The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-02
INDUSTRIES PARALYZED

lhdustrlal llIe Tn the invaded region has been almost completely paralyzed, Mr Hooveh said. Railroads have been rendered almost hopeless of reconstruc- tion for many months, the coal mines have been destroyed and there is scarce ly single factory that can be operated without very large portion of new equipment.
 The commission for relief in Belgium" said Mir. Hoover's message, had hoped to surrender the task of relief of north ern France to the French government immediately upon the German retreat. It has been found impossible, however, for the French gover' brent to undertake tha food supply of this area for some months to come, and upon the urgent request of that government, the commission had de- cded to continue.
 After the four years paralysis of wholesale and retail bushes, with the de- struction of the principal towns and shops these trades have disappeared. and the people are today dependent upon a ration issued directly to them just as before the German evacuation.
 Until transport and trade can be re- habilitated the present system must go on. for the French distribution is done by the trades. These arrangements ne- cessltate some reorganization of the re- lief in Belgium who joined the American army as officers have been released by General Pershing to undertake this work
 'The popula ton of this area at the mo- ment of the retreat was about 1.50o, ,00J there being also about 100000 refugees in Belgium who are returning and some 5OO,OO0 refugees in France. all of whom are anxious to return to their native soil.
 HUNDREDS TOWNS DESTROYED
 .'The destruction of some 20 principal towns and literally hundreds of villages renders the return of these refugees a stupendous problem. Every effort Is being made to restrain them from going back until some systematic provision for shelter can be completed, but they evade all official urgings and the roads are a continuous procession of these pitiable bodies. Thousands of them reach their villages to find every vestige of shelter destroyed ald finally wander into the villages further back from the acute bat tie area which are themselves overcrowd- cd to a heart breaking degree.
 Tn order to remedy this situation to some extent the commission for relief in Belgium has obtained the services of 15O volunteers from the American navy. and is taking over large amount or second-han barrack material from the navy and army These barracks are m course of construction, adjacent to the destroyed villages, under the supernten- dence of the navy volunteers.
 Alarge amount of boots and shoes and warm clothing has been taken from the ouartermaster's supplies and these are being distributed to the people. The French government is endeavoring to obtain some cattle from Switzerland and horses from the various armies. which, together with the meager supply of ag- ricultural implements may enable the population to get in some portion of next years crops in such of these areas IS are not too badly destroyed by battle
 "The entire industrial life of the re- zion has been destroyed by the Germans There is scarcely a single factory that can be operated without a very large portion of new equipment. The coal mines are totally destroyed and the net work of railways in this region has been rendered almost hopeless of reconstruction for many months.
 The German method of destruction was to bend every single rail by explod- ing a hand grenade under it, rendering it useless for all time.
 '.Ihe Grand Canal Du Nord, which con- nects this section of France from the Belgium canal system and is the natural entrepot for goods for Antwerp or Potter- dam. was itself practically the fighting ling for months and is so badly destroyed that it will take fully year for it's com plete reconstruction.
 r"The relief is based upon the allow ance of food to the value of about 35 cents per day to the destitutes. those hav- ing any resources or employment being reouired to pay The whole extent of destitution is not yet known but appears +o ha fuIiv 60 per cent of the people,"