The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-10-30
REHABILITATION
Of COUNTRY IS
BELc|Ahs' HOPE
Washington Bureau,
Pensacola Journal
BY GEORGE III. MANNING.

| Washington, D. c., Oct. 29.-The
heroic army and civil population of
| Belgium is greatly cheered by the UNI
mistakable signs that Germany is be-
/ ing steadily forced by the Allies to
! evacuate the outraged territory Of her
western neighbor and they are ex-
! tremely happy in their expectation that
| before Christmas King Albert and the
Belgian government will be able to re-
turn to Brussels, the old capital, and
settle down to the task Of rehabilitat-
! ing their devastated country.
| This is the optimistic news that
| reached Mr.. E. de Cartier de Mar
chienne, the Belgian ambassador to
| the United States as outlined in an IN
| terview today with the correspondent
of the Journal
AdviceS have reached the Belgian
embassy and officials of the American
government here, too, that Germany
| has evacuated a large part Of Bel
GUM, forced by the recent advance of
the combined Belgian. British and
American forces.
But Belgium's industries. agricul-
tural lands, cities. highways and m an
power have been so completely laid
waste by the German barbarians that
the little country will be dependent
for at least two years after peace Is
declared. Ambassador de Cartier as
serted. American officials concur in
this statement.
1.-The outraged but not discouraged,
people of Belgium are fighting courag-
eously on and longing for the time
when they will wholly get their coun-
try back within their control: when
the seat of the government can be
moved back to Brussels and the peo-
pie can return to the location Of their
former homes and commence the enor-
nous task of rebuilding the country
that Germany has laid waste said
Ambassador de Cartier.
1.-The part of Belgium that has been
reclaimed from the Germans was found
to be desolate waste and we enter
tain no high hopes that the portion
still held will be less marked by the
uncivilized hand of the German maj
man." continued the Belgian amhassa-
dor when the Belgian, British
American and French troops re-entcred
st Quentin they found this former
trim. beautiful and flourishing city a
desolate waste and perfect exhibit
ton of German destructive genius. The
city must be entirely rebuilt from the
ground up. We are unable to learn
WHAT Is gong on Dark or THE befHnau
lines but we do not expect that the
other territory we shall reclaim will
be anything but model of German
destruction"
The greater part of the materials for
the rebuilding Of Belgium must come
from other countries, Ambassador de
Cartier said. because Germany has
robbed Belgium of all her supplies of
raw materials and has taken almost
everything else of value back to Ger
many.
I'VE shall be almost entirely de-
pendent on the outside world, chiefly
America, for food supplies for some
time" continued Ambassador de Car
tier, because months will be required
to put the shell-ridden. desolafe agri-
cultural lands on a productive basis |
again. We shall need farming impie- |
ments, fertilizers. seeds. building ma
terials and numerous other articles.
But all that our people ask is for |
the necessary materials to begin the
rebuilding of cur country and for food