THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
FIFTEENTH ORDINARY MEETING.
would
EXTRA
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1915.
41
Antwerp chapter of which I would have much to say, our work, of but that I have already kept you longer than I would have wished. I must touch only as briefly as possible on the aspects of the questions which themselves. now present
113 to 8 new
depert
life
have been an British Lales a total of 0,000 had fugees instead of being deprecat was alive, that she had escaped the congregation of the King's exodus of heroes? From to be handled every day. No ed should now be encouraged, without serious injury from the Weigh House Chapel in Dake PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS, the days of Israel onward some warning por preparation could be and that instead of de-Germans, and that she was in Street. In these housea I have members of every great migration given as to the numbers to be pending for subsistence on hiding in the neighbourhood of been able to receive about 120 have been found to marmar and dealt with. While the crisis the hospitality of. to cry for quails as well as manna lasted they poured in day and country they should as far as on foot from Antwep to Louvain, to them very charming expree- the Louvain. To reach her he went refugees, who make with regard in the desert. None grieve for night, taxing the energies of the possible be enabled to support passing as he could through the sions of content. What I have this occasional backsliding more whole organisation almost to themselves. A Government Com- German lines, hiding at times in done has also been done by many sincerely than the majority of the breaking point. Not only Transmittee has been appointed, as you ditches and swamps, wading others, and it has been thought better disposed Belgians them- port and Allocation, but Olothing, know, under the chairman-through rivers to avoid the guard that many people who are no selves. I only wish to bear testi- Correspondence and Local Com ship of Sir Ernest Hatoh, ed roads. He told me the whole longer able to entertain Belgian mony to the other side, which I mittees were heavily worked. to consider the
conditions story with absolute calm, and only refugees in their own homes may have myself seen and admired, of They bore the strain. There was ander which effect can when he came to the climax of be willing to contribute towarda patient and
even magnificent no breakdown. We were able be given to this new view of the their meeting he suddenly broke a eyatem of organised bospitality (Continued from last Saturday.) private wing of the building, endurance.
to meet and deal with situation. Belgian Labour down."My wife," he said; "she under which suitable homes can The first chapter of Govern- there was accommodation, with a The refugees were only sup the crisis. ment intervention was to relieve comfortably-furnished Bitting posed to remain in the London be
It may readily Bureaus working in connection had been living in the woods bo provided. the War Rafugees' Committes of room and dining-room, for about refuges for a period of three to work of a delicate nature accomp have been established in the to eat. She was a black skele necessities of the class of refugees imagined that in with the Central Labour Barean and fielde with practically nothing Another way of meeting the the expense and difficulty of pro 100 persons who might for any five days at the outside. Once rest lished under such pressure some Government refuges, as also in too, mere akix drawn over her of whom we are now speaking is viding refugea in Landon. The reason on their first arrival beed and refiited, it was the work mistakes were inevitable. But we the Rink at Aldwych. Recruit bones. He could say no more, by paying the rent of furnished Government took the Alexandra distinguished from the ordinary of the War Refugees Committee worked with the consoling thought ing bureaus have been establish- I didn't wish that he should. My flats in which a very emall grant Palace, and in that and other crowd. Before the fall of Aalto pass them on to the permanent present to our minds that, if the ed in the Government refuges, business was merely to find him is sometimes enough to render available public institutions it werp, since which period the rusb homes so cordially offered by the public could have realised the by means of which Belgians of some means of living now that domestic organised, under the Metropolitan of refugees has caused too gresta hospitality of the country. It was conditions under which the work military age are enabled to join he and his wife were together in a Among the propertied and pro- possibility. Asylums Board and the Boards of pressure of over-crowding, there in these homes their real reception was done, it would have been their colours and return to the place of safety. You can ander- fessional classes there are some Gaardians, refages which had a was a grace, almost a certain awaited them, and in these that surprised rather at the few than front at Flanders. By these stand that, after hearing such a who have atill acme small re- total capacity of about 3,000 charm, in the arrangements. was prepared for them by the at the many errors into which we agancios, in conjunction with the story, one's only feeling is that sources. For these the active persona. After the fall of Ant-
Alexandra Palace was,. of kindness of individual English fell.
