New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-24
FREE TRIPS FOR BELCIANs
How Germany Relieves the Monotouy 4
SerfIike Existence
10 the EDITOR OF The Tribune.

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Tribune seems generally villipv,.
permit both sides Of a question 70 have =.
preston. As no sustaining Of Belgian a..
portation has been noticed. IL is inferred ,b,,
it has been taken for granted that this /. IN.
defensible. Not so. II is heartily eomn.,s
able as an economic and military neces,i,v
The situation is this:
Owing 10 the entrance OF Rumanis into IA.
struggle. the Germans are brought where. :,
protect their Eastern allies and freed peonls.
they must contemplate making their wes,.n
war defensive, even though Eastern yic,or,.,
might possibly invite Western advance. I,
order TO straghten and shorten this line the,
must retire from Western Belgium By sue.
cessive stages, inficting as much loss as pcs.
sible on advancing allies.
To voluntarily leave able-bodied Belgian,
to be Of avail TO the enemy would be mad.
ness. That the Germans thought so is inoi.
Gated by their removal first Of able-bodi.s
men from Flanders. These must be interu,d
in Germany. Restricted in food supply By Il.
blockade, the Germans cannot afford 10 sun.
port them in idleness. So they offer them an
opportunity of working in manufactures, no,
as slaves, but for q wage, some OF which thsy
can send TO their families
Benefactions will thus be reduced 70 a por
ton Of the women and children. and men no.
in condition for employment Thus relieved.
some Americans are already transferring
their charities TO the Poles and Armenianr
The stay Of the Belgans will only be during
the war. We shall get all kinds Of lugubrio8s
fiction, but they viii doubtless be treated as
well as German workingmen. The view Of the
scenery en- route, the varied experiences and
new acquaintance will give variety to life
which, TO many of them, has had serflike
monotony 70 is believed that, all in all.
temporary deportation will prove beneficial
TO Belgians IL they make the best Of IT, Bui
will not the Belgians, being in German manu-
factories. release German workingmen for the
army?
Yes. this will be an incident. as making
munitions here releases men abroad for ser.
vice for the Allies. Yet II cannot be discemed
how this could affect the previous statemen,
Of the necessities of the case. The Germans
did not begin deportations from flsndsn
especially 10 obtain the men for employment
This was not until they perceived that there
had best he, or must needs be, gradual
withdrawal Of forces. If they permit the
able bodied Belgisns TO enter Holland It has
been learned that they go around and join
King Albert's army. though there is no neces.
sity for their warning, as the Germans in
tend to eyacuate Belgium. There Is no good
reason for holding public meetings or making
stiff resolutions to bring Belgians from Ger
many, 70 again divide charity with the far
more needy Poles and Armenians.
The Michigan legislators do well TO rebuke
those professors who have adopted recslei-
trant attitude toward the international opin-
ions they so long entertained before the war
It is time that the repeated bawling Bel
GUM. Belgium, Belgium" should cease to
distract public attention from the distortion
of the map of Europe, intended by the Entente
Allies, in fragrant violation Of the wisdom OF
British and American statesmen in the Vic.
torian Era The Germans would make peace;
the Allies seek to despoil:
Rutherford, n. J., Jan. 20, 1917.