The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-09-03
.HEtSAVED. BRUSSELS
How Minister WhitIock AVerted
Destruction of City.
Persuaded 5urgomaster to Abandon
Futile Defense-Demanded That
Germans Permit Foreigners
to obtain Food.

Antwerp.-Brand Whitlock, former
mayor of Toledo, is receiving the
praise of all Brussels and is given
credit for having saved the city from
possible destruction.
AS American minister to Belgium
Mr.. Whitlock asked the burgomaster
to abandon his proposed defense by
the civil guards in order to prevent
useless bloodshed and to save the
city's famous buildings and works Of
art The civil guards were thereupon
disbanded and the city was surren-
dered.
When the Germans attempted to
commander all foodstuffs in the city
Mr.. Whitlock figuratively took the bull
by the horns. He notified the German
commander that the foreigners under
his protection as American minister
had equal rights with the Germans and
threatened to hold him responsible If
they were deprived of food.
Washington. Brand Whitlock,
American minister to Belgium, from
whom nothing had been heard for sew
eral days, finally succeeded In getting
cablegram through to the American
government from Brussels, which he
reported to be in German hands, but
completely surrounded by armies en-
gagged in active operations"
Mr.. Whitlock did not move the
American legation with the Belgian
court when the seat of government
was taken from Brussels to Antwerp,
but remained behind, together with
most Of the other neutral ministers.
It develops that through the influ.
ence of the American minister and the
Spanish minister the burgomaster OF
Brussels was persuaded not to make
fight because of the fatal conse-
quences which would have followed
bombardment Of the defenseless city
Mr.. Whitlock's telegram follows:
Acting under the discretionary
powers granted, l decided that my duty
lay here in Brussels. The Spanish min
lister reached the same conclusion, as
did the ministers of II other neutral
powers The representatives who
went to Antwerp were the French
Russian and British ministers, whose
nations are involved as belligerents
and some others who went for per
sonal reasons.
Already intrusted with German in
terests here, subsequently tookNover
the British legation and the protection
Of large resident British colony.
Owing to the disinterested position
of the United States have been able
to give services for which have been
thanked by the German commanding
general, by representatives of the
British colony, by the interparlia
mentary unions and by an official Of
the Belgian foreign Office on behalf Of
the king.
"The Spanish minister and / made
Representations to the burgomaster be
fore the occupation Of Brussels, which
| in connection with other considera
tions, led him to abandon his intention
of attempting a futile defense of the
city, which might have brought on {
bombardment with all its terrible con
sequences.
"The position of our legation in thii
conflict is unique, and happily so de
tached that, being entirely without ap
prehension as to our personal safety
we have been able to give certain hu
name service, scrupulously observing
meanwhile all the requirements of oul
neutral position"