American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-03-19

Among the Things Told by Mrs. Ba-
sill Clark at Auditorium Saturday
Evening.
For fifty minutes Saturday evening
Mrs. Basil Clark, food administration
speaker, held the closest attention of
a large audience at the Auditorium
but was forced to cut her talk short
in order to catch a train for Boise.
She left the stage still speaking,
shouting I'm be back in two or three
weeks" and all who heard her earnest
ly hope she will come. There is talk
of inviting her to speak at a Red
Cross benefit meeting in the near fu-
ture.
Mrs. Clark expected to be here
twenty-four hours. Mr.. Myers wrote
the state food administrator that Mrs.
Clark would be used at Rockland in
the afternoon and American Falls at
night The letter was apparently not
called to the attention of State Food
Administrator Bicknell, because he
billed her for Aberdeen Saturday
afternoon and Boise Sunday after
noon, making it necessary for the
speaker to leave on the S35 train,
about the time the meeting would
otherwise have been only fairly be-
gun.
Mrs. Clark brought a real message
to the people, one that struck home
more than any other that has been de-
livered. Many who had grumbled a
little over food substitutes, announced
after the meeting that they would
grumble no more. The speakers pic
ture of starvation in Belgium brought
tears to nearly every eye; and her ac-
counts of atrocities brought conviction.
Those who doubted will doubt no
more-it was information right from
the fountain head that they heard.
Mrs. Clark, with her husband and
family, had resided in Belgium for
fifteen years before the outbreak of
war, where Mr.. Clark owned a fac
tory For eight months the family
lived in Germany. Eight years before
war began Mr.. Clark visited large es-
adjustments in Germany, devoted ex-
clusively to the manufacture of big
guns and war munitions. He was con-
yinced at that time that war was COM
ing.
The speaker said no one in Belgium,
whose neutrality was guaranteed, ,.ex-
pected to be involved in war. The
army consisted of 10000, but it was
considered more body guard of hon
or than an organization of defense. 1t
was lacking in modern equipment, and
adequate munitions and supplies.
When King Albert was forced to act
to protect the country's neutrality the
entire army responded, and $4,000 of
the 10000 perished when the small
border defenses were destroyed. Vol
unteers were called for and 100000
responded, but only 10000 could be
equipped. The remainder were forced
TO stand idly by and see their country
invaded, and later to witness outrages
upon the peaceful inhabitants that
made their blood run cold
Mrs. Clark stood on the curb at
Brussels, the only woman among thou
sands, and saw the conquering army
enter. They were two weeks in pas
sing, 100000 strong, pushing on to-
ward the receding battle line. She
described the perfect military machine
of Germany and its ruthlessness at
some length, and with great fevor
said:
Il have told you of the wonderful
machine that the German army is,
she said, and now 1 tell you that
man for man. our American army is
immeasurably superior to them, and
when they shall have perfected their
organization the American machine
will crush that ruthless, blood-stained
force into the dust where it should be
Only for the sake of those splendid
boys, for the sake of bleeding Belgium
of gallant France, of steadfast Eng
land, of all humanity, give them the
food they need-back them up on
your second line of defense and sac
rifce a little for those who sacrifice
ALL"
The Germans had selected entry
through Belgium, the speaker said, be-
cause of the absence of fortifications
The German army would have had
trouble in passing the French forts
and could not have done so except al
fearful loss. Because they were held
a: the Belgian border for fourteen
days, during which time France haC
mobilized and England had gotten q
small army across. the Germans were
enraged. After crossing the border
the Belgian farmers were told to move
on, that Belgium was now German
territory, and would be colOnized with
German people. Those who refused
we're locked in their homes with theil
families, and burned alive.
Then following the telling of th'
cleaning of supplies from the coun
try. with the devilish intent to depop
ulate the land, that there might be nj
interference with the proposed scheme
to colonize il with a race of German:
as a province of the empire. and o
the slow starvation of the people, il
lustrated with heart-breaking Incl
dents of her personal observation o
the working out of German "kultur.
A reign of terror was inaugurateC