Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-23
ElC|ANs GOING HOME
TO WAR-TORN COUNTRY
hat tic Returning Refugees Will
lie Called Upon to
Face.
EsT THOUGHT OF TRUNK
tipping Facilities Have Been Great
~ tAtcndcd to Provide Means fOi
outraged People to Return TO
Native Land.


ny Is. ENNIS.
'DNbpN. March 22.--Onc Of the first
ou''in$ I" confront the British gov
'hrnt on the signing Of armist.cc
- INC repatriation Of the ljO,oup
IAN refugees in this country. Cor
MY inc hrSt Impulse Of most reiu-
was 10 celebrate the suspicious
IN "t November by the purchase of
fuhk or some means OF conveying
'lf belongings back TO their own
h'S. After over four years exile
thought that the invader was now
hhilel% driven from Bclg lam soil gave
20 intense impotence once more
,a.e possession OF the land OF which
GE Mad been dispOscsscd
ne "ofkmcn rf the Birtlcy muni,ion
vfhs were the first To be recalled TO
prh at tho rebuilding or their own
nv. GRADUALLY. Antwerp and the sur
uhdiuH districts wcrc rcpopulated.
!" since the 18th OF January 1t has
ON possible for the cXilcs 10 return
Az nhrts Of Belgium Shipping ia
| Nlcs Tor the purpose have been great
extended, and arrangements arc now
force 10 transport 10000 refugees
Neck. II IS estimated that by tho
Aiarch the country VIII be emp
~ of all Eelgians save those DESTROYS
settling here, or those wishing 10
iurG later at their own expense
\ glance AT the list OF prices prevail
I'M brussels at the end Of Deem
1uFscsts that the JOY OF return
.!kc!% 10 hc dampcd by the cost
living. Bclgians who are self-sup,
'rlinS here AID can afford 10 return
hclF own time arc. in fact. waiting
ms TO ah"te EGGS arc quoted
20 cents each. butter. $3.50 the I<i!o,
10 lDsJ. coffee. s3iV a pound, and
7'Ear - unobta Eecf dripping
| 900 ~ s. pound. lard q; s.? 80 70
~ while toilet soap is at - the
Gee Pcrhans the most prokib!tlve
a ri lr-t.
"ihe cotton. which is from Sl.SQ 10
80 reel. Clothes and boots are
2;perilonatciy scarce and dear.
foFtunatcly the sailing Of the "Ru-
S on tho Sist OF January commenced
|lr establishment OF Tho regular
cimsh!p service between Tilbury and
stead The h:si cargo included a
("thin= AS well as leo tons Of soap.
H." resumption Of peaceful commerce
iShi soon to bring relief 10 tho de-
eiSd country, while The restoration
The machinery ana live stock. which
"a been carried of into Germany BY
flc invader should materially help
q establishment OF industry and
|:riCuiturc
Tile universities and other educa
|onal Institutions arc already issuing
NltaNons 20 their tudcnts to resume.
|i"!r INTERRUPTED courses. although the
mediate rc"pcninS Is IN some oascs
Ing DELAYED ~ the buildings benz.
sod as clearing stations FOR returning
lied prisoners OF war, Among the
ost cascr eNiles 20 return are the
nglish converts have been anordinS
|3spitalit$. These are faced wiki the
uuous ;aSE OF repairing the damage
I'd removing tho disorder consequent
lnv"nts hy German troops
The return % the Bclglans VIII wiz
css the closing DOM "f a special de-
ir,ncn; Of the british local govern
tod I.14
Ici measures When. in GA the
'untry VAS reused los the account OF
icir SUFFERING 20 a spirit OF Britain
rang up in every district and private
!nds were iorthcoming III every Ill
elton.
lcnted from the national eNchcqucr
nd in proportion As vouutarv con;ri-
itions and organization fell on there
merged government scheme employ
ef Giyen varied with INC Individual
tquircmcnts OF the applicants Where
riNatc hospitality Mas not ayaiiiblc.
ccommodatiOu was afforded in hostcls
= in houses lcn' rent free or a. mere
: nominal rents. FavorablH-noc 10
~ prcfcrcniial--;rcaim was ai-
ordcd at dispeasarics. hospitals and
anitorIa
IS rcsarhs education. Tie. children
ordinG 10 their religion grant OF
-.J' per week hclrp lnadc to tho
onycnt for each child. Clothing was
DpDiicd IN all cases where invcstiga-
ION showed circums tanccs 10 demand
and, while class distinctions were
OF officially recognized. every effort
as made I; guard susccptioili,ies
hero possible The separation al
bwances OF wives Of Belgian privates
ere also supplemented 10 bring them
y 10 those OF British soldiers wives.
Wartime labor shortage made 1T
cssihle from a. very carly stage. 10
bsorp many Of The refugees In re-
luncrativc cmplcymcnt. Very soon
'rev were among the most highly
Killed and best paid munition work
rs. and the whole colony OF Elizabeth
lille $50 called after the Belgian
,uccnl at BiTticy; County Durham.
,rsc munit:on works tho Pclabon. al
wickcnhan,. near. London, was en-
rely in Belgian hands.
IN addition to munitions. Eritain's
isitors were not slow 10 make their
lark in other cmployments Mill
cry and blouse shops Of a truly
'rcnch smartncss soon made their APP
:n,, perhaps, the, most truly national
lduStry which they founded here is
cprcscntcd by The "patisse:ie" shops
4 the West End OF London. Food ria
iouinE had not been lonI in force be-
ore Londoncrs discovered the value OF
hcsc establishments as being mys-
er,ogsIy eapabie Of still producing
nown as the last stronghold of tho
ancy cake and the provider OF the
chocolate.
1t certainly would appear that The
;clEians found In this country, in
edition 10 refuge from the horrors