Evening journal., 1914-10-27
BY PERCY M. sARL.

York; While the civic authorities Of
the captured Belgian towns. have, al
most without exception, behaved ad-
mirably during the German Occupa-
ton, there is one man who deserves
all the best a grateful country can do
for him, and that is Adolphe Max,
Chief Burgomaster of Brussels, who,
In sticking to his post, maintaining
order and ensuring the protection of
his fellow citizens. has displayed
wonderful courage and resource.
Scarcely known outside his own
city, and certainly quite unknown out
side Belgium, Burgomaster Max has
made himself famous throughout the
world in less than two months, and
while not openly putting obstacles in
the Germans way, he has stood out
against oppression so stoutly that IL
is well known that the Germans would
be only too glad Of an opportunity to
shoot him.
II would not have taken much to
provoke the Germans to partially de-
stroy the beautiful Belgian capital, Il
is believed. but Burgomaster Max has
kept firm hold on the reins of civic
government and by advice and exam
pie he persuaded his subordinates and
fellow citizens that the evil of peace
fuf occupation was better than futile
resistance and certain destruction.
The invaders did not make il easy
for him, because he flatly declined to
| render that obseQuious homage de-
manded by Prussian militarism Max
told the German commander bluntly:
IF you want me TO retain my job and
keep order, l am to be real mayor"
and as he has Loyalty adhered to the
terms under which Brussels surrend-
cred, the Germans have been COM
PEELED to let him alone for very
shame's sake.
The first day of the German occu-
patton Max returned to his Office at
the Hotel de VILE, to find the mill
tary governor of Brussels seated at
his desk. The German took no no
tice of him, and evidently proposed
keeping him standing at the door like
an ordinary prisoner but Max
wasn't used to being treated that way.
He pulled up a chair and made him
self comfortable beside the intruder
A few days later the Germans is
sued proclamation stating that as the
Belgian government had fled, finding
itself unable TO govern the country,
Germany would considerably take
over the job. Max promptly had pla-
cards printed describing as absolute
lies the statements contained in the
proclamation, and he had the pla-
cards pasted up alongside. This
brought down on him a peremptory
notice that no posters must be dis
! played without the sanction of the
I German commander, who proceeded
to warn the burgomaster that a
repetition of such an offense would
be sternly dealt with
No whit dismayed, when ordered to
haul down all Belgian flags, Max is
sued the required instructions with
an addition of his own. Let us ac-
cept temporarily the sacrifice inn
posed on us; let us haul down our
flags to avoid a conflict, and let us
wait patiently for the hour when we
shall obtain satisfaction" his notice
read.
This drove the German governor
. into a furious temper and that even
ing Max received a note saying "ThC
German Government alone has the
right TO issue notices. You have act
cd in violation of this right. Such a
thing is intolerable. This is the sec
ond time you have thus offended and
last warning is now given to you
not to offend again"
Max replied: $50 long as I am
Burgomaster of Brussels / shall act
according to my idea of duty. In
this / shall never fail"
aNH.nt lion
but he aroused the Germans to a
perfect frenzy of rage by making a
speech from the steps of the Ex-
change buildings. Addressing an en-
thusiastic crowd, he said:
81 am forbidden to post circulars
on the walls. and | do not possess
any newspapers by which to let you
know the good news that I have re
ceived. But ! cannot be prevented
from talking and / will use that
means to inform you every day o
the situation and prevent the fals'
news spread by the Germans affect
ing your spirit"
The brave burgomaster then de
tailed the defeats in the field sus
tained by the Germans and Austrians
and added: LET every one of you g
into the town and inform you
friends and families Of the goo'
news"
After he had repeated this actor
several times, Max was arrested, AM
held for deportation, but even tn
German commanders could not bu
admire his courage
II is understood that King Alber
proposes to grant titles on nobility I
his brave representatives in Bel
GUMS captured capital.