The Washington herald., 1914-12-02

I of existence. The first three were burned.
Malines was destroyed by bombardment
in the course of battle. Charleroi, Mons,
Dinant, and Wise have been treated so
that human beings cannot live in them.
In Antwerp about $50 houses were de-
stroyed completely by bombardment, but
the cathedral escaped serious damage
The cathedral in Malines was badly dam
aged.
We mourn the loss of our quaint little
town of Ypres. In 1900 it was the richest
town in Flanders, the richest, in fact, Of
all Northern Europe. This town has been
razed by bombardment. About fifty agri-
cultural sections between the German
frontier and Liege have been devastated.
II now is a barren land. It is to me i'm
possible to give even an accurate de-
soription of Belgium's loss
All Factories Closed.
''An our factories have stopped. A
few little shops in our larger cities are
open part OF the time. The working
classes as a whole have no employment
al all. There is nothing for any one TO
do, except fight for those who can and
starve for those who cannot fight.
The Germans tried to make US work.
They wanted US to work particularly in
the rifle factories in Liege, but we would
not make arms for our enemies. They
wanted our coal miners to work, but we
could not mine coal to increase Ger
many's supplies. Then when some Of our
workmen did work shortly after the war
started they were paid with slips OF
paper marked: Payable in Paris
with so many other cities laid waste,
it may seem strange that Brussels has
escaped serious harm so far. Why?
Brand Whitlock, the United States Min
lister to Belgium, has been in Brussels.
That is the answer.
Germany knew We were industrious
and thrifty. She knew We were a COM
mercial people and she may have thought
We could be bought. Germany knew the
Belgian army was being reorganlzed and
she thought the soldiers would not care
to fight at least until the reorganization
had been completed. Then Germany sent
her ultimatum but We couldn't allow our
neutrality to be violated. We could not
give up honor.
"We're Glad We Fought"
We fought. Our resistance, I believe.
was the most disconcerting thing that
has happened to Germany since the war
gian resistance. She hadn't planned for
it. 1t was wholly unexpected and it
broke up well-laid plans. Each Of the
ten days We held the Germans at Liege
was worth a week to her enemies.
We're glad we fought. What has hap
pened will never be forgotten. 1t has
brought BelgIans closer together. We
looked at Germany's invasion not only as
national insult but as a personal af-
front, a personal injury TO each of U.s.
We have paid a frightful cost. We were
prospering, busy and happy and now,
today, there is hardly a railroad run
ming in Belgium. 1t is difficult to find a
bridge standing. Everything everywhere
seems ruined, wiped out.
''Of atrocities, 1 can only say that what
has been said has been exaggerated very
little, il at ALL 1t is a pity the Germans
found so much wine in Belgium. We
had many rich cellars. We find that
most of the atrocities have been COM
mitted by German soldiers under the in
fuence Of drink. The Germans seem to |
feel they can do as they like in Belgium. |
They regard US as a conquered people
living on conquered land. We do not
feel that way. l pray God we never |
shall. But that feeling on the part Of |
the Germans has caused much evil 1t |
has given birth to many Of the most
horrible atrocities"