The sun., 1914-09-13
BELGIAN ENJOYS
SILENT ON THE WAR
All Stories Of German Atroci-
ties Arc Saved for the
Presidents Ear.
GIVES SOCIALIST ATTITUDE
Vandcryclde Says Party on Both
Sides Views Struggle as
One Of Defence.

Against the urbanty. the perfect cour.
ttsy OF the Belgian commissioners, rep.
crtorial directness is Il cave mans arrow
against "a modern fortress. These gentle.
men at the Waldorf who are carrying
rom King Albert OF Belgium to Presiden,
Wilson the protest OF tho Belgian people
against alleged German atrocities have
bagfuls OF thrilling stories. dramatic cpl
sod's OF the war that have never got into
print. Five minutes of loauncity from any
one OF them would give material for two
columns OF tense reading. But not one
word will they let slip.
Their reason il perfectly understandable
that 1t would be bad taste for them to
disclose any detail of a report meant for
the Presidents private ear. but (and
this battles some twenty reporters daily
they take i fencers delight In foilng
interviewers. Listen TO dapper Count
Louis de Lechtervelde, secretary to the
commissioners and their spokesmen.
"Ah. gentlemen. what a pleasure It is
to see you. The day Is beautiful, Is Il
not7 The sky--so clear. of such a bril-
lance And what news Is there Of the
war; So Mtrci No, no, l cannot
am desolated that am unable TO answer
one single question. but you would not
press mo under the circumstances You
are the friends OF Belgium. Therefore
must run. fly Voila!"
&c to Washington Tomorrow.
And tho Count disappears. The fact
that there Is merry twinkle In the
Counts blue eyes as he fits to seclusion
INFORMS one that the Count enjoys the
situation. II Ia no small thing to foil
tho New York reporter-so other distin-
guished foreigners have said.
The Belgans request simply that they
no let alone. They are anxious to talk.
but the ethics OF their position restrain
them. Tomorrow. IL their plans work out
they will 10 to Washington. where they
expect to interview President Wilson he
fore the close of the day. There IL still
some uncertainty. IL appears. as to
whether or not they will be able to meet
The President Tomorrow, The meeting
may be delayed until Tuesday.
Dcanes Socialist Attitude.
Emil Vandervelde. Minister OF state
agd leader of the Socialist party in Bel-
GUM. addressed a statement yesterday to
the Socialist press Of America, a state
meat which did not touch upon the details
Of the commissions report hut which ex-
lhtsSNu regrets tlht me SOCIALISTS OF Ger
many we're 40 poorly informed as to the
merits OF the war and as to the conduct
Of the German troops.
"What gives our situation a particu-
larry tragic character" said Mr.. Wander
vclde. lis the fact that on both sides the
Socialists appear equally convinced that II
- a question OF war of defence Sim
ilarly with the French and Belgian Social
!sts. who are firmly fixed on the idea
that it ~ case of legitimate defence.
the German Socialists have voted the
credits for the war.
I'VE will naturally be careful not TO
address any reproach.s to them In this
matter. II they had refused to vote the
credits they would have given over their
country TO Cossack invasion. In voting
them they have furnished to the Kaiser
arms against republican France and
against the democracies OF western Eu-
rope Between these two evils they chose
the one they considered the lesser.
"But we, who are defending our in
dependence. are inhexibly resolved TO de-
fend II to the end. We dare to hope that
on the day that our German comrades
are exactly informed IN regard to the
horrors that have been committed In Bel
gium ;hey will Join us in dcnouncing and
scourging them limit myself TO express
Ing the hope that the entire Socialist In
ternational will stand beside us to affirm
It's sympathies for our people in using
their right of legitimate defence against
PrussIan militarism."