The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-06-19
GRATITUDE OF
BELeIANS FOR
AMERICAN AID
IS DISPLAYED
Relief Service and Gallant
Support Shown by U. S.
Forces raised by For
eign Minister of Belgium.
SEE WAR-TORN LAND.
tBy Associated Press)

gratitude for Americas work of relief
during the great war and for the gal
liant service of the American army
during the last months of the conflict,
was expressed by Paul Hymann, for
eign minister today. on the occasion
of President Wilson's visit to the Bel
gian parliament.
Addressing Mr.. Wilson, the minister
recalled proofs of Americas friend
ship for Belgium which were given
him when he visited the United States
during the first few months of the
war as a member of the Belgian COM
mission which inquired into German
atrocities.
Since then" he said. Americans
have proved their sentiments toward
our country by acts of generosity, es-
pecially by the establishment of the
Belgian Relief commission"
Tribute to Hoover.
NJ Hymann paid tribute to Her
bert C. Hoover, who acted as chair
man of the Relief commission, Brand
Whitlock. American minister to Bel
gium, and the American press, and
American women.
The result of these efforts of Am
orleans, he continued, was that the
Belgian cause became the fight of
right. 1t won such partisans of weight
as Cardinal Gibbons, DIR. Charles w.
Elliot, president-emeritus of Harvard
university; Samuel Gompers. presi-
dent of the American federation of
labor, and Theodore Roosevelt. Final
ly the American army. crusading to
Europe, took a glorious part in the
common victory.
Thanks to our liberal democratic
thn 0f
our beloved dynasty, the Belgian peo-
pie resisted the formidable attack of
the invader. Belgium, after four
years of occupation, bruised and weak
ened, is deprived of its means of pro-
duction but is not discouraged and
is confident of the future. Workers,
business men, scientists and artists
will cooperate in the work of recon
structing Belgium's moral and intel
lectual life. They are convinced they
may rely upon American aid and
friendship"
Desire Peace of Justice.
NJ. Hyman spoke of the good will
toward Belgium shown by the Ameri-
can delegates at the peace conference
and said that Belgium desired "a
peace of justice and reparation."
Certain problems of vital import
ance for .Belgium's future are not yet
solved he said, Belgium needs eff
ficacious guarantees for her economic
development and security. She has
decided to pursue them with perser-
vance and vigor, and relies upon the
assistance of the allies to obtain these
indispensable guarantees. Belgium
will ardently cooperate with the
League of Nations, having the moral
nf nnnr1o that iif.
fered for the right"
Witness Devastation
President and Mrs. Wilson. with
King Albert and Queen Elizabeth as
their guides, Wednesday saw the de
vastation visited upon Belgium by the
Germans. The first part of their visit
deeply affected the Americans, not
only Mr.. Wilson, but those accompany
ing him. The second phase was of an
entirely different character.
In the forenoon almost no residents
were encountered. In the afternoon
the appearance of the president al
Ypres, Ostend, Zeebrugge and, finally
Brussels, was made the occasion oi
demonstrations that might have beer
accorded conquering hero. With the
president and Mrs Wilson were Miss
Margaret Wilson, B. NJ Baruch, Nor
man Davis, General W. w. Harts, Her
bert Hoover, chairman of the inter
allied food commission and Command
er Baker.
The night run from Paris ended a
Adinkerke, just across the Franco-Bel
cian frontier, where King Albert
Queen Elizabeth and party of Bel
gian officers waited to receive the pres
ident. The Americans had breakfas
on their train and stepped out of i
prepared for their long drive. Brant
Whitlock, American minister to Bel
gium, accompanied the kind and queer
end Mr.. and Mrs Wilson throughou
the trip and explained conditions alon!
the way.
Into SheIl-Torn Country
There were no ceremonies on tn
train other than the ordinary greet
ings and introductions. Through TIL
little station building, which had bee
eIaborately decorated, the party NOV
ed to long line of cars and begal
its trip into the shell-torn and, as YET
abandoned country.
From time to time the cayalcad
halted to permit the visitors to stud
at close range some bitter fortlfica
ton or some piece of destruction tha
was unusually thorough. Nieupor
was the first halt. President Wilson
who was riding with King Albert, TO
lowed Queen Elizabeth and Mrs. Wi
son, who descended from the next ca
and walked through what had been tn
city of Nieuport to the ruins of tn
canal.
From Nieuport eastward along tn
old line of trenches to Dixmude, wher
the lines at one time, almost touche
each other, the party went on towar
Ypres. All that part of the ride wa
in an almost deserted country. Their
were very few refugees and ther
could be seen little attempt toward RI
claiming the soil.
1t was like dead country. Her
r@-.k;.,aI ~ Da1a ThirfaAn