The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-09-01

Brussels Thursday without firing
shot.
Yielding to the dictates of reason
and humanity, the civil government at
the last moment disbanded the civil
guard, which the Germans would not
recognize. The soldiers and ordinary
police were then intrusted with the
maintenance Of order.
After day of wild panic and slum-
at their windows. Few sought their
touches.
Cry "Here They Come"
The morning broke brilliantly. The
city was astir early and on all lips
were the words: They are here or
They are coming"
The they" referred to were al
ready outside the boundaries of the
city in great force. The artillery was
packed off on the road to Waterloo.
Horse, foot. and sapper were packed
deep on the Louvain and Tervervue-
rem roads.
An enterprising motorist came In
with the information and the crowds
In the busy centers Immediately be-
came calm.
Burgomaster Gives Up.
At eleven o'clock it was reported
that an officer with half troop or
hussars bearing white flags had halt
ed outside the Louvain gate.
The burgomaster claimed for the
citizens their rights under the laws
of war regulating an unfortified capl-
tai When roughly asked if he was
prepared to surrender the city, with
the threat that otherwise it would be
bombarded, the burgomaster said he
would do So He also decided to re-
move his scarf of office.
The discussion was brief. When
the burgomaster handed over his scarf
it was handed back to him and he
was thus entrusted for the time being
with the civil control Of the citizens
The Germans gave him plainly to I'M
derstand that he would be held re-
sponsible for any overt act on the
part Of the populace against the Ger
mans.
Triumphant March Begins.
From noon until two o'clock the
crowds waited expectantly Shortly
after two o'clock the booming of can
non and later the sound of military
music conveyed to the people of Brus-
sells the intimation that the triumph
ant march of the enemy on the an
cient city had begun.
On they came, preceded by scout
ing party of uhlans, horse, foot, and
artillery and sappers, with siege
train complete.
A special feature of the procession
was 100 motor cars on which quich
firers were mounted Every regiment
and battery was headed by a band,
horse or foot Now came the drums
and flies; now the blare Of brass ard
soldiers singing die Wacht am Rhein"
and Deutschland uber Allies
Death Head Hussars There.
Along Chausee de Louvain, past st.
jesse and the botanical gardens, to
the open space in front Of the Care du
Nord, the usual lounging place of the
tired twaddlers of the city, swept the
legions.
Among the cavalry were the famous
Brunswick Deaths Head Hussars and
their companions on many bloody
fields, the Zeiten hussars. But where
was the glorious garb of the German
troops, the cherry-colored uniforms of
the horsemen, and the blue of the in
fantry? All is greenish, earth color
gray. All the helmets are covered with
gray. The guns are painted gray.
Even the pontoon bridges are gray.
ITO the quickstep beat of the drums
the kaiser's men march to the great
square, Charles Regier. Then at the
whistling sound of the word of com
mand-for the sonorous orders Of The
German officers seemed to have gone
the way of the brilliant uniforms-the
gray-clad ranks broke into the famous
goose step, while the good people of
Liege and Brussels gazed at the pass
ing wonder with mouths agape.
Crowds Want Revenge.
At the railroad station the great
procession defiled to the boulevards
and thence marched to encamp on the
heights of the city called Kocnelberg.
1t was truly sight to have gladdened
the eyes of the kaiser, but on the side
walks men were muttering beneath
their breath:
They'll not pass here on their way
back. The allies will do for them"
Many of the younger men in the
great array seemed exhausted after
the long forced march, but as man
staggered his comrades in the ranks
held him up.
1t was great spectacle and an i'm
pressive one, but there are minor Incl
dents that were Of less pleasant char
acter
Officers In Shackles.
Two Belgian officers, manacled and
fastened to the leather stirrups Of two
uhlans, made a spectacle that caused
low murmur of resentme nt from the
citizens. Instantly German horsemen
backed their steeds into the closely
packed ranks of the spectators, threat
ening them with uplifted swords and
sitting the momentary revolt
At one point of the march lame
hawker offered flowers for sale to the
soldiers. AS he held up his posies a
captain of hussars, by movement OF
his steed, sent the poor wretch sprawl
ing and bleeding in the dust. Then
from the crowd French woman, her