Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-04
r. c. WoLcoTT, HooovER's AIDE
IN BELGIUM, GIVES MOST IN.
rEREsTlNo ADDRESS.
TELLS WHAT HE HAS SEEN;
NOT WHAT HE HAS HEARD
Describes Most vividly Starvation
Methods Adopted by Germany to
Bring BeIsans and Poles to Subrnis.
sien-Deciares United States Must
Win War by Conserving Food.

| II any one had doubts as to German
cruelties In the European war. they
would have been dispelled at the
Methodist church Thursday night when
+. C. Wolcott. OF Washington, D. c., an
aide to Food Administrator Herbert c.
Hoover in Belgium, told not OF what
he had heard, but of what he had seen
! in Belgium and Poland.
| Mr.. Wolcott had a message that
should have been heard by all liberty
loving people Of Marshalltown, but in
| stead of being created by a crowded
| house a mere handful Of people made
up the audience. If there are any in
| thiDcity who are not conserving food
| stuffs now, that our allies in France
may be fed. they would have hearts
\ of stone If they refused after hearing
| Mr. Wolcott's talk.
| Moro Serious Than Imagined.
| Mr.. Wolcott declared the food situa-
ton in France was more serious than
| was imagined in this country, yet all
alton is that each family in these Uni
| ted States save little wheat each
day. His plea was for wheat. Tho
allies must have It. The only way to
get it was from the United States. ana
| it must be saved by daily conservation
in this country. In land Of plenty,
with food a glut. Mr. Wolcott said II
was hard to realize the situation in
France, where, he declared without
hesitation, the civilian population in
the war-ridden sector was in danger Of
starvation If not supplied this winter.
Described Belgian Situation.
Mr.. Wolcott was in Belgium shortly
after the German army occupied 1t. He
| described vivdly the cruelties prac-
| ticed and how the policy OF the Huns
was to starve the people into SUD-
mission. He told of seeing heads of
families dragg ed thru the streets, load
ed into box cars. and moved across
the German frontier where they were
compelled to work for Germany. reliev-
ing German citizens so that they might
be rushed to the front. The Belgians
refused to eat and thousands of them
had died OF starvation.
Same CONDITION IN Poland.
The same condition existed in Poland
and among the deported Poles in Ger
many Mr.. Wolcott told of the plan
he had evolved for the relief Of Poland.
and how he had secured Field Marshal
Won Hindenburgs consent to help the
starving people Of that stricken land
The plans were all agreed upon, and
ready for execution when Germany de-
creed otherwise. and determined upon
campaign Of starvation in order to
bring the Poles to submission. The
speaker told Of a motoring trip he had
taken in which the road was strewn
with the bleaching bones of human
beings who had starved. The crows
had barred the bones Of flesh, and many
OF the larger bones had been gathered
up by the Germans to be ground and
manufactured into fertilizer.
Brutality OF the German powers in
the war, especially as it affected tnno-
cent women ard children by starving
them to death. was pictured in most
startling assertions by one who had
actually witnessed the scenes. Mr.. VOL
colt quoted German officers as declar-
ing that they had determined upon the
policy Of starvation as the means of
submission.
Can Do Without Russia.
In speaking Of the war generally. and
telling some things which he asked not
to be printed because he had gained
the information thru official channels.
Mr.. Wolcott turned to Russia and de-
clared that the war could be Won with
out Russia He ridiculed the idea Of
Leon Trotzky heading the Russian boil
sheviki and representing a nation. He
had known Of Trotzky in Brooklyn, N.
Y, and said that after the war broke
out Trotzky secured collection from
friends on the east side and in
Brooklyn, with which to go to Russia.
Altho he did not discredit Trotzky's
mental acumen he said that So per cent
of the population OF Russia could not
read or write, and were easily led.
Will Win the War.
Mr.. Wolcott declared unreservedly
that the allies will win the war, but
it can not be won without food, and
food from the nearest port That Is
New York City, and means that this
country and Canada, thru the port OF
Halifax. must furnish the food. not
only for the armies In France. but for
the civilian population OF France and
parts Of Italy. The only way to do 1t
was for American people to eat less
wheat daily and more corn, and IL
didn't think 1t was asking too much for
Americans to do. III we don't win a
decided victory over there" he said,
I'VE will have to fight the Hun here in
years to come"
The Sunday school orchestra of the
Central Church of Christ played two
numbers preceding Mr.. Wolcott's adj
dress. The speaker was introduced by
President James Howard. of the Mar
shall County Farm Improvement Assoc
citation, under whose auspices Mr.. VOL
colt was secured for his local address.
EARLY CLOSING GENERAL.
rA-AA>~~A~ - EssAl CAueaN