Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-01
FOREIGN NEWS

Brussels, Sept. 1.-Belgium's con-
tinued activity in adopting certain well
defined measures Of national defence
and protection keeps alive in every
occ's mind the alarming Idea that
armed conflict in Europe Is a thing
to be expected. The government does
not diyu.ge what it believes or fears;
it quietly goes ahead with its prepare
lions, leaving the people to speculate
as they will.
The Belgian army has been increas,
ed to peace footing absolutely with
out precedent; never before has the
country had so many men under arms
in times Of peace, and Antwerp, on
the Scheldt, already one of the strong
est fortTesses OF Europe, is rapidly
being strengthened evidently with the
iGea OF making the city as near i'm
pregnable as possible. Belgium has
a gold reserve of $4S,00O,O00; this is
tho national treasure. In order fur
ther to ensure its safety a large part
o. this money has been moved from
Brussels to Antwerp, the reason given
being that the latter city is more Sc
cure in case of war. The national
archives also have been transferred
to the fortified metropolis for the same
reason, e precaution which would not
ordinarily be taken except at time of
national anxiety. These events, con-
sideIed in connection with the recent
mobilization and seemingly tending to
show that the international outlook
may not be as clear as is generally
supposed, have caused much comment
in Belgium.
Every member Of the Belgian social
Set party will shortly be called upon
10 pay the equivalent of half a weeks
salary for the founding of a special
fund to be devoted to the securing OF
single vote general suffrage. This
decision on the part Of the socialist
party, as well as the determination
TO circulate monster petition in favor
OF political equality, has been taken
in conformity with the decree Of the
general socialist board, and follows the
| lead OF the Dutch socialists,
Paris, Sept. 1.-One OF the cheapest
places TO live in all France, and at the
same time one of the most attractive
to lovers of the open country, is the
sunny village Of Trepied, In pictur.
esque Picardy. This little town Is
close TO the very fashionable seashore
resorts OF Paris PLACE and lie Touquet
where prices have scared TO the skies
but nevertheless II remains the sim
pie village that Corot first discovered
nearly hundred years ago.
CcrOt painted some OF his we'll known
canYaREes near TTepied, and the beau
" OF the surrounding country makes
an equally strong appeal to artists 10
day, for the PjcaFdy village has been
frequented Of late years by q grour
OF American and English artists, many
OF whom have become famous, To
mention only few there are Frank
BSahgwyn, Sir Alfred East, Hughes
Stanton, Henry 8. Hubbell, Frederick
PTieseke, II. d. Tanner and Dudley
Hardy indeed there is hardly au
American painter who has studied IL
Europe but has spent one or more
summers painting the silver sand
duhes and pins woods along the coast
OF the stately PoplaFs and rich pas
lures inland, FFepied soon become toe
small and the artist visitors flowed
over into the fishing town OF Etabies
and the famous old walled city OF Mon
treuilsur-Mer, made famous by Victor
Hugo and LAURENCE Sterne.
! Life is cheap within the boundaries