they have left over from their ample rations. The German
Government is trying to stimulate the return of the population, and is
apparently doing its best to help them to earn a living by providing
work.

* * * * *

ANTWERP, Nov. 6.--The Germans are working incessantly to repair the
fortifications of Antwerp, mount new and heavier guns, and put the whole
place into a state of defense. The importance attached to their almost
feverish activities is indicated by the fact that Field Marshal von der
Goltz, the Military Governor of Belgium, ran over from Brussels and made
a tour of inspection of the double girdle of forts yesterday. His
Excellency von Frankenberg and Ludwigsdorf, Personal Adjutant of the
Military Governor of Antwerp, said to me in the course of a cordial
interview:

"We have two principal interests in our work here: First, that Antwerp
shall become a place of great military importance again and be prepared
against attacks from the enemy, although that contingency doesn't seem
very probable."

His Excellency was unwilling to hazard a guess as to how long the
Germans could hold Antwerp against an allied siege, but said: "I believe
we could hold out longer against the Allies than they did against the
Germans. Our second interest is to revive trade and industry and the
life of the city generally. When we first came here there were only
soldiers and hungry dogs on the streets; now, as you can see, the dead
city is coming to life in short order."

He scouted the idea that the people of Belgium had been or were on the
brink of starvation as the result of German occupation, saying that the
very contrary was the case. "Belgium is a country which cannot sustain
itself--it produces only enough food for roughly 3,000,000 out of its
5,000,000 population, because Belgium is an industrial country, and food
for the remaining 2,000,000 has to be imported. Heretofore most of this
food has come from Holland, whence some is still coming, but in no great
quantity. We have taken the problem of food supply up with the Belgian
Government, as much as there is one left, namely, with the
municipalities, and at our suggestion an 'Intercommunistic Commission'
has been organized, so that everything possible can be done to help the
country. This commission sits in Brussels, and when any town or village
or district has no more food on hand the fact is reported and it gets
from the commission what is requi