South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-03
CORRESPONDENT
DESCRIBES TRIP
OVER WAR ZONE
Albert R. Williams Relates How
He Was Made Prisoner
Shows Some interesting Pic
lures Taken at Front.

vivid manner his startling experiences
as newspaper correspondent on the
European war field before the North
ern Indiana Teachers association at
the high school auditorium last night.
Mr.. Williams told OF his numerous de-
tenuons as a spy and of the circum-
stances OF his arrest, imprisonment
and trial before a German military
court
AR. williams in his address brought
out strongly the horrors of war as a
practice and the speech was intended
10 prove as another blow at militarism.
, Half OF the lecture was illustrated
with slides showing various scenes IN
Belgium, Germany and France dur
ing war time The patience and en-
durance OF little Belgium and the for
titude shown by her people were
lauded by the 81 saker while he term
ed the spirit OF the German war plan
as heartless. Methods OF the Germans
IN the welding together OF their
forces were criticised strongly by Mr.
Williams who asserted that it makes
OF the men mere machines and kills
their souls.
"MiIitarisn is damned upon this
one charge" he declared. 1T is the
nemesis OF the brotherhood of man"
Final Session Today.
NIsic OF the meeting last night was
furnished by the large eighth grade
Fern Parker Miss Parker was in
charge of the music for the program
during the three sessions Friday.
Every one knows" said Mr.. Will
Jams. that the spy season opened in
Europe with the beginning OF the
war. It furnished an immediate
tangible outlet for irrepressible patri-
OTIS. The authorities rounded up as
many suspects as possible. Those who
couldn't show clean bill were led as
target practice for the soldiers.
Some people cherish lively indignation
against the particular government
which had the temerity TO infringe
on their liberties and give them a
soaring. They are the same order of
people who think that the war was
gotten up primarily 10 inconvenience
them. Personally L bear no malice
against any OF them.
81 was taken by the French in the
barracks town OF Melun during those
early days OF mobilization. / had
. Helped get an entrance into the place
with an American girl who was deter
mined TO have one last look at her
fance before he left for the front. A
squad Of gendarmes arrested me while
seated in a cafe. was ordered out of
town politely but Immediately.
Were Made Prisoners.
AT Antwerp on the 22nd of Au-
train and interned in a room in the
station. Six Belgium soldiers gave
each OF us a general overhauling.
Twenty Of us were weeded out as
most suspicious and a stricter eXami-
nation accorded us. L was kept as
chief culprit and searched right down
To the skin. After two hours they
apologized and let me go.
'-Fhe Germans got me near LOuvain
~ a n Mt =
the English army passing himself off
as an American with an American
passport. / was also taken by the
Dutch But my arrest and trial at the
German staff headquarters in Brus-
sells is marked off from all the other
experiences IN four ways In the first
place instead OF casually falling into
the hands OF my captors, they came
after me and took me out of my hotel.
In the second place a specific charge
OF using money for bribing infOrma-
ton was laid against me and wit
neSses were there to back II up. In
the third place the leader of the party
arrested me in civilian dress but be-
fore examination and trial he changed
10 military uniform. In the fourth
place they were in a suriy mood. My
message TO the American ambassador
was undeliVered and when at last at
the trial before the American repre-
sentatives they were forced TO let me
80 free there was no apology but
rather the sullen attitude OF those who
have been baked in bagging their
game
ON His Birthday.
This little German surprise party
was on Sept. 2S, my birthday. L
walked out OF the hotel about S
clock for a stroll along the streets.
On my return 1 was informed by
hotel attendant that gentleman
whom he took for an American. had
called In to see me and would shortly
come again i received this news with
gladness and sat down IN a writing
room to await the return OF my Wis
ttor. Meantime on a piece OF paper I
made a few JOttings about sundry and
divers things that l feared might es-
care my memory. In the midst OF
this occupation the visitor was an
nounosa.
Picking up my scribble paper
fastened out into the hallway 10 meet
a rather spare, tall and extremely
erect appearing man. he greeted me
with a smile and a bOw--a rather dry
smile and a stiff bow for an Amer
ican- So queried You are an. Amer
lean are your
mot exactly he replied but 1
would Ike 10 talk with YOU
Without the shadow of a suspicion
] told him Il would be a great relief
from the tedium Of the day 10 talk
with anyone
But / prefer TO talk with YOU in
your room he added.
" Certainly responded stepping
toward the elevator.
Hotel Almost Deserted.
The hotel was practically deserted
so I was somewhat surprised when
two men. one a large fellow OF the
superdreadnaught type. followed us in
and got out with Us on the Ffth floor.
The superdreadnought sailed on into
my room which seemed a breach OF
pDopriety Tor an unintroduCed
stranger. He closed the door rather
rudely behind him. j was prepared
70 resent this altogether high handed
Intrusion when my tail guest said very
simply. i am representing the i'm
perial German government
II rallied under the shock Sufii-
clients TO say. VIII you take "a chair -
NO. came the laconic reply. L
viii take YOU and this taking the