Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-11
JULIUS VANsH[E !.
HAILED As HERO
FORMER MARsHALLroWN BOY
DISPLAYS RARE JUDGMENT IN
CRISIS At eHENr.
SAVES BELGIAN CITY
FROM GERMAN sAckiNo
Van H.e Pledges Word to German
General. Following Clash in Stree.
Between Belgian and German Arm
ored Cars, That There Would Be No
Further Attacks on Germans.

Further Attacks on Germans.
That former Marshalltown boy
should prove to be the hero of Client Is
told in dispatches from the Belgium
city. Julius A. Van Hee, son Of former
Belgian residents of Marshalltown, Is
the man who. as American vice consul
at Client. Tuesday saved the city Of
Client from q general sacking and de-
struction by fire at the hands of the
Germany army. Van Hee is today
hailed in Ghent as q hero: praised for
his rare good Judgment. presence Of
mind, and initiative.
Story Of Van Hse's Work.
e. Alexander Powell, Ut the Chicago
Tribune. cables his paper under date of
s OF. 10. the following story of the SEN
sational battle in the streets Of Client
between Belgium and German armpred
cars; Of the anger of the German Cpm-
handing general over the incident. and
how Van Hee saved the city FROM be-
ins sacked and burned. The Client
cable follows:
Client, Belgium. via London, Sept.
10.-tDelayed. THAT Client with it's
quarter of a million inhabitants was
not in flames last night as result Of
German wrath is due to the energy and
initiative of the American vice consul
]. A. Van Hee. of Marshalltown, Iowa
The chief actor in a thrilling drama
enacted at noon yesterday (Tuesday)
in the heart of the city which came
near resulting in a terrible tragedy. was
strangely enough. also an American
William Van Calck. who until the out
break Of the war was q chauffeur for
Henry Kaufman. a millionaire hat
manufacturer Of Pittsburgh, and now is
the driver of Belgian armored motor
car.
Goes to Meet Germans. !.
Learning that the advance guard Of
the German army was only few miles
outside the city. the burgomaster went
out this morning to parley with Cen
for the German forces not to enter An
agreement finally was reached whereby
the Germans should go around Client
on condition that all Belgian troops
should evacuate the city. the civil
guard be disarmed, their weapons sur
rendered. and the municipal authorities
should supply the Germans with speci-
fled quantities of provisions and other
supplies.
German Motor Appears.
'The burgomaster was not back an
hour when a motor car driven by two
armed GermanAsoldiers appeared In the
streets. n
.A< almost +ha .,,,n ,ax ~.
German car entered the city from the
south a Belgian armored car armed
with machine gun and driven by the
former Pittsburgh chauffeur, with a
crew of three men, entered from the
east on scouting expedition. =
THE two cars. both speeding, en-
countered each other at the head Of the
Rue Agneau, directly in front Of the
standing in the doorway, was an eye
witness to what followed.
Fire as They Race.
"The Germans, taken completely by
surprise at the sight OF the foes grim
wa car in its coat of elephant gray.
bearing down upon them. attempted to
escape. firing with their carbines as
they fed. Notwithstanding the fact
lockers. the Belgians opened with their
hose spurts water.
THE Pittsburgh driver Van Galck,
fearing the Germans might escape,
.swerved his powerful car against the
German motor precisely as a polo
player rides Off his opponent. The
machine gun never ceased Its angry
snarl.
The Germans surrendered.
"As good luck would have it'll had
arrived from Antwerp in my car just
at this moment. having With me DON
aid Thompson. war photographer, who
obtained photos of the scenes.
Approaching that Client stood In
imminent danger OF meeting the ter
rible fate of its sister cities. Aerschot
and Louvain, sacked and burned for
far less cause. Mr.. Van Hee hurriedly
found the burgomaster and urged him
to go along instantly to German head
quarters.
Threatens 70 Sack City.
'They found General van Boehn and
his staff at a chateau few miles out
side the city. The German comnand-
er at first was furious with anger and
threatened Client with the same pun
ishment he had melted out to thasother
places where Germans were fired On.
Van Hee took a very firm stand, how
ever He told the general the burn
Ing OF Client would do more than any
thing else to lose the Germans All
American sympathy. He reminded
him that Americans have q great sem
timental interest in Client because the
treaty Of peace between England and
the United States was signed there
just a century ago.
1.-THE general finally said.
IF you will give me Your word that
there will be no further attacks upon
Germans in Client, and that the
wounded soldiers will be taken under
American protection and returned to
Brussels by tine consular authorities
when they have recovered. will agree
to spare Client and will not even de-
mand a money indemnity"
Van Hes Hailed - Savior.
THE news that Van Hee, had sue
ceeded in his mission spread thru the
city like fire in dry grass and when
he returned he was acclaimed by
cheering crowds as the savior OF
Client.
III the Belgian government is ~ ap-
preciative of Van Hee's action as the