Wiarus. (Winona, Minn.) 1895-1919, 1918-10-18
BELGIUM CALLS
ON MINNESOTA
FOR CLOTHING
-------
Ten Million Patriots in Belgium
and Northern France in
Heart-Breaking Need.
AMERICANS ARE ASKED
TO GIVE AID THIS WEEK
American Red Cross, With the Help
Of the Food Administration, at
Work on Problem.
published by the Federal Food Ad.
ministration for Minnesota. Pre-.
pared in part in the Office Of Pub
locations, University Farm, st. Paul)

The people Of Minnesota and the
other north central states this week
September % to 3O-are being called
on for a contribution OF 400 tons Of
clothing to help make up a total of
5000 tons to be sent by the American
Red Cross, with the cooperation of
the United States Food Administra-
ton, to the stricken, starving, SILVER
ing, dying people of Belgium and
northern France, who have been
stripped Of everything by the Prussian
robbers. The situation in occupied
Belgium and northern France is des-
perate in the extreme. Ten million
persons there are dependent on the
Commission for Relief in Belgium for
clothing and food.
This clothing can come from Amer
lea only. Five thousand tons are need
ed to tide Belgium through the coming
winter. Securing the clothing is q
matter of life and death for this help
less, courageous population behind the
German lines.
Four hundred tons Of this must
come from the north central states.
In Belgium it ia impossible to buy
shoes. There is no more leather Of
any description on the market. Every
available substitute has been tried.
For a time old betting from factories
was used; and roofing paper, Of which
there happened to be a stock, was re-
sorted to for RESIDING shoes. But the
Germans, after having seized all tho
leather requisitioned these substitutes
also, and soon, not q single yard Of
betting was left in any Belgian indus.
trial establishment.
Now, the Belgians fasten pieces Of
old rugs on to wooden soles and yea
them for shoes.
And they make coats out Of old
blankets-and blankets out Of any,
thing.
Disease Follows Want.
Daily the ravages Of tuberculosis
throughout Belgium becomes more ter
rible. Deaths from this disease have
increased 100 per cent and cases Of
external tuberculosis, 1000 per cent.
The doctors, in spite Of their untiring
devotion, can no longer cope with the
rising tide Of disease
Today, two die where n died in
peace times, while owing to under
nourishment, the birth rate has been
cut in half. ,
Henry p. Davidson, chairman Of the
Red Cross War Council, puts the prob
lem to Americans in this way:
every household in the land has
some spare clothing, worn or out
grown, of little value here, but des-
perately needed by the destitute there.
They have been reduced to ~fashtoning
garments from -four sacks, old blank
cts, sheets. and tablecloths, which
have now almost disappeared, and
shoes from scraps Of carpet and jute
sacks. Today 1t costs eight dollars to
have a pair Of shoes resoled. For
bedding, sacks stuffed with dry leaves
or moss serve as mattresses. Every.
where tho need for blankets is tremen-
dous. Hospitals and other institutions
suffer for want of~sheets. In some
places whole families sleep together
10 share a single blanket"
Kind Of Things Needed.
Garments Of every kind, for both
sexes, and all ages, are needed, &C.
cording to the appeal. Also piece
goods which can be made into sheets.
blankets, and baby clothes. Only gar.
ments Of strong materials will be &C.
copied. Apparel Of dimsy material or
fancy clothing will not be taken.
Prospective donors r reminded It
will not be necessary to mend the
garments ~ the repair work will give
employment to the thousands Of des.
titute women in the occupied regions.
What 70 Do.
In every county in Minnesota there
is q Red Cross chapter. and in every
community there Is a branch or some
other agency that can get into touch
with the county Red Cross chapter.
These agencies, include the local
representative Of the Minnesota food
administration. A. D. Wilson, federal
food administrator for Minnesota,
urges Minnesotans to get their used
clothing together aud see that 1t gets
to such an agency for delivery to tho