Evening star., 1914-08-23

seemed rather more interested tnaa M
stricken by the calamity which has
overtaken them. and appeared to fest no
particular need OF sympathy. Occasaonel..
ly there would be one with the tale OF
a husband or children killed oy tue
Germans or driven away ana IosS-
Speak, Only Flanaish.
Unfortunately thu peasants. from tho
wsr.scourgsd districts speak only F1sun-
isf. and some of their stories may have
gained in the translation into French.
THE news that the Germans were at
the gates of the city took great ma
jority of the people Of Brussels by sur
prise. There had been great exodus
Of weu-to-do residents the two pre-
yious days, but that only proved that
there was a scare, not that It was well
founded. The censorship allowed noth-
ing positive to o'be published until the
morning of the arrival of the Germans
(Thursday).
"Wednesday night a long omcial
communication was published which 10
those who know how to read such .
telegram clearly intimated that the
abandonment of Brussels was immf-
nent, but 1t came too late to enlfghten
the majority. Even the .burgon1astex
proclamation this morning merely says
that the occupation Of Brussels Is to -
feared. .. ..
Heard Only Of Belgian Successes
up to Wednesday the people were
allowed to hear of nothing but Belgian
successes. and 1t may be doubted
whether this was not overdone.
The authorities may have been de-
sirous Of avoiding . Wild stampede
from Brussels. but that seems to be no
reason for the systematic effort to
make the psople believe that the
enemy was onlx.to show himself to be
I'VE in Brussels were in the dark as
to the German intentions until We
learned Of the attack Of Tiriemont,
when it became clear they meant 70
come to Brussels. Untfl then II nad
whether it was worth the Germans
while to take possession of the city.
.'Without very considerable numbers
they could not drive the Belgian army
from its position. and no one coulo
tell what numbers were gathering b.
hind the screen Of cavalry, whose al
tempts to override the Belgian posi-
tious at Haelen and Eghezee were suen
costly failures This uncertainty made
many persons cling to Brussels who
had no intention Of facing German oc-
cupation Of the town.
Meanwhile the Germans are In ,Brus-
sells and Brussels will have to pay not
only a war contribution. but for tA'
broken windows of German traderA
for incidents during the spy raid, FOR
all the disconcerting things that have
happened TO the Germans since they en-
tered the country.
Occupation is Secuted.
Despite the fact that 1t Is reported
ostend has been occupied by the Ger
mans. stories of refugees give rise to
the opinion that the occupation did not
of al
The Daily Chronicles Ostend cor
respondent sends the following ais
II left Folkestone this morning by
ordinary mail steamer for Ostend. and
was almost the only passenger on the
boat Apparently the report that the
Chlans had already occupied Ostend
scared away anybody who had intended
when we were within sight Of the
harbor 1t was clear that the report was
unfounded, for things were much the
same as usual, the main difference be-
ing that when ! landed had the gang
way, quay and customshouse almost TO
myself. But Ostend Is safe. at any
rate for the present
British Subjects Leave.
Saturday hundreds Of British sub
jects and other visitors left Ostend and
the seaside resorts ON the coast. because
1t was emphat. .cally stated the previous
night that Uhlan bicycIists were be-
heved to have occupied Welleren. It Is
understood that the German objective 10
through Courtrai to Lille. and II that IL
the case 1t Is probable that Ghent and
Ostend will not he occupied by the
enemy"
Mrs ]. W. Gatti. an American woman
whose husband is an Enghshman, and
her children. were among party which
left Brussels on the last train We'd
nssday and came to London by way Of
Ostend. She said the German wounded
were being treated with the greatest
consideration by Belgi>ns. She saw
few Americans in Ostend.
Many OF the reIusses say that the
cool headed men n Ostend, who have
not allowed themselves to be alarmed
by rumors and know the real facts. be-
lieve that the German strength Is mass
ing east of Brussels. and that the ex-
,pedition toward Client is only q scout
ing party. with no thought of taking
Ostend.