Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-16

German hospital. They could not have
treated me better had l been the Crown
Prince, from the lowest orderly to the
senior medical officer. I hope you will tell
this to any one who is running down the
Germans"
As to Wanton Destruction
Toward the close of the second paragraph
of your article you state that in the penin-
sula campaign, to prevent the destruction
of an ancient bridge, the British promised
not to use 1t on condition that the French
would forego its destruction-"an agree
ment" you add, faithfully kept upon either
side"
Gould one imagine Germans making war
In such spirit this? Think of that old
French bridge and then think of the Unlver-
sty of Louvain and the Cathedral of Rheims.
What a gap between them-the gap that
separates civilization from the savage"
Now may l ask question or two?
Why not think of the exquisite Hotel de
Vile at Louvain, which was saved from de-
struction by fire solely through the heroism,,
energy and ingenuity of German officers.
who, though comrades of theirs, had been
shot in the back by civilians firing from
attics and from cellar windows worked to
save ono of the most precious memorials OF
ancient times, and worked to such good pur-
pose that today the superb structure stands
unharmed? I have seen 1t.
Why not think of the choir stalls, the
paintings and the silver ornaments which
German officers removed from the Cathedral
of St. Peter at Louvain and intrusted to the
present burgomaster at Louvain who in turn
deposited them in the Hotel de Vile across
the way?
Louvain and Rheims
Why not think of the great buildings OF
the University of Louvain which are not de-
stroyed? You say they were, but on a Sum
day in October I saw them standing. It
was the library of the university which was
destroyed.
"Think of that old French bridge" you
say, "and then think of the Cathedral OF
Rheims"
Why not think, in this connection. OF
the three parlementaires which the Germans
sent to the French requesting them not to
use the towers of the cathedral as a point
for signaling to the French batteries the
effect of their fire? One OF these parie-
never came back. AS a final warn
ing the Germans blew down smokestack
near the cathedral, and when they finally
opened on the towers, to drive away
the men who were signaling they used very
L
still standing, and the statement as to the
I had from German officers
of high rank, in whose speech I found moth
ing to warrant me in calling them liars Off
hand.
Why not think of the art commission
headed by a German privy councillor and
head OF an imperial museum in Berlin. which
sent through Belgium from Lege
to Mons to tabulate works OF art in churches
and converts within the zone Of danger and
to remove them to places OF safety-not
places OF safety in Germany, but places OF
safety in the Rue Royale in Brussels? And
these treasures when delivered there were
placed under the control. not OF German. but
OF Belgian curators.
Why not think of the fact that, almost
without exception burgomasters. eurators OF
museums, bishops and priests worked loyalty
and frankly in the cause OF art with the
German eommission7
Why not think OF the fact that one OF
The treasures they removed from possible
peril was Van Dyck's 'st. Martin Dividing
His Cloak" masterpiece which, merely on
the basest grounds, is calculated to make an
appeal to the cupidity OF an invader TOR lis
money value so experts say, is not less than
1850. 900.
lconsladsd On Moadayl