South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-30
THE QUEENS VIEW.

A kings statement and mans. How about
who herself had been the last leave Brus
sells. before whom in the intimacy OF that small
villa at La Panne, soldiers refugee mobiles
with their stories Of murder and debauch by the in
yaders?
have never before broken the silence my
terview Elizabeth, queen of the Belgians. that
small frail, and heroic who has lived for three
years the roar of the artillery Dixmude
Newport But the time has break that silence
been spread broadcast that Elizabeth Of Belgium sym
pathzes with Germany shall tell of the things
she said
Again I quote from my notes of that interview:
is the and chldren!" she said 1T is
terrible. There must be killing. That is But
this other thing
this point She had but just returned from England
where in convent 20 Belgian enceinte
by German soldiers. She had visited them.
10 the terrible thing of That
quiet women living their devout simple lives
shouu nave suAersu SO sFOsSlS oeWlueIsd ana ui1eu
her Was there nothing then sacred to these invaders
the church?
Il am a Bavarian" she said. Il have always from
my childhood heard this talk that Germany must grow
to the I thought it was just talk-a
pleasantly. lies they have told The
emperor has always pretended to be friendly, and
al time"
she held out her hands expressively.
Anyone who knows the king knows that he can
a wrong thing. possible him.
not go any way but straight"
GERMAN CRUELTIEs ARE TERRIBLE.
Then she REQUIRED to the invasion and the terrible
cruelties of the German army.
have done to women and children. But more than
any the world the Germans cruel TO
en-. l have seen them myself when they did know
who 1 trains sometimes-not since the
of But the very way they stare at women is
odious."
She thought that this attitude of the Germans
planned many things. she told detail revolt
ing the proclamation of churches under the
pretext totally unfounded that the Belgian churches
were storehouses for arms She told me- too, OF the
especial cruelty they had shown priests and
of locking the priests in churches and after insulting
altar killing them.
I said it was difficult to say what any army
be in occupied country But she protested.
do you think the Belgians would have done such
things? Never. Never. Isolated instances might be
possible But the Germans committed thousands
OF crimes ] this very while
o German soldiers read. Even If had had
other means of knowing those diaries would told
everything They relate unspeakable crimes"
SOME SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONS
to British headquarters later officer high
the staff Of Lord French told of following the
the battle OF the Marine and verify
ing with own eyes for own satisfaction
taltes of the invaders in occupied towns
1T is had for understand" he said. Il in
creduous myself But saw enough TO convince me
that the had heard true"
But here another question arises The Germans made
much of their military necessities in Belgium
excuse their cruelties there. about
when military exigency dictated brutality?
have before me the statement of a British officer
prisoner during the winter o the
war. He escaped through Holland and the third
tel in London The story of Maj. (now COLI Van
deleur which here reproduce in his own words as l
recorded L the time, needs comment.
Although pressure from high places brought TO
the British Office Lord Kitchener refused
permission TO publish 1t, for fear that its
this then neutral country would prejudice lot of
other unhappy prisoners in Germany's hands