Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-30
Dutch People Prepared For
250,OO0, Surprised by
Few Arrivals.
DUTCH RED CROSS
ESTABLISHES DEPOTs
Food Stations and Medical Corps
Hastily Organized to Care for Home.
less Residents Of Flanders-Aged
Men and Women and Little Children
on Road for Weeks to Reach Dutch
Haven-lnfir,n Suecumb to Privation

Amsterdam, OCT. 2y.-W men the HeT-
man retirement in Belgian Flanders be-
gan it was expected that 100000 refu-
gees would seek safety in Holland. Up
to Saturday night, however, only 1000
had passed thru the gates at the from
tier. All but thirteen were French.
The stream began to trickle in slow
ly. At first several hundred arrived
each day but the number has in
creased gradually. However, there has
been time to organize at all centers Of
the Dutch provinces Of Brabant and
ELinabouFg food depots in charge Of COM
mittees cooperating with the Dutch
Red Cross. Doctors and nurses also
were sent to the border and they are
assisted by sisters of mercy from the
converts in the southern provinces Of
Holland.
so far there have been two main
streams, some thirty miles apart. One
point of entry is where the provinces
of Brabant and Limbourg meet and the
other is Maastricht. the capital of Linn
bourg province. At these points the
fugitives are registered by the military
ical examination.
The spectacle of the weary travel
stained war victims toiling thru mud
and rain was affecting and the suffer-
ing Of the old and infirm men and
women and children, on the 150-mile
tramp was intensive.
On Road For Weeks.
Most of the French civilians had been
on the road a month: others six weeks
or two months. All the French spoke
of the kindness of the Belgian people,
who shared their food with them.
On the passage the refugees slept at
night on the bundles they carried. The
motley procession consisted of all
classes and remarkable numbers of
grandmothers Of 80 or 80 braved the
inclement weather in wheelbarrows
pushed by the more able-bodied.
The bundles carried by the refugees
included birds in cages. chickens and
rabbits.
The fatigues Of the journey were too
much for some of the travellers. The
weaker ones died on the way and a
few others succumbed soon after
reaching the hospitable soil Of Holland.
Many Of the refugees are suffering
from grip and bronchial affections. The
worst cases had been given immediate
assistance at the nearest hospitals and
converts.
Pathetic Incidents Of March.
Many pathetic incidents occurred
during the march. Among the refugees
was young mother with the body Of
her 6-months-old babe clasped to her
breast The babe had died four days
previously. but the mother refused to
bury the body in soil held by the enemy.
To distribute the fugitives in Hol-
land the government last week ordered
the burgomasters of Deventer. A.sen.
Zutphen and Arnhem and other towns
to arrange to accommodate refugees
to the extent of per cent Of the popu-
lation Of the towns. To. these centers
the fugitives now are being taken.
The Dutch villagers on the frontier
have rendered first assistance to the
refugees, altho food is not plentiful. At
Maastricht great crowds welcomed the
refugees by singing the 'Marseillaise'
and the "Brabanconne" and loaded
them with food and dainties.
The French minister at The Hague
has been investigating the possibility OF
repatriating the refugees to France
thru the liberated sections but the plan
is not yet feasible because bridges
have been blown UP. Meanwhile a
scheme for repatriation by sea il being
considered. ;