Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-25
LIVELY EXPERIENCES
OF RHODES SCHOLAR


tionalist in Gardiner today is Charles r.
Clason, son Of Hon. and Mrs. o. 8. Cla-
son, who has just returned from Eng
land, where he has been attending OK
ford University for the past three years
as a Rhodes scholar. Mr.. Clason's pleas
Ing personality and the fact that he has
an interesting story to relate combine to
warrant the opening statement
Mr.. Clason has had an experience in
Europe such as few American young men
have. In company with some 80 fellow
students and American college men dur
ing December, 1914, and January, 1915, he
served on the Belgian relief committee
which was engaged in the distribution of
food to the Belgians, at time shortly
after the passage Of the Germans and
when the suffering began to be intensi-
fed. When the commission began it's
work in that afflicted country the Bel
CLANS themselves had already established
soup kitchens and were feeding some
200 900 citizens Of Brussels, where Mr. Cla-
son was first stationed for period CT two
weeks. Later the work was divided in
provinces. all supplied from Brussels as
headquarters, and Mr.. Clason was made
courier or bearer of messages and mail
between Brussels and the headquarters Of
the various provinces.
During his travels Mr.. Clason has visit
ed many Of the cities that are now bat
tered and war-torn, among them being
Namur, Louvain and Mons. Louvain is
about one-third destroyed and it is believ-
ed to be as a result Of the famous letter
written by Cardinal Mercier calling on
the Belgians to stand firm and remain
loyal.
The commission supplied the courier
with an auto and he has on various occa-
sions passed huge graves by the road
side In which some 20 or 80 soldiers were
buried. and over which huge cross bear
Ing tho soldiers names was placed. Like
wise their helmets or come portion Of
their accoutrement was usually placed on
the graves.
Mr. Clason was held up but once during
the relief work on various charges, among
them being for trying to get gasoline
without an order from the commandant,
carrying two chauffeurs instead Of one,
using car belonging to a private citizen
and lying the American flag. He was
held and the case investigated The col
onel finally returned and said that he
himself was in error and the only charge
that held was the recently enacted edict
that prohibited the flying Of any but the
German rag except over diplomatic Of
fees. Mr.. Clason was released and
brought home the flag as souvenir, 1t
probably beng the last American flag
legally flown In Belgium.
Mr.. Clason speaks of other adven-
lures Of himself and his companions.
Among the latter was that OF Robert
Warren who was awaiting a boat in
Holland to convey him to England,
when he was recalled to Belgium by
the Commission. At the Dutch from
tier he was arrested az a spy and sent
to Antwerp where he was kept a pris-
oner in death CELL for three days.
His diet was entirely OF soup and
bread. During his Incarceration to re-
lieve the monotony he was given a
copy of J. Fenimore Cooper's "The
Spy" with which to console himself.
He finally obtained his release through
the efforts of released Belgian pris-
oner and the American consul.
Mr.. Clason is the possessor Of two
valuable souvenirs, one being a fac
smile Of the medal presented to Mr..
Hoover for his work and which was
presented to those engaged in the
work. The other is a gold medal, suit
ably inscribed. presented by the COM
mittee for the relief of the Belgians
The reverse side bears the coat of arms
Of Belgium.
Mr.. Clason's next summer was pass
ed in walking tour along the Swiss
Italian frontier. and here he had
many interesting adventures. He has
also visited a portion of Germany 60
ing through that country from Hol-
land, to Join his brother. Dr. Freeman
Clason, In Switzerland During this
trip he received valuable assistance
from Dutch nurse and some of the
German officers. Just before reaching
Zurich he found that he was the on,v
person on the train that was to be de-
tanned. He was placed under guard
and held for period of IA hours. Next
morning he was liberated and Joined