The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-20
CHESTER BOY IN BELGIUM.
y. Lyles Glenn, Jr., Writes of Things
In the Unfortunate Country.
chester Reporter. :


tord University in England, will be
interested in the extracts below from
a letter received Saturday, by Mr..
Glenns parents, Hon. and Mrs. J. l..
Glenn. AS was stated in the Reporter
several weeks ago Mr.. Glenn. in COM
pany with other American students at
oxford, went over to Belgium to as
slst in the work of distributing the
supplies sent to that destitute coun-
try from the charita BILE people of the
United Sttaes, and the letter quoted
from below is the first received by his
parents since he left Rotterdam.
The letter received Saturday was
written from Maastricht in Holland
(the Germans do not allow the young
men to write from Belgian soiD and
was dated January Oath. Many in
teresting views regarding the people
or Belgium, the situation existing
there glimpses of the Germans, etc.
are omitted in the following extract,
as the German authorities, while
showing the American students every
possible courtesy, rigidly insist upon
all information that goes out being
very general in tone.
Following are some extracts from
this very interesting letter:
From Rotterdam l went to Ant
werp for one day and thence to Brus-
sells. l spent Sunday, December 10,
riding from Antwerp to Brussels, a
Journey full of interest, for there has
been the scene of much of the fight
ing. 1t also made me feel absolutely
justified in my desire to work in Bel
GUM. The towns of Malines and Ep-
peghem are badly destroyed. At Brus-
sells l spent four days in getting in
structions and passports. / was sent
down to Namur to be with c. G.
Bowden, Rhodes man from Missouri
(also Swanee). I arrived here Decem-
Der 18th. Since then l have been at
Namur and around in the province
engaged in the relief work for Bel
gians.
AT first there were only two of us
and we had quite a lot Of difficulty
in breaking in with the local Belgian
committee. The Belgians are won
derfully polite and nice, but not very
business-like. They talk too much and
act too little.
THE day before Christmas, Mr..
Gibson Of Rochester, N. Y, a native of
Alabama, arrived. We were quite re-
lieved TO have an older man or whose
shoulders to put the chief responsible
ity. We also have an American from
North Carolina III the office with us.
We have very comfortable offices and
l have room with Mr. Bowden at
the house Of Mr.. Attout. a man
whom they have put at the head OF
the relief work for the city of Namur.
l do not spepd any time there except
nights and get breakfast.
Now, there is necessity for the
work. We are keeping Belgians from
starving. 1 have charge Of the ship
ping department and have protection
over the food. 1 have to submit a re-
port to Brussels of all American food
that enters orr DrOyinco
THE German, with whom we have
our dealings, is certain Captain
Schroeder, and if there ever was a
fine man, he is one. He works night
and day and uses his influence to aid
us in our work. We have had dinner
with him several times. He speaks
English. He has been to Oxford as
we'll as visited the United States. /
have also come to know another Ger
man officer who is wonderfully inter-
esting. He eats two meals day at
the same hotel.
I'VE have to speak French a good
bit. have absolutely no time to study
French, but I manage to make my
self understood If l could study any
could learn in a few weeks.
I'VE have in our office most of the
time a count who speaks all European
languages. He is exceedingly nice and
has given his services to us entirely
simply to aid us in our work. He is
willing to do anything to relieve the
people. The count, Henri de Leide-
kirk, has a beautiful country palace.
was down that way on business
Thursday and spent the night with
him. We are all going to take dim
ner there tomorrow Sunday, January
24th). Capt. Lucey, the head of the
Rotterdam office, will be there. Capt.
Schroeder, four OF us Americans and
the countess, her two beautiful daugh-
! !nr