The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-07
bE[G|ANS THINK
 DELNERANCE IS SURE ID COME
Politically Undisciplined Children Is the Way General VOn Bissing
 Characterizes Them

Brussels, February 6.-(Via London. 2 D. m.)-"The Belgians," said Gen. eral Won Bissing, the new governor general of Belgium, in an interview to- day with a representative of the As- sociated Press. "are politically undis- ciplined children. They believe their liberation from German rule may come at any moment and they are strength ened in this belief by the French news papers as we'll as by some neutral newspapers. which continually are smuggled' in.
 When, as frequently happens" con- tinued the governor general, "a fa- vorable wind brings the sound of can non to the city the Belgians believe the longed-for day has come. On sev- eral occasions the very date for the return of King Albert has been set and no number of disappointments seem to crush the hopes of the people,
 General Won Bissing is Fl years of age. He is somewhat above the mid dle height, spare and wiry and with features and demeanor of one who is very just but very severe. He strength ened this impression by his answer to the question whether the Belgians had attempted to throw obstacles in his way.
 "Only in petty ways" he replied, "by pin bricks here and there. Undoubtedly they would like to. but they know if they did I should immediately aoopt very drastic measures
 Divided Standpoint What has been the attitude of the Bel gian government officials toward the Ger man government" the governor-general was asked.
 "The municipal officers" General von Kissing replied, generally co-operated with us from the beginning The higher officials took a divided standpoint, while some absolutely refused to have any thing to do with us. Officials of the de- partment of justice, on the other hand. realizing the importance of a proper func- tkoning of the judicial branch of the gov ernment, worked loyally with the military government from the first.
 "We have had much trouble with the postal and railway officials. The former are being gradually won over to cooper ate with us, but the latter, feeling that the railways are an important adjunct of warfare. conception which is quite true and justifabe, have generally refused to do anything to help us. They feel it would be unpatriotc and disloyal to as- sist us, even indirectly. in carrying war against their own land.
 The Belgian civil courts" the gover- nor-general said, still exist, and they try ordinary cases of breaches of the law of the land. All crimes against soldiers or the military governments are tried by SO called field courts, which are military courts presided over by German judges"
 Tt has been asserted" said the in- terviewer, that the Belgians were mis- led and betrayed by their own govern ment and even that they have, without their Knowledge, come under the com- plete control of the British and French financial world. Does your excellency believe this to be truee'
 Belgian Conditions General Won Bissing's answer to this was the paragraph quoted in the fore going to the effect that the Belgians are politically undisciplined children"
 What inference was to be drawn from his answer the general did not indicate. He also left unanswered the question whether he believed that if Belgium or part of that country eventually became a part of Germany it would ever be possible completely to Germanize the country, making it a harmonious portion of the German em- pire.
 q don't think that is a question l can answer at this present time,'' he replied.
 General Won Bissing added that con- ditions in Belgium on the whole were ''as good as could be expected in the circumstances. We are bettering them as rapidly as possible. In some direc- tions we have not yet accomplished what we hoped, but in others we have succeeded better than we expected"
 General Won Bissing at first made only emphatic gestures when asked whether in view of all that had happened it was not political and military error to have invaded Belgium.
 Not to have marched into Belgium