The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-27
WHERE BURDEN OE,-WAR
FALLS THE HEAVIEST

Washington. Sept 25.--The burden
of the war falls heaviest on women
and little children, consequently one
of the most pressing problems todaS is
how to keep the world free from
disease so that it can give all it's ener-
gies to rebuilding what the war do
stroyed This Is the settled conviction
Of Cardinal Mercier, primate of Bel
GUM. and spiritual hero of the war,
who arrived here today.
The mothers and little children OF
belgium are utterly worn out from
the long strain" said CardinaN Mer-
cier, discussing the four years occu
patton Of Belgium by the Germans.
They must rest and play as much as
possible. for while, IL the next gem
Grafton Is TO be equal TO the tasks that
await it"
ut was hardest of all to watch the
little children go without milk. esne-
cfally the babies For four wears r
saw them with my own eyes grow
wan and thin for lack Of milk to make
them strong and healthy 1t was hard.
So hard, 70 know that was helpless
TO aid them
Consumption, tuberculosis. 10
among us ike a, plague IT Is danger
TAR more serious than Bolshevism ba
cause 1t is undermining the state bv
weakening our people and reducing
the production OF necessary goods. We
need machinery in Belgium for our
factories in order to make our peopIe
seiI-supporung and to resume indus
Try now. also, say that We need
health among our workers and their
families even more. We are afrea Nv
beginning national health work for
elie h'others and young babies of Bel
gum. and are establishing a Kind of
center in the larger cities and towns
Where mothers and their babies can
receive advice"
a question about T.ouvain ard the
ruture of it's famous, ffve-centurins-
old university. completely DESTROYED
ny the Germans In 1914, revealed that
cardinal Mereler's mind is at presen.
running very much along health 1inos
ihe university will be rebuilt az
| tas' as We can find means TO do n !"
ne said. One of,the very first things
wish to do Is to re-estabNsh mo
thea'cal school on the most advanced
sc1entthc lines that medical research
and discoveries during the war have
i's''oe Poss1nie. | intend to reopen at
ot'Ce me hospital and the clinic of Tho
un'sersltF' so that 8e can begin i'm
'hediately to study and helm solve otr
| national problems OF medicine ana
! neaith. 7 want also to build materrit,,
hospitals both at Brussels ana ~
antwerp, connected with which win
ne raining schools for obstetrfctans
10 accomplish all this we wiki ,ree 4
| t'1"re nurses In Belgium than we NOW.
! nave. we must found at fnyva,r 4.
/ training school for nurses ara w.
must encourage the nursing nrofas.
SION. The good sisters have perform
ca marvess during the war; T do No,
| Know what we would have done with
nut LIEN But they are worn on,
/ from four years Of constant duty a.,,
and night. and their strength ss w.,
| equal 10 all the great tasks OF nnrsi,,e.
] that VIII now come ms n result ~ o,r
| health program
! TWO American agencies wern g,,..t
ahy singled out for enthusiastic praise
pv his eminenee for what tha,, ~
done In Beleiun,-Mr Hoover.s con,
mlttee for the relief Of Pe,r,rm ava
the American Red Cross Hia er,tn
ehce also spoke cordially Of the VOL,
now neing done in Brussels by the
ufht UNDER the direction OF the Nh
uonai Catholic war council
/ Your American Red Cross ia r,
nfficent,' said Cardinal Merctsr 10
The extent OF Its work and its men, ~
snip Is simply marvellous. am toIa
mat your Red Cross has over 20 ono
200 members or course. wfthou,
Sech support from the whole AmerI,
can people, II would have heer
obviously impossible to accomplish tbe
wonoerful things your Red Cross did
curing the war Such national in
spiration should be captured and held
iot tne benefft of society, It is ex.
faordinary what can he accomplish
ed when a free people ali unita mi
work together for their common good
ana Tor the good Of humanity"