now
as II ever was, he stated, though ti'e
Relgians themselves. with the AID OF
the Dutch. would be able TO carry on
the actual disbursine work now that
the American direction is removed
Destroyed Vessels Insured.
Mr.. Rickard said that Belgian relief
vessels that have been torpedoed or
sunk otherwise We're completely in
sured, and that the percentage of loss
would be small. Only eighteen vessels.
he said, have been sunk out of more
than 500 relief ships, this being
smaller proportionate loss than is
usually experienced in commercial
shipping.
ing that he had been specially request
ed by Mr.. Hoover to obtain the CO.
operation of Washington people in aid
of the work of the commissions office
at 100 Broadway. New York, and it was
decided that there should be no delay
in forming strong aud representatiVe
organization in the National Capital
Such organization, it was made PLAIN,
would not in any manner conflict with
the work of the Red Cross. but would
supplement it, the Red Cross beng IN
full sympathy with the relief work.
The gratitude of the people of Bel
giuu1 toward the people OF the United
States, MIR. Rickard stated, was i'm
rreasurabIy great: he feared. however,
earned increment" that the people of
this country should do all in their power
to deserve English and French citi
zens he said. outside their govern
ulents are giving individual contribu-
lions to Belgian relief which are two
or three times per capita the amount
received from the United States.
Total of 1,25o,ooo Dependents.
The effort to raise funds in Washington
and the United States. it was stated, is
confined 10 the relief OF the 100000 de-
pendent Belgian children. for whom the
commission for relief in Belgium has
pledged an extra meal at noon, the total
cost of which will be 81 per month per
child.
Mrs Kellogg, who is the only woman
member of the commission and who has
spent siX months in Belgium. where her
husband was a director of the relief dis
tribution, described wornens work in that
country. In her talk she vividly por
trayed the suffering, fortitude and eff
cheney of the Belgians in general.
Charles J. Bell of the American Secur-
ity and Trust Company is treasurer of
the local organization for Belgian relief
work