Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-29
BELGIAN SITUATION
RAPIDLY IMPROVES
Most Serious Need of People Is
Clothing During Win
ter Months.
CHARITY NO LONGER ASKED
Hoover Reports Baltic States and
Poland, However, Are in
Desperate Plight.
CHARITY NO LONGER ASKEl

million aad a half Belsians no longer
join the free soup lines. 2.000.000 Bel
Sian children are in better than nor
NAL health and the nations gratitude
:or Americas part in aiding her war
worn people is so unbounded as to be
embarrassing. according TO a message
received here from Herbert c. Hoover
by the commission for relief in Bel
gium. Belgium no longer asks cha rity
OF the world. She will soon be able to
meet her "auis through her own
efforts. although there is a crying need
this winter Tor extra clothing sup
plies
Of the entire food situation in I.u-
rope. Mr.. Hoover says:
My surve: OF the rest of Europe.
the Baltic states and Poland is no,
complete, but sufficient evidence is a,
hand to show that before next har,
vest relief Of an unprecedented CHAR
acter must be extended If the remain
ing population is 10 be maintained in
th2 hnanclai and transportation ar
rangements which am now neGotiat-
ing IL is almost inevitable that our
people Will be called upon TO contribute
literally.
In discussing the situation in Bel
GUM, Mr.. Hoover said:
Inc belgian government has es-
II, Il
nee propiems are being taken in
hand just as rapidly as possible under
the conditions. In the meantime it is
possible with sufficient money TO buy
almost any kind Of food In Belgium
For instance, meat is 81 a pound eggs
: eac! and butter $3.50 pound
suppmes .mlan are are OF course. available to
any one who can pay these prices
ihis gives an appearance to The
Sasual observer Of suficiency Of food.
bu: the f"ct is that over one IaIr ti,a
al I..,-
income under 81 week per famiIy'
ana anu tney. OF course are not participant
nrt; ,ms IN Ihese Kinds OF food. but are
prac,tical!F dependent upon the distri-
but!on OF controlled imports by the
commission for relief N Belgium
COMMISSIONS WORK HAS
SAN ED NATIONAL nEALTH
,,ra, An examination of the population
tae coninission for RELIEF IN BeIGiu56
SurinS the past four years have
orIssh, orIeaI =. ,,hns this people through their
lhe national health There cx;.,.
among certain classes undernutrition
r,n,1i, 1iiohtlnued rn,, supplies Of food viii
considerable spread OF tJbercm,nsi, d
=, .su!i of this undernutrition. bmt as
NJ authorities believe that this
n,ovi"Iad 'afhnea ah-na out without great loss.
rive. VI ioou ar
The most cheering factor in mo
600 90 a'R Its Is the condition of the >.
hVV. DeiSiih children, who have b- en-
.ne object OF the utmost solicitnd. of
of fc mnoie world during the four vears
ol occupation. 'S"iS
Because OF tha sunnI,.
t@u[h!sned @ by the Relief Commission
"nu @ me many children's insi;,I;;nns
;he 'eI ,na.a,,;,n ,aTe been largely supported by
charity. these children hava "or,a co
.nroneh this period in a state of beo;,b
ner,nJ n np zen Zen, better than could be ex-
response to the appeal OF ihe rnIia.
on, ;1,,nnisSlon M D 10 save the future genera
OF this result piouu
PRICE CONTROL WILL
...,, sooN BE IN OPERATION
me new raiioning system and tho
fnnJs,nn,. rTt.fon 2t meat and other native
few days. 1t. 1t hss ss In hse operation neslr In
increase the volume OF jmnoris ~ ~
WlSnoct enlarged financial assistance.
aieir;,,,,, u,s american government the
s,ntrr!ouiion eiS,rrI u. or these imported food
S,uIs Is now in operation practically
'hrouShou; the territory
-. fFlor 70 the evacuation sometnin.
like 3.500.60o persons were GnstitI,ts.
ana were dependent not only on the
ration RAJ Of imported commodities from
SSu!pbienenial rations through the soup
Kitchens throughout Belgium. Thc
energy OF the Belgian people in getting
back to work is rapidly djminishins
the number of persons in The snm6
ineS until to-day probably do no, ex-
ceed 100000 persons and il Is hopcd
that within another month this will
100000 ''" -
The people have had no textiles
during a period of four years. except
Toy The meaSe. imports by the Com
mission FOR Relief in Belgium. which
nave always been devoted to the desti-
tute The population is underclad and
the one direction IN which the I3el
Eians are IN need OF charitable helm is
III large clothing supplies to the Com
mission for Relief in Belgium There
IS no quantity of second hand clothing
that vii! not he needed and thai viii
mol bring gratitude in the heart of
some individual Belgian
ONLY FURTHER CHARITY
NEEDED Is CLOTHISC:
All Belgian officials and heads OF
committees are in agreement that Bel
GUM does not want further charity
from the world except immediate sun
plies Of secondhand clothing The
seli-reliance and self -suiiiciency of the
people is the foremost phenomenon in
B-'"iun to-day.
Their gratitude for their salvation
during the last four years is unbounded
and embarrassing. The Belgian gov
ernment has asked that the Commits
sion for Relief in Belgium continue
a $ the vehicle for the import OF food
Continued on Second nace.)