South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-02

handle the situation is being built
up and supplies have been obtained
from the quartermaster department
Of the American army. A large
amount OF second hand barraclS ma
terial also has been taken over from
the army and navy. and $50 voiun-
tcers from the American navy are
experimenting the construction OF
barracks near ruined -illages for
the inhabitants Industrial life IN
the invaded region has been almost
completely paralyzed. Mr.. Hoover
said. Railroads have been rendered
almost hopeless of reconstruction
for many months. the coal mines
have been destroyed and there is
scarcely "A single factor that can be
operated without a very large por.
ton Of new equipment
The commission for relief in Bel
GUM" said Mr.. Hoover's message,
had hoped 20 surrender the task OF
relief OF northern France 10 the
French government Immediately
upon the German retreat. II has
been found impossible. howe yer. for
the French government 20 undertake
the food supply Of this area for
some months TO come. and upon the
urgent request OF that government
the commission had decided to con-
tlnue.
After the four years" paralysis
or wholesale and retail business
with the destruction OF the principal
towns and shops. these trades have
disappeared and the people are to-
day dependent upon a ration issued
directly 10 them just as before the
German evacuation"
Twenty members of the commits
sion for relief in Belgium who joine
the American army as officers. have
been released by Gen. Pershing TO
undertake this work
The population of this area at
the moment of retreat was abou l.
500. 900. there being also about 3OO,-
900 refugees in Belgium who are re-
turning 10 their native soil.
Destroy 20 Big Towns.
The destruction OF some 20 prir .
cipal towns and literally hundreds Of
villages renders the return Of these
refugees a stupendous problem.
Every effort is being made TO re-
strain them from goiug back until
some systematic provision for shell
ter can be completed. hut they evade
all official urgings and the roads are
a continuous procession of these
pitiable bodies. Thousands OF them
reach their villages 20 find every
vestige Of shelter destroyed, and
finally wander into the villages fur
Their back from the acute battle area
which are themselves already over
crowded 10 a heartbreaking degree.
'Tn order to remedy this situation
TO some extent. the commission for
relief in Belgium has obtained the
services OF $50 volunteers from the
American navy. and is taking over
large amount Of second hand bar
rack material from the navy and
army. Those barracks are in course
Of erection adjacent 20 .he destroyed
villages. under the superintendent
OF the navy volunteers.
"A large amount or boots and
shoes and war material has been
taken over from the quartermaster's
supplies and these are being distrib-
uted to the people The French gov
eminent is endeavori1g to obtain
some cattle from Switzerland and
horses from the various armies.
which together with the meager sup
miles 90 agrfctt1f,,rot fr,p1o,,,ort,.
may enable the population 10 get
in some portion or next years crops
in such Of these areas as are not too
badly destroyed by battle.
The entire Industrial life OF the
region has been destroyed by the
Germans. There is scarcely a single
factory that can be operated without
a very large portion Of new equip
ment. The coal mines are totally
destroyed and the network OF rail-
ways in this region has been render
ed almost hopeless of reconstruction
for many months. The German
method OF destruction was to bend
every single rail by exploding a hand
grenade under it, rendering it useless
for all tine.
The relief is based upon the al
lowance Of food 10 the value OF
about 80 cents per day to the desti-
tute. those having any resources or
employment being required to pay.
The whole extent Of restitution is
not yet known, but appears TO be
fully 60 per cent of the people"