Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-19


"THEY have stolen my country Like so
1many thieves, they sneaked into my
beautiful land, and overnight they turned my
flower gardens into open-air stables for their
cavalry horses"
What a tragedy
She is only 81 years of age, this beautiful
girl-ruler of Luxembourg, slender handsome,
unmarried, and with five younger sisters to
take care OF; the youngest, Sophie is only l3
years old; next, Elizabeth. IA Antoinette, 49,
Hilda, is. and Charlotte, 10.
Poor orphans!
Facing the Chamber des Deputies there Is
handsome entrance to the palais. and there
stand two Prusslan guards Whenever any
one approaches this entrance unless one can
produce satisfactory parchment, he or she
faces two Pledged bayonets.
"You must give me sufficient reason for
your seeking an interview with her High
ness" A pair of blades were leveled at my
breast.
But have been her tutor L"
A slender girl rushed out OF the gate
toward me, totally ignoring the presence Of
the two unwanted guards, and holding out
her arms. cried:
my dear old teacherl Do not allow these
horrible creatures to frighten you" Saying
this she took my arm and between the two
bayonets we passed on into the palais, where
in previous years had the honor of teach
ing her little Highness her first French les-
sons.
Why Luxembourg Did Not Fight
had scarcely seated myself beside her
when she broke out, with tears running
down her cheeks, now crying, now sobbng
saying:
"They have stolen my country. Like so
many thieves they sneaked into my beauti-
full land, and overnight they turned my
flower gardens into open-air stables for their
cavalry horses
mot satisfied with destroying our beauti.
full scenery. they have also stolen our public
buildings, our local government, our post,
our educational establishments. and they
have forcibly taken charge of our railroad
for which we have spent more than 100000
francs. They seized our telegraph system,
and whenever my people protested too
strongly they arrested them and sent them
to remote Prussian military prisons; more
than 200 OF my leading citizens have been
sent out OF their country to Germany.
my people, my once happy and prosperous
people, are today poor and at the verge OF
starvation.
Even I have to receive a. permit from
Prussian officer before I can drive my car
on my own roads, in my own land must
even get permit from Prussian officer
before I can use the telephone which was
established by our own funds.
"This is annexation; not annexation
through conquest. but annexation through
stealing. The people of Belgium have reason
to be proud OF their great achievements in
fghting the arrogant conqueror. but we feel
we were robbed in the small hours OF the
night
Had we suspected the treaty breaking in
tentions Of the Prussians, we would have
rushed to arms II we had had 4s hours no
tice. we would have put at least $4,000 men
on our eastern frontier. We are as big as
Montenegro and our country is as noun
tainous, but we had implicit faith in the in
ternational law; and we thought we were
immune.
Envies the Belgian Queen
'For all practical purpose my country Is
annexed. and the misery OF my people is
deeper than that OF the Beiglans; in addi-
tion we hang our heads in shame before the
world for not having fought the stealers Of
our country
IT sincerely envy the Queen OF the Bel
CLANS in her present positioni for my present
plight is more bitter than hers
They were eowards for many years these
Prussians have been plotting against my
country In accordance with that general Ger
man plan Ny country. with It's 500 600 nopu-
lation, has been harboring hundreds OF Ger
man spies, and when the appointed hour
came these men turned out TO be ofieers IN
the imperial German armies. Even my two
German drivers were disguised oaieers; ana
when that fatsful ist Of August night had
arrived they appeared IN German uniforms.
The Germans had their outposts established
in my country. and my unsuspeeting people
had always treated these treaeherous spies
with the utmost consideration.
They have published broadcast that I
ave rsesivaa ths 7sen csoaa sFom u Geg-