RESTORATION OF LOUVAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 27 April 1917, Page 8

RESTORATION OF LOUVAIN

UNDERTAKEN BY AMERICANS.

It was recently announced briefly, that the University of Louvain, damaged by fire and bombardment when the .city was taken by the Germans in the early days oE the war, is to bo restored through tho efforts of American educational institutions. Mr. Clifford N. Carver, former secretary to Ambassador Page at London, and later secretary to Col. E. M. House, on bis last' trip to Europe, states that plans for this work, which will entail the expenditure of approximately £1.000,000, have been under preparation for some time. It was to consult with Belgian officials and to obtain drawings of tho boi'ding, together with' a report as to tbo actual damage inflicted, that he went tv Europe two months ago. " ■ The committee which will have the work in charge will be made up, he assorted, of heads of some, of the leading universities and colleges of the United Stages, and mil include also several prominent American financiers. Part of the plan of restoration will be to replace, so far as possible, the library which was burned when ; the city was burned. Sir. Carver s»id present plans were for f.he work of restoration to be begun as soon as peace was declared. The restored university will be tho gift to Belgium of America's educational institutions.

The University of Louvain was founded in 1426 by Pope Martin V. and Duke Jqhn of Burgundy. Prior to' the war it had five faculties and was attended by about 1600 students. After occupation of Belgium by the Germans, many professors went to the United States, and are now attached to universities there. ' •