BELGIAN INDUSTRIES.
Belgian industry suffered so
severely during the war that it is not surprising the economic condition of the country should now be critical. The appeal made to the Allies by the Belgian Minister for Justice discloses a distressing situation, but there is no reason to suspect over-statement. Belgians have never concealed their dependence upon the Allies lor the re-establish-ment of their industries and although reparation will be a first claim against Germany it appears that Belgium cannot await the leisurely processes of the Peace Congress, but desires immediate aid. The Belgian bill for reparation was originally estimated at £250,000,000, I but the cable indicates that jt has 'been increased. Included in the 1 total is a large sum for the destruction of the factories and plant. I There, is now no reasonable doubt | that the Germans intended to ruin 1 Belgium for all time. They stripped | the country bare and what they I could not remove they destroyed | without the slightest military I excuse. The damage inflicted upon Northern France, great though it .be. affords no measure of the ! devastation that has overtaken Belgium. The corner which was the ! scene of trench warfare is scarcely more desolate than the centre of the country. Railways were everywhere destroyed by the Germans in retreat, and the Bruges-Brussels line in particular was completely wrecked by mine. Factories were everywhere razed, and especially round Clinrleroi there is a tangle of ruin*. The coal mines suffered severely, but fortunately the stern warnings addressed to the Germans just before the armistice cowed them into leaving the Mons field untouched. .This will eventually reabsorb a great many Belgian miner!;, but there, are initial d'fficulf e< in resuming even the industries f"i- ttVi'i-h plant '« available. In Ihe-e circumstances Belgium appeals to the Allies, and her sufferngs and her steadfastness make it •ertain that her appea.l will not be n vain,
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17130, 8 April 1919, Page 8
Word Count
314BELGIAN INDUSTRIES. New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17130, 8 April 1919, Page 8
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