The Washington times., 1914-11-22
3E[G|ANS IN RIOTS
. ASTHEATER OPENS
German Guards Have Tough
Time With Crowds Singing
the MarSeiIIaiSe.

o LONDON. Nov. GA dispatch TO
the Standard from Havre says that
Belgian papers there have received in
formation that the reopening of the
only theater now playing in Brussels
caused a riot. Several times in the
course of the performance attempts
we're made to start the singing of the
Marseillaise, and when the curtain fell
The son1 was taken up by thousands
5f Belg.ar1s outside. Cheers were given
for the allies, and the Germans turned
G,It the guard, which fired a number of
blank volleys to disperse the crowds.
There was great excitement for a
while, but nothing tragic happened, the
GeI mans showing themselves. for once,
full of tact and forbearance.
OF all the war cities of Europe, Brus-
sells under the German occupation is
probably the gayest and the most de-
ceptive. The Germans are free spenders
aiield: their influx here by thousands
has put large sums of money into cir
culation, resulting in a spell of artificial,
perhaps superficial, prosperity.
Crowds Fill Street.
The crowds surging all day up and
down the principal shopping street, the
Rue Neuve. overflow the sidewalks and
ill the street tNVell-dressed crowds
promenade along the circular boulevard
all afternoon and into the night Places
of amusement and the cafes are crowd
ed. The hundreds of automobiles load
cd with officers speeding about the
streets. with musical military horns
blowing, add to the gay illusion.
Nowhere save at the great headquar-
ters in France will you see such a bril-
liant CalaXy of high officers-and every
Gays seems a holiday in Brussels.
You catch the sinister undercurrent
in the more obscure little cafes. Here
YOU will find some Belgian patient
who is glad Of the chance to unbos-
ON himself to a safe American. Per-
haps he Will speak with unprintable
bitterness Of the shame of the Brus-
sells women, wfos he says, wave
handkerchiefs and smile friendly
passing thrbugh the suburbs. on their
way to the~froR1 -er>ziyeSflowers and
cigars TO the returning streams Of
wounded. They ought to be shot as
mattresses. he says. For the honor
Of the Belgian women, he adds, these
form only small percentage.
You are not surprised when we'll
informed neutral residents tell you
I, that these people a"have murder in
their hearts, and that if the Germans
ever retreat in a rout through Bel
gium, heaven help the straggler and
English papers, whose reading is for
hidden, are nevertheless smuggied in,
and that copies of the London Times
fetch as high as 200 francs Reading
circles are otter Tormst at 20 francs
per headsS az - - lsa
Show Moderation.
As conquerors go, the invaders seem
TO be bearing themselves well. There
is apparently no desire to rub it in, >
the military government seemingly pur.
suing the wise policy Of trying to spare
the feelings of the natives as much a.
possible. At the same time, swift anC
harsh punishment is 7neted out to any
one whose actions are thought to ten(
To impair German military authority o.
dignity.
Brussels just now is humorously /;
victim of the double Standard-not moral
but financial. ALI kinds of money g
here on the basis of ] mark equaling
franc % centimes, but shopkeepers still
iix prices and walters bring bills in
francs, and when payment is rendered
i in marks you generally get change IL
10Th, q proceeding that involves elab
orate mathematical computations.
Equally exasperating IS the double
line standard. The Germans set thei
T. official clocks and watches by Berlin
lime, but have made no attempt t
iorce il on the natives, who continu
loyal to Belgian time, which is one hou
behind Berlin.