Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-07
BELGIAN CATHOLICS
GRATEFUL TO US.
Mar. Carton de Wharf May Be
Presented to the Presi-
dent Tomorrow.
STORY OF HUN HORRORS

Mgr. Carton de Wharf, who yester-
day delivered King Albert's congrat-
ulations to Cardinal Gibbons on the
occasion of his golden anniversary,
will probably be presented to Presi-
dent Wilson, tomorrow. when he is
expected to offer the thanks of the
Catholics Of Belgium to the United
States for the manner in which the
nation has come to the rescue of that
outraged people.
The distinguished visitor was in Wash
insuon yesterday for a few hours
when he called on Mgr. G. +. Thomas
of St Patricks, and later returned to
Baltimore He told DIR. Thomas that
the morale OF the Belgians has never
waned, that in her darkest hour the
little nation felt that light would
break through and her liberation
would come in Gods own time ana
through Ills selected agencies.
Americas Work of Liberation.
America. he intimated, was one Of
the divincly selected agencies in the
great work of lberating the Cypress
ed people OF Belgium and other small
nations from the yoke of the Hun.
The next Issue of the Catholic Re-
view, editel by Mgr. Thomas, will pub
lish an interview with the visiting
prelate in which, among other things,
he will say:
THE situation in Belgium at present
is very distressing, and. had it not
been for the great help OF the Ameri-
can-Spanish commission. now the
Dutch-Spanish commission, and the
untiring efforts of Mr.. Hoover, who
came to the help of the stricken peo-
the result would have been appalling
Belgians Are Grateful.
"The Belgian people will always re-
member with deepest gratitude what
has been done for them by Brand
Whitlock, the American minister, Mr.
Hoover and his associates. and the
American flag. which was practically
unknown in that country before the
war. is now cherished by every child
in the kingdom
Mgr. de Wharf said that the Bel
gian people stand in great need OF
Lelp at the present time, but they are
not beggars.
They are anxious" the prelate will
say, ito work to reconstruct their
country and rebuild their industries
but, as the German occupants have
by removing to Germany everything
that was worth removing and de-
stroying everything that they had to
leave behind, It is imperative that
all who can do SO should aid the
country to reorsanizc its industries.
Churchmen Suffering.
Monsignor will also call attention
to the manner in which the Ger
mans have interfered with the church
officers in the performance of theil
sacred functions.
so far the only bishopric to be
Mercier, Archbishop Of Mechlin. the
Bishops of Client. Nanur and Liege
are. still in occupied territory. Some
of these have suffered greatly. the
Bishop of Tourney dying. a victim tC
the consequences of German bru
tality.
THE Germans have interfered will
the freedom of bishops AS much Il:
they could
Mgr de Wharf said the condition o.
prisoners of war in Germany is I'M
speakably wretched. He is president
Lady Lowther, an American, for tn.
relief of Belgium prisoners. This or
ganization sends thousands of par,
cells of food into Germany monthly
and but for this relief the death rate
among the prisoners would increase
to an appalling degree, Mgr. de Wharf
SaM i'd.
Mgr. dc Wharf, who is a brother
of Henry Carton de Wharf. minister
of justice in King Albcrt's govern
ment. presented a letter to Cardinal
Gibbons from that officer. The mes
sage to the cardinal was full of deer
feeling, and congratulated the aged
prelate on his golden jubilee. In pre-
senting his brothers letter, the dis
tingufshed Belgian churchman said:
II am directed to present the very
sincere congratulations of the gov
eminent on this suspicious occasion
and also to renew the expression of
their deepest gratitude for the effort
which your eminence has always
made for the triumph of the cause
of justice and right. as we'll as for
all the assistance your eminence has
rendered to stricken and martyred
Belgium. a country which YOU have
loved for so many years"
The Cardinals Resnonse