Omaha daily bee., 1919-04-27
BELGIAN HEROES
IN OMAHA TO AID
LOAN CAMP AICN
Total Of $5,750,O0O Sub.
scribed Here, or Nearly
Two Thirds Quota; An
others Big Subscription.

OHldid pdVcIIitHtS IcSOullucu
yesterday beneath the tramp of los
Belgian heroes, part of that small
but courageous army which sacri-
Iced itself before the onsweeping
German hordes in the late summer
of 1914 and saved the cause of the
allies and civilization.
Splendid, strapping chaps are
these Relgian soldiers and every one
of them is hero. real, fighting
hero. Every one of them wears dec
orations Many have the Croix de
Guerre and the Legion of Honor.
Some had half dozen medals on
their breasts.
All wore their trench helmets and
were in full marching order, their
ammunition belts bullying with cart
ridges. They made magnificent
and inspiring sight as they marched
to the music of six buglers who
sounded the battle calls. The gleam-
ing bayonets affixed to the rifles on
their shoulders added to the inspira-
ton of the sight of these young men
who went through more than four
years of gruelling fighting in hard
climate before a ruthless enemy,
vastly their superior in numbers.
The crowds that lined the streets
cheered and applauded the heroes.
Four Machine Guns.
A feature, peculiar to continental
armies was the squad Of four ma
chine guns, each drawn by two big,
specially-trained Belgian dogs.
Heading the parade was the ON
aha Victory loan committee. 1t
started from the Auditorium, passed
through number of streets and
ended at the courthouse square
where Belgians wenb through ma
neuvers before the program of
speaking began. District Judge
Lee Estelle delivered the address
and Rev. Father Cannon offered
prayer. After the courthouse ex-
ercises the Belgians were taken to
the Chamber of Commerce for
luncheon. There they also eceived
a great ovation.
The los men are touring this
country in the interests of the Vic
tory Liberty loan.
Over Five and Three-Fourths Mil
lions.
Omaha today arrived nearly at
Z the halfway point in its drive for
the quota of 1871, $50. The amount
subscribed up to E o'clock last night
was $5750,O00, and the ship on the
"Atlantic ocean" pictured on the
court house cornice was moved
ahead to a position in midAtlantic.
The hope of the committee, bas-
ed on previous Liberty loan drives,
to get the entire quota last week.
went glimmering. But the official
time for the drive throughout the
country runs until May 20 and it is
believed Omaha will have have sub
scribed her quota before that time.
The big drive with stunts" and
daily parades ended yesterday. the
committee says. The solicitors will
continue and employers will bring
added pressure on employees to buy
the notes.
Another $4,000 subscription was
received yesterday. This was from
the Conservative Savings & Loan
association. 1t brings this con-
Germs total purchase of Liberty
bonds to 100000. The associa-
ton has arranged to sell the notes
on q plan which will allow the pur-
chaser interest on each installment
as soon as it is paid.
Helmets With Bonds.
At the Victory Liberty Loan
bank in the courthouse a German
helmet was given yesterday with
each, purchase of bond.
The Metropolitan water district of
Omaha bought 100000 worth of the
bonds. C. N. Dietz gained distinc-
ton as the largest individual buyer
when he took $4,000 worth.
The Belgian soldiers were taken
on a sightseeing tour of the city
yesterday afternoon. Albert Van
Houtte, A. c. Van SAINT and others
who talk the language of the soldier
heroes accompanied them.
They were entertained at dinner
at the Athletic club at 6 o'clock last
evening and left at 7:30 o'clock for
Des Moines.