The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1915. HELP FOR BELGIUM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 44, 23 February 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1915. HELP FOR BELGIUM.

There is no possible doubt whatever but that New Zealand j will respond handsomely to the stirring appeal made by the Belgian Commission on behalf of the people of that unfortunate country. To think of great hordes of people—men, women and children—waiting in the snow and rain for just enough food to keep body and soul together is shocking to contemplate. The desire of the people of this country and of Australia is to give ungrudgingly in everyway and neither Australia or New Zealand will stand calmly by and wait the dreadful end depicted by the Commission. But wo cannot help wondering how assurance is to be made that the cargoes of cereals which it is stated must be shipped to Belgium weekly are to reach the people for whom they are intended. Lost to all sense of honor, reason, and humanity, the German invaders who are responsible for the frightful conditions prevailing in King Albert’s country would have no hesitation in stealing the wheat and flour sent for the starving people and taking it Germany. Nevertheless, though this risk is to be faced, it is clearly our duty to give in response to this appeal on behalf of the sadly distressed, State,, and- the effort must as the Commission well puts it, not only be f superhuman but continuous. We fear, 1 however, that matters have reached such a pass that there can be no real relief for the Belgian people until the destroyers are driven back on to German soil. That is now what the world is hoping and looking for, and the turn of the tide must soon come. : There is evidence of German desper-l ation ; internal unrest is growing, and though by supreme efforts the truth still being withheld from the people,' it is impossible to delude them much longer with such tales as up to the present have sufficed. A very bitter, awakening is at hand.