davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Civilians Warned
Not to Fight Invaders

Then de Leval and | went out and
talked to the crowd-that is to say,
we went out and he talked to the
crowd. He told them very reason
ably that they we're doing harm to
Belgium, as actions Of this sort
might bring reprisals which would
cost the country dear, and that they
must control their feelings.
He sounded the right note so sue
cessfully that the crowd broke up
with a cheer.
Orders have been issued to permit
Us free use of the telephone and
telegraph, although they have been
cut for everybody else Yesterday
afternoon I talked with the consul
lates at Client and Antwerp. They
were both having their troubles with
Germans who 3nted to get out OF
the country. I told them to send
everybody up here and let them re-
port at their own consulate, where
they will be looked after.
The government is taking no
chances Of having trouble because
of the doings of francs-tireurs. The
Minister of the Interior sent out, on
the 4th. a circular TO every one OF
the 200 communes in the country
10 be posted everywhere.
The circular points out in simple
and emphatic terms the duty Of
civilians to refrain from hostile acts,
and makes it clear that civilians
might be executed for such acts.
Aside from this, every newspaper IN
the. country has printed the follow
ing notice signed BY the Minister OF
the Interior:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Germans Driven
Back at Liege

There seems to have been a serious
engagement to-day at Iiege, which
the Germans are determined to re-
duce before proceeding toward
France. The report is that the at
tack was well resisted and the Ger
mans driven back with heavy loss.
A number of prisoners have been
taken and were being brought into
Brussels this evening along with the
wounded. In the course Of the fight
ing there was a sort Of charge OF
the Light Brigade; one squadron OF
Belgian lancers was obliged to at
tack six times its number Of Ger
mans and was cut TO pieces, only one
officer escaping. The morale Of the
Belgians is splendid.
This afternoon as the r,ln'ster and
I were going 10 call on the British
minister we passed the King and
his staff headed out the hue dc Id
Loi for the front. They looked like
business.
Several times to-day have talked
over the telephone with the embassy
in London. They seem TO be as
strong on rumors as we are here.
One rumor | was able 70 pass on to
Bell was to the effect that the Brit
ish flagship had been sunk by Ger
man mines with another big warship.
Another to the effect that five Ger
man ships have been destroyed by
the French feet off the coast Of Al
geria, etc, etc.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Crowd Guarded
Into Indoor Circus

They were surrounded by placid
Gardes Civiques and were all fright
ened to death. They had had moth
ing to do for days but talk over the
terrible fate that awaited them if
the bloodthirsty population Of Brus-
sells ever got at them; the stories
had grown so that the crowd had
hypnotized itself and wcs ready TO
credit any yarn.
The authorities showed the great
est consideration they could under
their orders. They got the crowd
started and soon had them slowed
away inside the Cirque Royale, an
indoor circus near the consulate
Once they got inside, lot Of them
gave way to their feelings and be-
gan to weep and wall in way that
babe fair to set of the entire crowd.
One of the officers came out 10 where
was and begged me to come in and
try my hand at quieting them.
! climbed up on a trunk and de.
livered an eloquent address to the
effect that nobody had any designs
on them; that the whole interest Of
tie Belgian government lay in get
ting them safely across the frontier;
called their attention 10 the way the
Garde Civique was working to make
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
In Search Of Secret
Wireless Station

August 6th.-This morning when
I came into the legation | found the
Minister Of Justice in top hat and
frock coat waiting to see somebody.
He had received a report that
wireless station had been established
on top Of German Legation and
was being run by the people who
were left in the building. He came
10 ask the minister's consent TO send
q Judge TO look, see and draw up a
Droces verbal. In our own artless
little American way we suggested
that it might be simpler to 90
straight over and ind out how much
there was TO the report. The MIN
lister Of Justice had couple Of tele-
graph linemen with him, and as soon
az Mr.. Whitlock could get his nat
we walked around the corner to the
German Legation, rang the bell, told
the startled occupants that we
wanted to 90 up to the garrett and
up we went.
When we got there we found that
the only way onto the roof was by
a long perpendicular ladder leading
% a trap door. We all scrambled
IN ths-all but the Minister OF JUS
t,ce. who remained behind in the gar
ret with his top hat.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Remaining Germans
Paralvzed With Fright

