n which lay the head and fragments of a German
shell. I asked if I might have them. "Certainly," answered the man. "We
wish to keep no souvenirs of that wicked thing."

V

I do not propose to describe the magnificent work of the "Commission for
Relief in Belgium." It is too well known. Besides, it is not my story;
it is the story of Herbert Hoover, who made the idea a reality, and of
the crew of fine and fearless young Americans who worked with him.
England and France furnished more money to buy food; but the United
States, in addition to money and wheat, gave the organization, the
personal energy and toil and tact, the assurance of fair play and honest
dealing, without which that food could never have gotten into Belgium or
been distributed only to the civil population.

Holland was the door through which all the supplies for the C. R. B. had
to pass. The first two cargoes that went in I had to put through
personally, and nearly had to fight to do it. My job was to keep the
back of the United States against that door and hold it open. It was not
always easy. I was obliged to make protests, remonstrances, and polite
suggestions about what would happen if certain things were not done.

Once the Germans refused to give any more "safe-conduct passes" for
relief ships on the return voyage. Of course, that would have made the
work impossible. A German aircraft bombed one of these ships. I put the
matter mildly but firmly to the German Minister. "This work is in your
interest. It relieves you from the burden of feeding a lot of people
whom you would otherwise be bound to feed. You want it to go on?" "Yes,
certainly, by all means." "Well, then, you will have to stop attacking
the C. R. B. ships or else the work will have to stop. The case is very
simple. There is only one thing to do." He promised to take the matter
up with Berlin at once. In a couple of days the answer came: "Very
sorry. Regrettable mistake. Aviator could not see markings on side and
stern of ship. Advise large horizontal signs painted on top deck of
ships, visible from above. Safe-conducts will be granted."

When this was told to Captain White, a clever Yankee sea-captain who had
general charge of the C. R. B. shipping, he laughed considerably and
then said: "Why, look-a-here, I'll paint those boats all over, top,
sides, and bottom, if that'll only keep the ---- Germans from sinkin'
'em."

From a million and a half to two million men, women, and chil