Arizona republican., 1918-12-29
CAN SAVE BELGIUM
 WITH SUFF|G|ENT
 FO0DcONTR|BUT|ON
Hoover Reports Children
 Well Cared For-Number Destitute Reduced Nearly
 Half 100000 Left
Republican A. p. Leased Wire]

lRepupliCdn A. r, CCdScu WHcI
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S. - Four years of German oppression brought no loss of life from starvation to the of Belgium and northern France, and the undernourishment re- sulting from enemy occupation can be stamped out if America continues to send food.
 This report from Herbert. Hoover, chairman of the commission for relief in Belgium, based on a survey of the occupied territories of western Europe, was made public tonight at the com missions headquarters here.
 The survival of the peoples of Bel gium and northern France, while a quarter of the peoples of other Ger man. occupied lands died of famine, was ascribed by MT. Hoover to the work of the commission, which for four years poured food across belliger- ent lines sufficient to keep men, wo- men and children above the margin of starvation.
 The gratitude of these people to the United States, MT. Hoover reported, lis unbounded and embarrassing" They no longer need or desire to get
 
 systematic destruction of their textile industries. they must still depend to considerable extent upon the Unit ed States for clothing.
 The population is underclad," MT. Hoover said, and the one direction in which the Belgians are in need of charitable help, is in large clothing supplies to the commission on relief fnr Peloirtrr Thora y,o oyati f,f second hand clothing that will not be needed, and that will not bring grati- tude in the hearts of some individual Belgian
 Meat $2.00 Pound.
 With the German evacuation, the system of distribution of food and clothing built up by the commission during the four years, became disor- ganized, due to the breakdown in transportation, MT. Hoover found. This breaking down of the rational control in such commodities as meats, butter and other necessary supplieS, resulted in the whole of a very limited sup ply of such foodstuffs gravitating to- ward the wealthy through the rapid rise in prices. Though it is now pos sible, MT. Hoover found, to buy all liloSt ally hlllu OI 1Ocu III btl, lOil, liit prices preclude the purchase except by the wealthy. Meat, according to the report, is S pound, eggs s1 each, and butter s2.50 pound. These prices are in contrast with an average in come for more than one-half the pop ulation, of less than s4 week per family. The food administration, es- tablished by the Belgian government, ,-, +al- t,, situation as rapidly as possible.
 An examination of the popula ton, ? MT. Hoover said. proves that the shipments of food by the commission for relief in Belgium, during the past four years, have brought this people through their ordeal without ire parable damage to the national health There exists, among certain classes undernutrition. but continued supplies of food will rapidly rectify this. There has been a considerable spread of tu- berculosis as a result of this undernu- triton. but the Belgian authorities be- lieve that this can be stamped out without great loss. provided adequate supplies of food will arrive.
 Child Condition Cheering.
 The most cheering factor in the situation is the condition of the two million Belgian children who have been the object of the utmost solici. tude of the whole world during tht four years of occupation.
 Prior to the German evacuation, MT. Hoover said, "approXimately 3,5o0 900 people were destitute and de pendent. Through the energy of th' people in getting back to work, thi. number had been reduced to 2,o00.o00 and within month it was expected to be decreased to not more thal | 100000.
 "My survey of the rest of Europe l the Balkan states and Poland MI ! Hoover said, ''is not complete, bu sufficient evidence is at hand to shoy that before next harvest, relief of al unprecedented character must be ex tended. if the remaining population Is to be maintained in any semblanc of health.