MAKING BELGIUM HERSELF.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3141, 30 October 1922, Page 7

MAKING BELGIUM HERSELF.

With characteristic efficiency the Belgians set to work on the morrow of the Armistice, we are told, to restore the industrial regions that had been deliberately ruined by the Germans, as they deliberately destroyed plants and factories in Northern France, with the intention of eliminating both the French and Belgians from the markets of the world. But Belgium suffered other devastations, as in the battleground regions of Liege, Namur, J)inant, Antwerp, and, above all, in the Yser territory. The results of prompt and energetic effort at restoration, writes the Brussels correspondent of the Paris Temps are now evident, especially in the plain which spreads about Ypres and stretches out toward Dixmude and Nieuport. Three years ago this section was worse than a desert.—it was worse than a desert —it nfas a. chaos of ruined buildings, razed villages and shell-shattered tillage and pasture land. To-day the fields bloom again and new houses have risen, their white walls surmounted by roofs of red tiles. In the cities and towns schools, churches and convents have been rebuilt, and the writer continues: — ''A few figures will give a good idea of the actual results of Belgium's effort. In place of 78,000 houses that were razed or badly damaged 60,163 up to date have been rebuilt or restored; and 35,000 of this number owe reconstruction of the Department of Devastated Regions, while 25,000 have been restored through private initiative. Of 1100 public buildings that were destroyed, 562 have been rebuilt, and 250 temporary buildings have been put up. There have been rebuilt also 1650 kilometers of roads. (A kilometer equals 0.621 of a mile.) Moreover, 9000 hectares of land have been made tillable again, so that Belgium's agricultural status in this section is practically fully restored. (A hectare equals 2.47 acres.) To complete reconstruction in Flanders the authorities state that they will need 18 more months that is, to the end of 195 M, providing the Tabor market improves. Restoration has not proceeded so rapidly in the neighborhood of the fortress of Liege and of Dinant, we are told, although much progress has been made, and the writer adds: — "Especiallv important are the results Belgium can show in industrial, agricultural, economic, and social concerns. Since 1919, 200,000 reparations judgments have been rendered out of a total of 1,200,000 demands for reparations that had been introduced. But all demands for reparations to individuals such as civil victims, deportees, and others will have been satisfactorily solved before the end of the year. 11l order to accelerate the return to nor-' mal, Belgium has advanced 15 milliards francs for the account of Germany up to the present, which does not include the hundred millions, of francs she has expended as indirect results of , the war and for which the Treaty gives her no claim of reimbursement. It is easy to understand, therefore, why Belgium insists that Germany shall respect the Treaty of Versailles and why she looks for the support of all the Allies in exacting the full amount of reparations that, are due to her. but which in any case would only partly compensate her for the losses she has suffered."