Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-09-25
BELGIUM ! CALLS
ON MINNESOTA
FOR CLOTHING
Ten Million Patriots in Belgium
and Northern France in
Heart-Breaking Need.
AMERICANS ARE ASKED
TO GIVE AID THIS WEEK
American Red Cross, With the Help
Of the Food Administration, at
Work on Problem.

OF tho Food Administration, at
Work on Problem.
published by the Federal Food Ad-
m1nistration for Minnesota. Pre-
pared in part in the Office of Pub
locations, University Farm, St. PauD
The people of Minnesota and tho
other north central states this week
September % to 30-are being called
on for a contribution Of 400 tons Of
clothing to help make up a total of
5000 tons to be sent by the American
Red Cross, with the cooperation of
the United States Food Administers
ton, to the stricken, starving, SILVER
ing, dying people of Belgium and
northern France, who have been
stripped Of everything by the Prussian
robbers. The situation in occupied
Belgium and northern France is des-
perate in the extreme. Ten million
persons there are dependent on the
Commission for Relief in Belgium for
clothing and food.
This clothing can come from Amer
lea only. Five thousand tons are need
cd to tide Belgium through the coming
winter. Securing the clothing is a
matter of life and death for this help
less, courageous population behind tho
German lines.
-Four. hundred tons of this must
come from the north central states.
In Belgium it is impossible to buy
shoes. There is no more leather of
any description on the market Every
available substitute has been tried.
For time old betting from factories
was used; and roofing paper, of which
there happened to be a stock, was re-
sorted to for re-eoling shoes. But the
Germans, after having seized all the
leather requisitioned these substitutes
also, and soon, not single yard of
betting was left in any Belgian indus
trial establishment.
Now, the Belgians fasten pieces OF
old rugs on to wooden soles and wear
them for shoes.
And they make coats out of old
blankets-and blankets out of any.
thing.
Disease Follows Want,
Daily the ravages of tuberculosis
throughout Belgium becomes more ter
rible. Deaths from this disease have
Increased 100 per cent and cases Of
external tuberculosis, 1000 per cent.
The doctors, in spite of their untirina
devotion, can no longer cope with the
rising tide of disease.
Today, two die whore one died in
peace times, while owingto under
nourishment, the birth rate has been
cut in half.
Henry P. Davidson, chairman Of the
Red Cross War Council, puts the prob
lem to Americans in this way:
Every household In the land has
some spare clothing, worn or out.
grown, Of little value. here, but des-
perately needed by the destitute there.
They. have been reduced to fashioning
garments from -four sacks, old blank
cts, sheets, and tablecloths, which
have now almost disappeared, and
shoes from scraps of carpet and jute
sacks. Today it costs eight dollars to
have pair Of shoes resoled. For
bedding, sacks stuffed with dry leaves
or moss serve as mattresses. Every.
whore the need for blankets 10 tremen.
dous. Hospitals and other institutions
suffer for want Of sheets. In some
places whole families sleep together
to share q single blanket
Kind Of Things Needed.
Garments of every kind, for both
sexes, and all ages, are needed, &C.
cording to the appeal. Also piece
goods which can be made into sheets,
blankets, and baby clothes. Only gar
ments Of strong materials will be ao.
cepted. Apparel of fimsy material or
fancy clothing will not be taken.
Prospective donors are reminded It
will not be necessary to msnd tho
garments az the repair work will give
employment to the thousands of des-
titute women in the occupied regions.
What to Do.
In every county in Minnesota there
10 a Red Cross chapter, and in every
community there 10 q branch or some
other agency that can get into touch
with the county Red Cross chapter.
These agencies, include the local
representative OF the Minnesota food
administration. A. D. Wilson, federal
food administrator for Minnesota,
urges Minnesotans to get their used
a.
to such an agency for delivery to tho
county Red Cross.
Do it before next Monday, Septsunr