Government refuges and other peace and security must somehow brain of Mrs. Lyttelton has werp
Earl's Court camp, with course, only one placa. The hoзrts the "haven where they The fall of further capacity of 1,000 porsons, spirit which dictated its organi would be." With what happened brought
forms of Government relief for be assured,
devised a scheme, which she le was added to the Government Re-estion pre ided also over the after they left our hands we had,
urgent cases, the problem of the In the early part of the move administering as a branch of the fuges. Up to the middle of Sapten- organisation of the other refuges, of course, little or nothing to do.
fugees may, reception of working-class re- ment such cases as these were War Refugees' Committee, of bar the War Refugees' Committee The first refugees arrived Everyone gave to his own guests
said to have been met and diety, and I come now to the great and placed at the lowest possible I think, be provided for by private hospitali- flats farnished by the Committee: had had difficulty in receiving ny usually in a state of absolute de- according to the fullness of his
posed of. many as 500 a day. Since that stitution. Their constant prayer means. We received many letters,
est change of all which the move prices at the service of the time, so far as the great majority, was that they might be im- of enthusiastic thanke, expressing
Christmas, we have been most mapt of private hospitality, which faller description than I am able The problem with which, sincement has undergone. The move. refugees. The scheme deserves & bich consisted of working-class mediately allowed to work and to the content and joy of the re- refugees, are concerned, the War earn for themselves some portion fugees, but our business was only
acutely preoccupied is the pro- hoe provided from first to last forto give it. In all schemes of Refugees' Committee has been back of what they had loss. But to organise the passing of the re-
blem of giving suitable help to a figure approaching to something hospitable relief the national food relieved of anxiety. The first an opinion was at that time held fugeee from the London refuges of weeks. The cocupation of and professional classes. This is fugees, has, as was to a certain food is in great degree contribut
The orisis lasted only a couple the urgent needs of the propertied like a quarter of a million re supply, of which the gratuitous: needs of sheltor and food were that no attempt should be made to their homes.
Ostend by the Germans on Octo-a class with which I have myself extent inevitable, exhausted its ed us a free gift by our colonies, by the Government refuges. I refugees in the ordinary labour course, on our Allocation Depart and stopped the daily transport atant tonch, and the sorrows and time we began to realise that the supplied, and admirably supplied, to obtain employment for these
The brunt of this work fell, of ber 17th closed the Belgian coast been thrown into close and con- first impulse. About Christmas plays an important part, should like, in passing, to offer market of the country, and the ment, which, as the pressure grew service. Since that time refugees difficulties of their position are offers of hospitality had ceased. to do justice to other institutions I would like to have been able my tribute of praise to the splendid lavish hospitality which was of more and more acute through the have been only able to reach us very vivid to me. They have No fresh offers same, and hosts for the assistance of refugees work done by the officials alike offered to them encouraged the months of September and October, by way of Holland, and though saffered, of course, horribly in who had previously had Belgians which have from the beginning the Metropolitan Asylums Board hope that they might be amply was obliged steadily to increase this country has continued to regard to their material posses in their houses wrote that they of the movement developed as and the Boards of Guardians, provided for by private bane- its forces. It employed at one provide such facilities as are pos- sions, and the numbers increase would shortly be needing this branches of the Allocation De I was for many
weeks fcence daring the continuance of time upwards of 100 volunteers.gible for their transit, the figures daily of persons accustomed to accommodation for other pur partment at Aldwych. I can only in close relation day and night the war,
The work of these ladies and of the daily arrivals have fallen live in the comfort of comparative posse. Oar Allocation Dapart permit myself just to name the with what was being done, and I The first work of the War Re- gentlemen consisted in receiving considerably. The total for affluence who are reduced to meat became can speak from personal absor-fugees Committee when the re- from the Correspondenca De- November was the lowest for any absolute penury. Such cases call ment of reallocation. Gifts of Lady Gladstone, Mr. Englehart Education Department, under vation of the devoted zeal, the fugees arrived in the Government partment overnight, cards upon month since the beginning of the for the sincerest sympathy and clothing also sensibly diminish (of Leper Island fame) and Father kindness of heart, and the untir-rafugos was, therefore, to supply which the offers of hospitality war. In December and January for practical help. Where only ed. ing industry with which the work them, as far as possible, with im-made to the Committee were the numbers again mounted, material possessions are concern-
