Evening journal., 1918-11-14
YEARS REQUIRED
Fer PREPARATION
Immense Sums Must be
Paid to Belgium and
France
MANY FACTORIES
MUST BE REBUILT

WASHINGTON, Nov ii.-"Reparation
or damage done"
That requirement contained in the
irmistlce terms accepted by Germany
)bllglies her to perform a stupendous
ask and one which. in the opinion OF
Experts here. cannot be fully performed
N a generation.
Il was intlmaied that occupation by
The Allies OF German territories, these
comprising some OF the principal indus
trial districts of Germ ny, will eatly
facilitate the execution Of this condi-
lion. and. if need be, the Allied Powers
will be at complete liberty TO remove
entire industrial plants TO Belgium ana
France to compensate those nations, In
oart, for the destruction wrought Dy
ne German armies OF occupation.
The definite statements OF Belsium's
lnsncial, indust ial and generally eco
ionic case against Germany will be
presented TO the peace conference. In
he meantime, Belgium will receive
rom Germany enormous sums OF money
which thes armstlce terms compel Ger
many TO repay. Belgium is expected
also TO have her az icultural and in
iustrlal productive power partly re-
iab.lltated at Germans expense before
he peace conference sits. This Is made
POSSIBLE both for France and Belgium
~ the armistice conditions and by
eason Of the occupation Of German
erritories. which permit the immediate
Utilization Of Germ;ny's Industrial
plants and natural resources, as well as
.he transfer TO Belgium and France OF
locomotives, cars and railway material
] general from Ge many.
The following official statement was
ibtalned here:
"The German administration not only
look over the collection OF the regular
axes which had been voted 10 the Bel
yian government by the Legislature, but
'aised the rate on some OF these, and
imposed new and irregulsr ones. II IS
impossible TO establish an agg. egate
um for these taxes.
AS 10 acquisitions and seizures, these
we're Of three kinds:
"First Those made by the invading
rmies during the crossing Of Belgium
Second. Tie acquisitions. made by
he general government (Germanl.
"Thi d. The extra acquisitions made
n the regular military or depot zones
)y the corresponding army COM
nanders.
AT LOuvain. M1lines, AersschOt. Lin
ant Termonde, etc not only what was
needed. but what was useful was taken.
Furniture from private houses was
oaded on military trucks and shipped
% Germany-as also quantities OF food
stuffs. clothing housing material, raw
materials Of all kinds, and industrial
plants.
1t is difficult TO judge OF the value OF
these first acquisitions. most Of which
were made without payment, even with
out delivery OF the customary receipt
or voucher. In February. 1915. Doctor
GanghOfer estimated the saving 10 Ger
many from these sources on the west
crn front belgium and Northern
France) TO lie between $4,000 and ST.
10000 a day.
This would make a total for the
period Of Sl7j.OOO,OOO 20 s2OOeOO,OO0, a
cons der bic portion OF which, owed 10
Belgian, will certainly never Volun-
tarlly be pad A report OF the president
OF the Chamber Of Commerce OF Ant
werp puts the value OF the acquisitions
In hat city alone. at the time Of the
occupation, at si7.O0OOOO mot lnclud-
ing a stock Of coffee worth more than
siOOOOO0O seized later on; Of this
amount only si.OO0O00 was paid.
"The general acquisitions made by
the general government OF occupation
served a double purpose:
FIRST To provide large stocks OF
raw material and machinery 10 Ger
many for her war industries. and, sec
ond. TO ines pacltate Belgium for cOmpe-
tition after the war. The Neueste Mach
richlen, OF Munich. valued the raw ma
terial and industrial plants togethe;
taken in Belzium by Germany at Si0O,-
100000 February 26, 1915. At that
period the removsl OF machinery had
only begun. but by the end OF 1916 an
American commission OF engineers, who
had visited Belgium. estimated that the
re1ttlng OF her factories would cost be-
tween siO0O0O,OOO and si2OO0O,0oO. In
1917 these acquisitions surpassed al
previous records.
"The requslltions In military zone;
least and west OF FLANDERS. part OF
Hainsut and OF Luxemburg) are, a:
might be expected, more severe and
comprehensive than. in territory further
removed from the lighting front.
AT Liege $4,000 was taken from the
national bank and s5s0,OO0 from pri.
yate banks; at Ve-viere si95,000 from
four banks; at Hasselt sii5.O0O from the
nstlonal banks. The same thing oc.
CURED In almost every town occupied
by the Germans. not only with the cash
OF the banks, but with the communal
funds.
ION September 70. 1916. the cash II
German banknotes Of the National Banl
Of Belgium and OF the Societe Generate