Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19
BELGIUM'S NEUTRALITY MENACED

Beigians are greatly exercised over the
failure of government to provide suffi-
GENTLY for the defense OF
Guaranteed the country's neutrality.
hvp. II IL recalled that by the
treaty OF London. Novem-
Der Is. 1881. the neutrality Of Belgium
was guaranteed by Austria, Russia Great
Britain and Prussia. And II may be men
toned here that 1t was not until after the
| treaty Of London. April 10 1899. that
peace was established between Leopold I
and the sovereign of the Netherlands
that all the states of Europe recognized
| the kingdom OF Belgium.
The royal decree dissolving the cham
bers on the 14th instant also designated
| June as the day for the general cleo
tons. Public opinion appears to favor
| unrestricted suffrage and obligatory edu-
cation. The electoral period promises TO
be a stormy one.
The revocation OF Gen. Hellebaut, min
lister of war. because Of his failure to
provide proper defense for Belgium. was
| followed by the appointment of Mai Gen
Michel
The Independence Beige praises the
| general and says that Gen. Michel has
army OF which he is an esteemed officer.
That journal. however, reminds its read
ers that Gen. Hellebaut's nomination as
minister OF war was also hailed with
| satisfaction and confidence was expressed
In his qualities as a loyal and efficient
| soldier.
| According to the Independence, Gen.
He1lebaut was painfully lacking In all
| the qualities attributed to him. for II IS
charged that he attached himself entirely
intpraStg
| A correspondent of the Temps OF Paris.
writing from Namur. a Belgian city. sit
uated at the confluence OF the Mouse and
Sambre. mentions the rumors relating to
the installation of a camp of instruction
at Luxembourg as the commencement OF a
defensive organization which had been
neglected heretofore. All the region ak
tending from the right hank of the Meuse
offers a natural passage to the German
army. which will seek that route In order
| to rapidly attain the French frontier. 1t
| Is necessary to possess troops to occupy
certain places which are designated mys-
teriously,. and Belgium. 1t is confessed
has not the troops.
Belgium, writer affirms. possesses only
the soldiers sufficient to garrison her ex-
listing fortresses. 1t was
Public Is shown conclusively in
r,a;@.r,4 1911 that her system Of
AAuAAeAenI' defense was insufficient,
| and. notwithstanding the efforts of the
National Defense League the people as
| Z rule have no serious appreciation Of
| he danger.
The correspondent cites an example OF
the public indifference as manifested In
the military marriages which have OBJ
structed the military service of both OH
| GERS and men,
It appears that during the alarm of the
autumn of 1911 the lancers stationed at
Arlon were ordered to service for the pro-
lection of the frontier at Virton and
is noted for the beauty of its women, and
| they had captured matrimonially the
greater part of the officers and :sous-
OFF s''-non- commissioned officers-of the
implied the breaking up of the marital
messes at Arlon! 1t was the signal for
| cries. protestations, lamentations and
even imprecations, and finally the military
| marital messes were maintained. The
lancers remained at Arlon, and the higher
interests Of the country were ignored.
Gen. Michel, 1t is anpounced, will not
| wait for the elections and the reassem-
bling of the chambers. but proceed as
| best he may to institute certain urgent
reforms. The Independence expresses the
hope that these reforms mean something
more than the creation of committees, and
that Belgium requires practical reOrganf-
zation of the army, such as was indicated
on the occasion of the grave international
alarm when 1t was apparent that Belgium
was incapable of defending her threatened
frontiers.
The Independence asks, pertinently and
impatiently: 1--WE desire to know IL the
new war minister proposes to act prompt
ly and efacaciously in giving Belgium an
army which shall be sufficient in numbers
and armament" And that journal init
M
cessors. may act under the inspiration of
the party OF the right, which is opposed
to all reform in the army.
At the time Of the resignation of Gen
Hellebaut, the former minister of war,
the situation was en-
Embarrassing barrassing. The alarm
c:4r of August, 1911. result
0AIu"SAoA' ed in an Interpolation
in the chamber OF representatives, and the
minister of war found himself in an awk-
ward position. He had previously de-
clared in the chamber that Belgium was
fully prepared to defend her neutrality.
The International crisis clearly disproved
the minister's declaration.
The king. returning from his visit to the
Tyrol. held long interviews with M. de
Broqueville. president of the council of
ministers. and Gen. Hellebaut, minister
of war; It transpired that the king was
highly displeased, and it was evident that
Gen Hellebaut would be forced to re-
tire.
The opposition reproached the govern
ment party the right with having fail
ed to assure the security of the country
for party reasons. These reasons were
contained in the personal military serv-
ice, which was unpopular with the con-