Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-30
WEARY REFUGEES
SEEKING HOLLAND
Sufferers From Privations
Under German Rule Slowly
Leaving Belgian Flanders.
WEAKER ONES DIE ON WAY


When tho German retirement in Bel
sian Flanders began it was expected
that 100000 refugees would seek
safety in Holland. Up till Saturday
night, however. only q small fraction
Of this number had arrived. At that
TIM w9s x.eo a.d Ras' e.
Belgian frontier. On Friday alone
1906 arrived. All but thirteen were
French people from tho districts of
valenciennes, Douai. Cambria and
Quesnoy.
There is NO congestion. as in 1914.
GUM threatened to overwhelm the
hurriedly organized bands OF willing
helpers.
Relief Plans Completed.
This time the stream began to
trickle in slowly. At frst several
hundreds arrived each day, but the
number now has increased to thou
sands. However, there has been time
the Dutch provinces OF Brabant and
Limbourg food depots in charge Of
committees cooperating with the
Dutch Red Cross. Doctors and nurses
also were sent to the border. and they
are being assisted by Sisters Of Mercy
provinces Of Holland.
So far there have been two main
streams, some thirty miles apart. One
point OF entry Is where the Dutch
provinces Of Brabant and Limbourg
meet. and the other is across tho
tai Of Limbourg province. At these
points the fugittves are registered by
the military authorities and must un.
dergo physical examination.
The spectacle Of the weary, travel
stained war victims toiling through
the mud and rain was affecting. and
the sufferings Of the old and infirm
men. women and children on the 150-
mile tramp were intense. Most Of the
French civilians had been on the road
a month: others. six weeks or two
months. All the French spoke Of the
kindness Of the Belgian people, who
shared their food with them.
On the passage the refugees slept at
night on the bundles they carried.
The motley PROFESSIONS consisted. Of
all classes. and q remarkable number
Of grandmothers of eighty or ninety
braved the inclement weather in
wheelbarrows pushed by the more
sions carried by the refugees included
birds in cages, chickens, rabbits and
odd kitchen utensils.
Weaker Ones Perish.
The fatigues of the journey were
too much for. some Of the travellers
The weaker ones died on the way
and q few others succumbed sooI
after reaching the hospitable soil Of
Holland. Many Of the refugees are
suffering from Ia grippe and bronehia.
given immediate assistance at the
nearest hospitals and converts. but
the examining physicians say that the
number Of sick thus far has beer
lower than had been anticipated.
Many pathetic incidents occurred
gees reaching the Dutch border. wal
q young mother with the body OF hel
six-month-old babe. clasped to he'll
breast Tho babe had died. fouH days
previously, but the mother refused
to bury the body IN soil held by thu
An old woman Of Cambria travelled
for three weeks in q chair. tied on q
cart. Scarcely had she reached neu.
trail soil when the cart overturned and
the woman was killed.
To distribute the fugitives IN Hol'
de-ed the burgomasters Of Deventer
Assem-, Zutxpathen and Anthem and
other provincial towns farther north
to arrange to accommodate refuEeel
to the extent OF = per cent OF th<
populations Of the towns. To these
centers the fugitives now are beine
taken on fourteen special trains, car
rying 1000 persons.
The Dutch villagers on the frontier
have rendered efficient nrst assistanc.
to the refugees, although food Is no,
50 piensiIai g IN LIS: Al ~ Matrien'
BY singing the '.Marseillaise" and thu
"Brabanconne" and loaded them with
food and daidties.
The French minister at The Hague
has been investigating tho possibility
Of repatriating the refugees to France
GUM. but the plan Is not yet feasible
as bridges have been blown up AND
the railways and tramways are In M
condition for use. Meanwhile q schem,
for repatriation by sea Is being con
sidered. -