The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-15
GERMAN women
Use BASKETS
FOR PROTECTION
(By Associated Press)

hlnSteIudHl, May lJ-lne women
of Brussels carry baskets on their
arms like market women when they
go out in the streets, not for their
purchases but as a buffer between
themselves and passing Germans.
When one makes a German step off
the walk, she regards it as a person.
al triumph.
The silent boycott of the Germans
by the Belgians is even more open
ly maintained than ever, according
to a traveller who has lately lived
in the capital city. If German sits
down at table in a cafe, the Bel
gians in his vicinity move away. If
number of Germans enter, all Of
the Belgians pay their accounts and
stalk out. The traveller relates this
inci!ent which he witnessed:
A German officer, evidently or
high rank, entered restaurant and,
after looking over the card, asked
the waiter discontentedly, "Haben
Sic NIGHTS Dessert"
The waiter, in sarcastic tone,
explained they had nothing better
because the German government
had seized most of the food and very
little was coming in except on the
American relief ships.
A group of young Belgians nearby
laughed openly at the walters sar-
casm, whereupon the German, Of
Tended, gave his card to the Waiter
to hand to them. The card bore the
name of a general But instead of
being silenced, one of the Belgians
asked the waiter imprudently, "Ha-
ben Sic NIGHTS besser?"
The German force in Belgium has
positive orders not to modest the
population, but on the contrary to
try by politeness to take the edge of
the hostility off the people. But
instead of yielding to Establishments
the Belgans only become the holder
in manifesting their hatred to the
invaders.
The upper classes in Brussels new
er receive German into their
homes. Should any one, man or
woman, make this concession, he
would thereafter be ostracized by
his fellows. Women are more bit
ter and more daring than the men.
They show their feeling by acting as
if they feared contamination by
touching a German in the street, in
street cars or other public places.
The business of carrying baskets has
become a kind of game, and ladies
on meeting compare notes as to how
many Germans they have made step
into the gutter.
A large number of German women
of doubtful reputation have followed
the army, and if German officer ap-
pears on the street with a woman,
she may be of this class but never a
Belgian The German government
has taken many war films in Bel :
GUM for exhibition in Germany.
One of these films represents an Of
ficers' ball in Brussels, with the idea
of proving the bitterness of the war
has passed away. But the people of
Brussels say the women shown in
the film were the German habitues
of the cafes and not Belgian women.
Brussels is now filled with young
German aristocrats occupying civil
posts. 1t is said that they are of
ten the only sons left in their fam
| lilies as the result of the war. Con-
sequently the government has spared
| them in order to perpetuate their
titls. Since the German army is Of
ficered solely by aristocrats. tn up
per classes would be otherwise in
danger of dying out.
Belgians report that the allies air
craft keep the railways on the Ger
man side of the front so badly torn
up with bombs that the civil popu-
lation feel it is unsafe to travel by
train. When they can obtain pass
es, they go by horse.