Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-07
BELC|ANS CONFIDENT
OF EARLY LIBERATION
On Several Occasions Very Date for
Return of King Albert Has
Been Set.
THEIR HOPES NOT CRUSHED
German Govcrnor-Gcneral Declares
the People Practically Arc Undis-
Ciplincd Childrcn-DiScusses Atti-
tude OF Officials to His Rule.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, February G
! tvia London, . T.. M).-"Thc BclEians.'
said General Won Kissing, the new Gov
crnor-Gencral of Belgium. In an inter
view to-day with n representative of
the Associated Press. ARE practically
undisciplincd children. They believe
/ their liberation from German rule may
; come ut any moment. and they arc
strengthened in this belief by tho
neutral newspapers. which continually
arc smuEElcd In.
when as frequently happens" con-
tinucd the Governor General, a., ia
vorable wind brings tho sound OF can
non TO the city tho BelEians believe the
lonEcd-for day has come. on several
occasions tho very date for the return
number of disappointments seem to
crush the hopes Of the people"
General Won Kissing Is seventy ono
years of age. He Is somewhat above
the middle height, spare and why. and
with features and demcanor of one who
Is very Just, but very severe. He
strengthened this impression by his
question as to whether the BclEians
mad attempted to throw obstacles In
his way.
only in petty ways" he replied.
"undouhtcslly they would like to. but
they know that If they should | would
immediately adopt very drastic meas
urcS"
What has been the attitude of tho
Belgian government officials toward the
German government" the Governor
General was asked.
The municipal officials" General Won
Kissing replied, generally co-operated
with us from the beginning. The higher
officials took Il divided standpoint.
while some absolutely refused to have
anything to do with us"
MUCH TROUBLE WITH POSTAL.
AND RAILWAY OFFICIALS
I'VE have had much trouble with
tho postal and railway officials. The
former arc being gradually won over
to cooperate with us, but the latter.
feeling that the railways are an i'm
portant adjunct of warfarc---n concep-
ton which Is quite true and justifiablc
have generally refused to do any
thing TO help us. They feel 1t would
tie unpatriotic and disloyal TO assist
us, even indirectly. in carrying war
against their own land"
General Won Kissing added that con-
ditions in Belgium on the whole were
'as good rs could DO expected in the
circumstances. 1--WE are lettering them
as rapidly as possible" he said
The general ut first made only en-
phatic gestures when asked whether,
! in view of all that had happened, 1t
was not q political and military error
to have invaded Belgium.
Not to have marched into Belgium
would have been very grave mis-
take" he rerlltd. 'It we had not done
so France and England would. Ger
many then would have found herself In
a position OF great danger y strong
State simply could not suffer itself to
be brought Into n position so highly
observation-disclosures. There was no otner
course possible for Germany"
Speaking OF American relief I'm Bel
GUM. in reply to II query whether such
help really were needed, General Won
Kissing said:
ut was and still Is necessary in the
highest degree"
The Govcrnor-Gcnerai characterized
rs false the assertions that the Cier,na n
army has been using some foodstufrs
sent to Belgium by Americans, and de-
clared that the German army is not
even using any belgian products NJ
the present time. but Is drawint, the en-
tire food supply from Germany. He
also SAID that the report that tho Ger
man government ever placed ohsta clcs
in the way Of the American relief work
ers is false"