Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-12-26
DAMAGE BY HUNS IN BEL
GUM HAS STRIPPED PE0-
PIE, DECLARES HOOVER

Sc99>j2gsI Erom I9gs ogel
minution probably over one-half. in
the total number Of cattle and hogs.
It can be said almost literally that
horses have disappeared out Of Bel
GUM, there probably now being Is
per cent of the original animals left.
Destruction Varies.
Investigation proves that indus
trial and residential destruction in
Belgium varies greatly in different
localities, and with different indus
tries Fer instance. out Of the fifty
steel furnaces in Belgium thirty-five
or forty have heen deliberately de-
stroyed by the Germans in their de-
termination 70 end the Belgian steel
Industry. Many of the textile mills
have been put out of commission.
either through deliberate destruction
and removal of machinery, or by re-
moval of the copper and brass parts
and electric motors Some of the
textile mills OF the more antiauated
type of equipment apparently aid not
appeal to the Germans and they can
he gotten into action at an early date
The Germans seem to have focused
themselves on the modern equip
menrs.
The glass industry has been but
little interfered with and the stern
promise Of retribution by President
wilson seems to have saved the coal
industry except for very few mines,
although actual explosives and wires
We're laid in place for the destruction
OF q large number Of the mines The
presidents warning seems to have
created a sudden change of heart.
French Refugees.
There arc some 100000 French
refugees in Belaium, driven out Of
northern France by the Germans They
have been cared for out of the meaeer
stores of the Belgians and by the COM
mission for relief in Belgium. They
are. however. homing pigeons in their
resolve TO return TO their native viii
lagos. As there is no transportation,
the roads southwark into France are
continuous stream of these uitiful
groups of men, women and children
pulling their carts and trudging
through the cold and wind towards
THEN destroyed homes. Everything
is being done that is humanity posi-
bic hat In the present state of de-
moraliaatian, with moving armies, the
necessity of using every truck and
horse with which to feed the popula-
ton, their plight is hcartbrealJing.
They refuse all persuasion to wait in
the crowded Belgian VILLAGES until
their affairs can he organized.
THE Americans of the relief COM
mission are working night aud dav
providing shelter stations, clothing and
food for them. but like many other
human misrations in Europe today
there IS no solution TO the suffering
that must go on.
One Of the great difficulties of the
Belglans lies in the enforced currency
tmnosed upon them by tho Germans.
This currency runs into millions 0f
paper money and presents an ex-
tremely difficult financial problem to
the government.
The Belgian governments is rapidly
taking hold, the Belgian manufac-
turers are engaged everywhere in the
of their work 80 far as
ts concerned, and the spirit
of Belgium was never better than to-
day, The Belgians are resolved to
find solution of their manifold diff
ficulties with as little assistance as
possible from the outside They are,
of course, dependent upon continued
government financial advances for the
provision of imports pending German
Indemnity and the reconstruction of
their export business"