New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-06

with double watch posted at the
front door. From their uniforms you
note that a very large percentage Of
them are officers of the heavy artillery
army, here in connection with reforti-
fication work.
Many little straws you see on all
sides point to the fact that the Ger
mans intend TO sit tight in Antwerp.
Their occupation has a look of prospec-
tive permanency.
Curiously enough, you see mostly
American flags here. The Belgian red
yellow-black is banned, the German
flag is flown spqringly; the Stars and
Stripes are everywhere in evidence.
There is hardly block in which you
do not find some shop window decorat-
ed with American flags, often with a
label-French- pasted on the plated
glass window, reading: American
property" In the residential district
you see many American flags hung out,
while in the north end, even oil and
gasolene tanks which have not been
destroyed by fire are topped by "0ld
Glory"
More than half Of the inhabitants
have already returned. More Of the
stores have reopened. Business in
many lines is beginning 20 90 on again
as usual. Hackmen again try to cheat
you. The German civil and military
governments seem to be running
smoothly and efficiently. On the whole,
Antwerp is now disappointing to the
sensation seeker.
The German military government is
intrenched in the Municipal Building,
next to the Hotel Antoine, which is
also pre-empted by the new govern
ment. Here, doing desk duty, you will
meet an officer with a hard luck story
with a moral. no, thanks, ! don't
dare smoke" he says. ~ contracted
a weakness Of the heart Zeppelining.
was commander Of a Zeppelin for a
year and a half. during which we nego-
tiated 142 flights aggregating $4,000
kilometres. Just my hard luck that !
can't command one of the Zeppelins
that will visit London" AS 20 The date
Of the "vsit" he will hazard no opin-
ion, but there will be more popular
rejoicing over a successful air attack on
London than over the fall Of Paris" he
adds. II is a significant phenomenon that
you can't talk with any officer or common
soldier five minutes without having
him switch to the all-absorbing theme
Of the Zeppelin attack on England. II
seems TO be almost national obses-
sion, and the people are waiting pa
tiently for the "blood red letter day."
confident that it is coming.
Gun TO Shoot Across Channel.
The other national obsession and
favorite theme of conversation is the
new 42-centimetre mortar and the even
bigger ones said 10 be building. 1t Is
popularity and confidently believed that
they will be able TO shoot clean across
the Straits of Dover once they are
planted at Calais. Even officers will
tell you this in all seriousness. And if
the wish is father to the thought, 1t is
none the less significant Of the height
to which German feeling runs against
the English.
Whenever you meet a high German
officer on Belgian soil a good way TO
lead off is to ask him how he justifes
his presence there, and so when you
are ushered into the presence of his
excellency, Won Frankenburg and Lud-
wigsdorf. adjutant and right hand man
20 the military governor, General Won
Huhne, you ask him about It, too. His
answer is so typical Of the German
point of view as to be worth repeating.
ooh, we Justify our presence IN two
ways" he says First. we knew that
Belgium's neutrality would be violated
by our enemies if we did not beat them
10 it, and. if any further proof were
needed, it was was furnished by papers
found in the archives at Brussels. Sec
ond, self-defence. Germany is not en-
gagged in a war of revenge, but it's as
if YOU went along a lonely road and
were fallen upon by a band Of high
waymen. They say we began this war.
II would have been the stupidest mo-
ment for Germany to start such war,
because the Allies were so united,
when no political or other question was
between them"
For the next twenty-six hours the
"fog of war" settles around your move
ments there is no use in giving away
vital journalistic secrets TO the mill.
tary authorities, who don't encourage
promiscuous prowlings in this part OF
the country. When it lifts again II
finds you sauntering along the tOwpath
of a canal to the north Of Bruges, nose
pointed in the direction Of the distant
thunder of the big guns toward the
coast. Unfortunately, at turn Of the
road you run into patrol Of Deaths
Head hussars-fve strong. You know
they are Deaths Head hussars by the
small silver skull and bones on the
front of their shakos.
You Are an Englishman,
The leader eyes suspiciously your
Piccadilly derby and sterling silver
mounted can, and then announces un-
eauivocally. "You are an Englishman."
You lead off with your emergency
passport; then you play your whole
suit Of red sealed American diplomats
and consuls; then your purple Prussian
eagles but you have none permitting
YOU to walk along this canal!). You
offer your photograph in evidence and
ransack your pockets for more docu-
ments, producing successfully letter
from a prominent member Of the Reichs-
tag. a letter of introduction to Gen
eral Won Bulow, an unpaid tailor's bill,
etc, but Deaths Head hussars have no
sense Of humor on patrol. They even
refuse cigars. Help comes unexpee-
tedly in the form of rival patrol Of
marines strong. The under Off
Ger commanding proves TO have two
brothers in America. Hussars and ma
rines debate your nationality. The
marines accept cigars hopeful sign.
You now play your last trump; from
your overcoat pockets you produce two
bottles of beer, and the debate sud
denly ends in your favor. The marines
promptly annex you and invite you TO
their quarters in the one story, com
bination peasa-t hut and COW stables
within stones throw of the canal.
A Hotbed of Spies.
eve have strict orders TO let no one
pass, going or coming, no matter what
papers he has; not even the Kaiser
himself" the under officer tells you,
explaining that this corner of Belgium
has been a hotbed of soies; that the