The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-03-02
CANNOT STOP PAPER.
Germans Fail to Suppress the
libre Belgique.
Mysterious Belgian Newspaper APP
pears Regularly In Spite OF All
Efforts to Prevent it's Bold
hilSj 1r9.. In Criticism.

Paris. - From Brussels the news
leaks out that in spite of the thou
sands of German spies in the city the
Libre Belgique has succeeded in pub
! fishing new issue.
The bOldness and wonderful tena-
city OF the mysterious Belgian patriots
who continue, in spite OF everything,
to publish their daring paper, form an
amusing and amazing side to the war.
The Germans as soon as they had
entered Brussels took possession OF
all the newspapers. The so-called Bel
gian papers published by the Kom-
mandantur were in reality merely
German sheets printed in French.
Very soon after the Libre Belgique
appeared. Who was the editor? Where
was it printed? No one has ever been
able to find out, but it has had and
still has the courage to print all the
things which the Germans want to
remain unknown.
Until now it has appeared in about
sixty issues, that is to say almost
weekly, and it has published docu-
mentary proofs of the German mis-
deeds, has criticized German bulletins
Of victories, and has prophesied from
the start the inevitable downfall of
Germany.
In most merciless manner it leases
the conquerors, it stimulates the Bel
gians, gives publicity to the thousands
OF little tricks which the irrepress;ble
street urchins of Brussels play on
the Germans, and fiays the kaiser the
military governor; and German gen.
erals in every issue.
Won Kissing himself still receives a
special copy with exasperating regu.
larity, and invariably the governor
finds 1t on top of all the other papers
on his desk. 1t is as If a Belgian Ku.
kluX Khan were at work. s..,
Recently the Jesuit College Of st.
Michel and the Redemptorist convent
OF Jette were thoroughly searched. |
Several persons were. arrested, sus.
pected Of being connected with the pa, |
per, but all had to be released again.
The governor first promised prize
of $4,000 francs ($5,00O) to any per.
son who would betray the names OF
the editors and publishers, and the
prize was raised to $4,000 ($10,000)
and then to $4,000 francs, t$15000),
but in vain. .. ....
The following story appeared in one
Of the recent issues of the paper,
copies Of which even reach Paris.
1t reprints the story told by the !
famous English war correspondent,
Russell of the Times, who followed
the Prussian army in 1870, about the
destruction of the Chateau of Saint
Cloud. Russell visited the chateau
with a German officer named Strautz
few moments before the chateau
was set afire, Strautz exclaimed:
Gentlemen, l am the last comman.
dant of Saint Cloud. For the very last
time we will visit the magnificent
apartments. We will throw last
glance at them, and in order that they
may forever remain in our memory
we will each take along a souvenir.
Take whatever you want - wines,
paintings, or books, whatever you
like"
Russell adds: II went inside with
Lieutenant Won Kissing and Major
Won Glass and when they saw that
carried away nothing they insisted
that | must do so. explained to them
that my position was different and
that l could not take what had not
been offered to me.
Then you ought to have seen what
happened. From all sides gifts poured
in on me, gifts so magnificent that il
would take the author Of the Arabian
nights to describe them"
The Libre Belgique Identifies this
Won Kissing as the present governor
of Belgium, who was born in 1874
and who served as lieutenant in the
Prussian army in 1870. d.