New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-20
REFUGEES PRAISE
BELGIAN QUEEN
Untiring Efforts to Relieve
Suffering-More Stories
of Shooting Civilians.

London, Aug 49, Advised by Bel
eian officials to leave Brussels because
it was expected that the Belgian capital
might soon fall into the possession OF
the Germans, Miss Genevieve Parke,
her mother and sister arrived in Lon
don this morning.
Miss Parke's father. Colonel Parke,
was military attache Of the American
egation at Brussels until the Mexican
situation became acute when he was
ordered to the Texas border, where he
is now at FL Paso, in command Of the
10Th Infantry. The Parke family re-
luctantly abandoned their home, es-
pecially Miss Parke, who said to-day
that she had volunteered to do Red
Cross work with the Belgians. She
said:
1--WE were told we would better leave
Brussels Immediately as the Germans
were likely to be there any time. In fact,
cavalry patrols have been within eight
and ten miles Of the city several times
in the last few days. II will do them
no good to take Brussels, but the Bel
gians feel that the Germans think by
taking Brussels it will shed lustre on
their army. We we're told by Belgian
officers that hardly any attempt would
be made to stem the advance on the
city, except by blocking some OF the
principal streets. For several days
streets in the outskirts of the city
were being torn up and trees thrown
across as barbados.
"On all sides there was gloom, for
we had heard stories OF cruelty from
refugees from Liege. At Liege ever
night at o'clock soldiers entered the
houses and turned out the lights. No
one was permitted TO retain firearms,
and if search disclosed weapons the
persons in the house were taken out
and shot. u is the feeling that the
Germans will be just as overbearing
when they take Brussels that causes
citizens to view with fear their entry"
Miss Parke told of untiring efforts
of the Belgian Queen to relieve suf-
fering, saying:
The royal palace has been turned
into hospital. and the Queen helps
nurse and do other work about the
wards. She has established there even
her two small children, who make up
beds i'm the morning, while a son
thirteen years old has gone TO the
front with his father
Miss Parke said that few Americans
we're left in Brussels, and that all
those had been advised TO get out i'm
mediately. There is no fear for the
American Legation, as 10 has taken over
the affairs Of the Germans.
+. Howard Martin, of New York. for
merly Of the United States diplomatic
service, arrived here tonight with his
wife and niece from Hamburg. Mr..
Martin has been assisting Henry II.
Morgan, the American Consul General
at that city.
The party left Hamburg on a special
train provided By the German govern
mcnt. and large crowd of Germans
gathered at the station and cheered the
departing Americans. Similar scenes
occurred at all stations az which the
train stopped.
81 have nothing but praise for the
conduct OF the Germans toward us
said Mr.. Martin tonight lie added
that the consulate at Hamburg was
besieged by Americans short Of money
and the Germans raised benevolent
fund for the purpose Of aiding all for
eigners.
The special train carried virtually
all the Americans who were stranded
in Hamburg. Mr. Martin had an inter
estiDg experience IN trying TO get away
from the city when war was declared.
He had booked passage on the lmpera-
tor. and when the trip was cancelled
he and two hundred others boarded the
steamer Burg, which has accommoda-
tons only for fifty, al Cuxhaven. in
tending TO proceed 20 England. The
authorities ordered the Burg to turn
, back, as mines had been laid.
/ The Burg lay IN the river, for three