Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-30
James r. Evans, lust Arrived,
Says People Are Scared
Into Submission.
CONFIRMS DEMAND FOR
100000 600 INDEMNITY
Conduct Of Germans Circumspect,
But Declares They Will Sack
City Unless Cash Is Paid.
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cableeram to The Star.
LONDON. August 29.-The Germans
have determined that Brussels must pay
an indemnity of $40. Ooo, 600 soon or they
will sack the city. This was the assertion
made today by James r. Evans. an
American. who arrived this morning
from Brussels He left that city Thurs
day night and reached England by way
of Ostend. Mr., Evans thoroughly con-
ffrmed the reports that the Germans in
tended to take the works of art and other
treasures unless the Belgians met their
demands. He also declared the Belgians
have contributed only about one-eighth
and say they are unable to pay the rest.
He said: THE Germans intend to make
the Belgians pay an indemnity to them
equal to the amounts lent to Belgium Dy
England and France. and a large part OF
1t, of course, will be levied on Brussels
Mr.. Evans has been in Brussels four
weeks and brought out with him let
tiers to Consul General Skinner from
Consul General Watts at Brussels. He
asserted that only about 400 German
soldiers were in Brussels, all the otn-
ers having been Withdrawn to the
lighting line to the south or toward ANT
werp. He said:
Although few troops are LETT IN
Brussels, the city is practically unoer
the government of German OFFICIALS,
and. by means of hair raising procla-
nations. the people are scared into
submission. The proclamations are in
conspicuous places all over the city.
One of the latest of these declares tnat
most drastic measures Will pc taken
il telegraph wires connecting German
troops are cut again, as was the case
few days ago. Some suspect the
Germans themselves of cutting the
wires to give them an excuse to fright
en- the populace with another DEATH
threatening proclamation.
Germans Circumspect in Brussels.
The Germans have been cicumspect in
Brussels. was informed by reliable
sources that two German soldiers were
shot on the order of Maj. Gen. Jaroski.
commandant. when he heard they had
insulted young girls. Jaroski was for
merly military attache of the German
embassy at ST. Petersburg. AS result
of protests made to him by the purgo-
master. a proclamation was issued stat
ing that for eight days there would be
no more reauisitioning Of foodstuffs and
all things would be paid for.
For a while after the German occupa-
ton of Brussels a serious situation arose
because the whole milk supply was COM
Wandered. This entailed suffering among
infants and invalids. while some suner-
ing was caused by the communicating OF
other food staples. Conditions resulted
in a defiant demand by the burgomaster:
sAt present all the cafes in Brussels
are closed at pm. No liquors are sold,
but no objection is made to the sale OF
beer. This. however, is not OF the Ger
man variety, for as soon as Belgium was
invaded the Belgians, with few excep-
tons, stopped selling 1t. Those places
which still sold German beer were de-
molished by the populace. 1t is apso-
lutely true that the Germans are trying
to live off the country. saving their own
food supply.
thing about the German movements. for
the soldiers received strict injunctions
before entering Brussels to engage in no
conversations with civilians and to in
dulge to no one the plan of action. How
ever, it is known that the greater por-
ton of the troops coming through Brus-
sells, which numbered fully 3OO.UoO, went
south. The rest form an investing force
before Antwerp and stretching back
from that place almost to Brussels.
There is no doubt that the Germans are
planning to take Antwerp. This ac-
counts for the formidable array of siege
guns which have been taken in that di-
rection. All the Germans seemed to feel
they would reach Paris within five days
Their officers kept telling the men So
Got Near Scene of Fighting.
Mr.. Evans was able to get near the
scene of the fighting between the Bel
gians and Germans, fifteen miles from
Brussels, but it was an unexpected ad-
venture.
It was near Ephengheim,' he said.
when l heard the shooting and went
toward it. I soon found 1 was getting
near, for I almost fell over the body Of a.
German in the grass, and then others.
A German officer ordered me not to go
any further and 1 didn't 1 met a Ger
man Red Cross doctor. who had been at
tending Belgian wounded. While he was
doing SO, shrapnel from Belgian guns fell
among the wounded, killing most of
them"
Evans has been for three years in the
Belgian Kongo. He left there in April
and is now on his way home to Butte.
Mont He says the Belgians have plenty
of native troops in the Kongo, also. The
Germans have a powerful force in the
Kameruns, he stated. but it was i'm
probable they would attack the English