Christie where, by a movement of receiving, housing and feeding mediate necessaries. They need indexed. With the cards they giving a
of educational hospitality offered. the refugees was carriedout. od everything. Besides the sub- went on the following day into December and 14,000 for Janu- cognised, make quite the same devoted to the relief of Belgians universities of the country, free
The funds of the War Refuge- total of 12,000 for ed they do not, it must be re-es Committee, which have been by the public schools, the The organisation of the, Alex- stantial necessaries of clothes and the refuges, and subsequently into ary. Refugees are still, notwith-poignant appeal to elemental
Catholic institutions and the andra Palace, where, at first, shoes, they wanted combs, brushes, hotels in which better-class re-standing the dangers of mines and emotions that was made by the in England, have never been very education has been provided for about, 1,500 were received, may soap, hairpins, bootlaces, braces, fugees were housed, and their ob- eubmarines, and the prohibition earlier refugees. But there is great. Public contributions in The Alexandra Palace, as you thing that even the poorest find and sympathy as possible to numbera which are to be counted special case does not present it given to the Belgian Relief Fund, I am glad to be able to say that be taken as a sample of the rest. needles, cotton, thimbles-overy-joot was-acting with as much tact of our blockade zone, arriving in soldom a day in which some money have been more usually young people.and.Belgian In this movement' know, is a largo glasa building necessary in daily life. The men, find from the information given daily in three figures. But the self. A day or two ago it was relief of Belgians in Belgium. have handsomely done their originally intended for pablic of course, urgently needed tobao. on the cards the most suitable rush is over. We are no longer case of a man of good position We have sometimes thought that which is entirely devoted to the
Eton, Oxford and Cambridge recreation and conveniently co, the women wanted knitting- accommodation for the many working under the same condi- and once ample means, who had the public did not clearly under-part. situated in its own grounds on a needles and wool to kait. We differing parties of refugees who tions of pressuIG. hill overlooking the north of did our best to supply all these, presented themselves. At the There are noticeable also some by the Germans, and who oзme
seen his wife and daughter ahot stand the distinction between the which has been of the greatest Another branch of activity London. Its central halls, with and among the small articles beginning of the movement re- cther remarkable differences. We in search of some educational sisted mainly in offers of hospitali- value throughout the whole moye
two Fande. Our wealth has con-. their merry-go-rounde and swing-which at that time were distribut- fugees had to boata, lent themselves readily toed freely none were more eagerly with only.. at the rate of 100 class of refugee. The simple only member of the family now began to cease we saw ourselves George Montagn, assisted by Mis be dealt are working now with a different facilities for his little boy, the ty and gifts in kind. When these ment has been the Health. De the reception of refugees, and in accepted than rosaries. We gave or 200 per day. the early days visitors who went them away by thousands. The the date of the public offer have given place to the urban po- niless. The next day it was a tinue our work for want of means, can Ambassador, bas given help
From country folk of the first exodus left to him. He was entirely pen in danger of being unable to con
partment, which, under Mre. to condole with the victims of exodus had been so sudden that of national hospitality made by pulation of the great towns, and manufacturer from Louvain who and this situation introduced the and relief to hundreds of oases of Page, the daughter of the Ameri tragic misfortune were usually they had apparently in many cases the Government the number in they come to us under different bad shared in all the horrors saluted with shouts of delight been left behind, and men and pressed steadily until, daring the conditions. The early refugees atten ling the destruction of that present and latest chapter upon the sick and otherwise disabled. proceeding from children profit-women alike among the first arrusb created by the fall of Ant had, as I have told you, suffered town.. His town house and his ing, with all the unconsciousness rivals from the Walloon werp, which marked the maxi- in their own persons all the worst country house, with all that they of their age, by the unusual country seemed
All these and many other de I am sorry that I am not able partments are still active at anxious to mum pressure of the movement, borrors of war. Since the fall of contained, had been destroyed. at present to enter into a fall Aldwych, Lord Lylton, Lord opportunities of enjoyment. The possess themselves of this usual it became necessary for the Al Antwerp the flight has been rather He himself had been taken as a explanation of schemes which are Gladstone and Mr. Dickinson, glass roofs of the building ad- accompaniment of prayer. mitted sunshine to every corner.
location Department to deal with though not, of course, wholly hostage by the Germans. Re as yet imperfectly developed. A who have been associated in a There are subjects about which upwards of 2,000 persons every from the wrath to come." Many was three times blindfolded and time will come when all inform a Management Committee since the One of the central bails was con- one hesitates to speak in public, day. It is difficult for the public refagees era fleeing from what ordered to be shot, and three tion will be freely given. For opening of our latest chapter, have verted into a great dining-room, yet I would like, just to place on to realise the magnitude of the they fear may happen rather then times at the last moment the order our present purpose I will ask their time fully occupied. There where sufficient and comfortable record the impression we received task ilus performed. It involved from what has actually happen- was countermanded. He Was you only to take from me that we is no sign of any diminution of meals were served with order and from these first refugees of sim not only the delicate personal ed. I speak chiefly for the mo- beaten sad scat upon. He was have been able to obtain, ander work. Neither is there on our regularity. Beyond the dining-ple faith. They seemed them- decisions which had to be made.ment of room there was a nursery and selves to realiso, in the tragic er hy each individual allocator, but Many of those now coming have Belgians as a covering tank in funds which permit us to give of interest in the work which still the working-classes. forced to march with other certain conditions, a command of part any dimination of energy or hospital, bright with white beds tremity of their distress, that it carried with all the complicat been attracted to this country by iront of the German advance. As relief in cases of strict necessity remains to be done. and flowers. Beyond the hos they bad lost everything except ed arrangements of registration, the accounts sent back in the first he said, in very quietly relating be regarded as a substitute for, from the particulars which I pital a large hall has been con- their God, and I cannot easily transport and warning of boste moments of relief and gratitude thede experiences: "It is doubted but as a supplement to, private have
The money to available is not to You may be inclined to think verted into a bathroom with car convey the touching fervour of All tained cubicles, where upwards the prayers in the chapels of the the Allocation Department were refuges and hostels we saw many Belgian civilians as a covering asses, sulficient for the necessities heroic moment of the movement of by the earlier refugees. In the whether the Germans really used generosity. It is, in certain chapter of the work that the ve given you of this latest of 100 baths, fitted with hot and refuges at which I once or twice at this time worked. to their of the postcards written by the shield for their soldiers. I know, of a working man. The part of has passed for England as well cold water, are at the disposal of incidentally absisted. Piety, atmost,' the refugees. Another largercom courage, extraordinary fortitude,
first refagees, and they reprosent because they have used me. They was used as a echoolroom and and overflowing heartfelt gratis of there separate branches fell something so near Paradiso and and bullets whistled between us refugees still remains to bring the venture to say that in heroic me kindergarten for the children. tnde for all that was being done upon the Traceport Department. the angels, that expectation based as we advanced." But these things staddard which the nation would it is subacquent acts to give them The arrangements for transported this country and people as put us in the front of their attack private generosity for better-class as for our guests. I would only
bare necessities of life up to the ments recolutions are conceived The many roome surrounding the for them in England were Every refugee who arrived from upon auch description could hard were all as nothing to the anguish central halls were converted into the principal characteristics that the Continent had to be met and ly fail of di appointment. It of knowing that the coldiery wish to offer in such cases as those shape. In the details which I dormitories holding each from enlisted our sympathy and taken to a refuge or an hotel. need not, therefore, be a matter of which had marched him away in sixty to 100 beds. In one room admiration for our guests,
I have just now cited. Every refugee who had loft one surprise if some difference is ob- one direction had taken his wife
have given you we are simply the beds had pink covorings, in I know it may be said that the of the refuges er aa hotel to take servable between the attitude away in another. It was impossi- in which this can be done, tion that the exiles now in our There are many obvious ways working out the national resolu the next theyhad blue. Screens heroio note, has not been con-up the hospitality allotted to him and tone of the refugees housed ble covered with chintz gave a certain sistently sustained. That is only in the country had to be provided in the Government refuges to anything
for him to know Among them the most generally midet shall be cared for, helpad, privacy to groups of beds.to any that human nature remains with a pass over the railway, bad day, and those with whom the After
of her fate. successful, so far, has been the and protected to the limits, of our Oraoifixes were fixed upon the human in all circumstances. And to be conveyed to the railway same refages were filled in marching in front of the German the basis of gratuitous hotels. I day dawns for them when they
some daya
of organisation of large bonses on ability in this country, until the walks. There were lace curtains I would nek, if Oxford had suffer- station, and his host had to be the earlier stages of the move troops they came in touch with have myself organised two or may return to the homes they love. in the windows. A cinema thea-ed the fate of Louvain, if Canter- warned at what hour and at what ment tre was converted into a chapel. bury had been destroyed instead station he was to be received. The gradual development of effect his escape, and he reached Horrington House, in Kensington see no end, to our exertione but Belgian outposte. He was able to three such houses, notably one at We res no end, and we desire to Large rooms wore set aside for of Rheime, if Manchester or During the stress created by the the situation which has brought Antwerp through the Belgian Palace Gardens, lent to me for the day of repatriation. Be that workrooms end the distribution Birmingham or Leeds had been fall of Antwerp-when upwarde us a different class of refugee has lines. Still unable to obtain any the purpose by Lord Harrington day near or far, we continue our of clothing. These were the ar- bombarded and their population of 4,000 refugees were received in also brought about a very im news of his wife, he advertised in another at Hambro House in work till it is reached, and wo rangements made before the fall driven out homeless and penniless one day by trainloads from the Con-portant modification of opinion the hope that the news he gave Princes Gate, lent by Mr. and look with quiet confidence and of Antwerp for the general menne to foreign shores, do you believe tinent, and so many as 2,000 had with regard to the condition of of himself might reach her eyes. Mrs. Eric Hambro; and a third absolute assurance to the public of refugees. Upstairs, in a more that
whole exodas to be sent in small individual their reception. It has been de. It did. After long delay the in the King's Weigh House Par we know to give us the full supe groups to different stations of the oided that the employment of renowe was brought to him that she sonage, furnished and lent by port of its sympathy and its help.
four
branches
..
which we have entered.