All the Germans who have re-
NAMED here seem to be paraiyzed
With fright, and have for the most
mart taken refuge IN converts
schools. etc. There are several nun
dreds ii them in the German Con-
mlate General which has been pro-
vlsioned as for a siege Popular
feeling is, of course, running hlgh
against them, and there may be IN
cidents, out so far nothing has nap
pensd to justify the panic
This morning a Belgian priest the
Abe Upmans, came in TO say that
he had several hundred Germans un-
der his care and wanted some pro-
vision ~1ade for getting them away
before the situation got any worse
After talking the matter over win
he minister and getting his instruc-
lions | took the able in tow, and with
n de Leval went to the Foreign
Office TO see about getting a speclai
train TO take these people across the
border into Holland and thence into
Germany.
A. first the suggestion was re-
ceived with some resentment, and l
was told fatty that there was no
rood reason for Belgium 10 hand over
special trains 70 benefit Germans
when every car was needed for mill
.ary operations.
] pleaded that consideration must
h hown these helpless people, ana
aas this course was just as much IN
the interest of Belgium as Of any
body else. as it would remove the
anger Of violence, with possible re-
yri,als, and would relieve the over
surked police force OF onerouS
duties. After some argument baron
Dcnny went with me TO the surete
Pubhque, where we went over the
matter again with the chief.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Red Cross Ready
To Handle Wounded

The Red Cross is hard at WORK
getting ready TO handle the wounded
and everybody is doing something
Nearly everybody with a big house
has fitted il in whole or in part as q
hospital. Others are rolling band
ages and preparing all sorts OF sup
Plies.
The military attaches are all go
ing about in Uniform now. Each ie-
ga ton has a flag on its motor and
the letters c. d., which are sup
posed 10 stand for Corps Diploma
tioue. although nobody knows 1t. !
have seized Mrs. Boyd's big car for
nv own use. d. L. Blount has put
bis car at the disposal Of the min
later and il to drive IT himself.
There is talk already Of moving
TIE court and the government TO
Antwerp, 10 take refuge behind the
notifications. When the Germans
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Congress Moves to
Relief of Americans

In the course of the afternoon We
got our kilograms telling of the APP
preparation by Congress Of two and
a half millions for he relief Of
Americans in Europe and the dis
patch Of the Tennessee with the
money on board. Now all hands
want some Of the money and cabin
on the Tennessee to go home in.
-, the wheat king, came into
tie legation this morning and was
very grateful because we contrlyed
to cash out of our own pockets a
twenty-dollar express check for him.
He was fiat broke with his pocket
bulging with checks and was living
in a pension at six francs a day.
There is going to be lot Of dis
comfort and suffering unless some
money is made available pretty
soon.
The worst of it is that this is
the height of the tourist season and
Europe is full of school teachers
and other people who came over for
short trips with meager resources,
carefully calculated to get them
through their travelling and home
again by a certain date. If they
are kept long they are going to be
IN a bad way.
One of our American colony here,
Heineman, had a goodly store Of
currency and had placed it at the
disposal of the legation, TO be used
in cashing at face value travellers
checks and other similar paper which
bankers will not touch now with a
pair Of tongs.
Shaler has taken charge of that
end OF the business and has all the
customers he can handle. Heineman
will have to bide his time to get
any money back on all his collection
of paper, and his contribution has
meant a lot to people who will never
know who helped them.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04

advance beyond Liege tee govern
ment will, of course, have to go, and
the diplomatic corps may follow. 1t
would be a nuisance for US, and /
hope we may be able TO avoid it.
Germans are having an unhappy
time, and / shall be happier when
they are across the border. Nothing
much seems to have happened to
them beyond having a few shops
wrecked in Antwerp and one or two
people beaten up here.
One case that came TO my knowl-
edge was an outraged man who had
been roughly handled and could not
understand why. All he had done
was TO stand in front Of a cafe where
the little tables are on the sidewalk
and remark: Talk all the French
you can. You'll soon have TO talk
German" Of course there are lot
of Belgians. Swiss and Dutch who
rejoice in good German names and
they are not having a pleasant time.
One restaurant called Chez Fritz |
saw when coming along the Boule-
ward this evening had hung out a
blackboard with the proud device:
"Fyit- est Luxemborgeois, n1dis so
Maison est Beige" (Frix is a Lux
emburger, hut his house is Belgian.)
He was taking no chances on hav-
ing his place smashed.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
To Civilians

The Minister Of the Interior ad-
yises civilians, in case the enemy
should show himself In their dis
trict:
Not to fight;
To utter no insulting or threaten
ing words;
To remain within their houses and
close the windows, 30 that II will
be impossible to allege that there
has been any rrovocation;
To evacuate any houses or small
village which may be occupied by
soldiers in order TO defend them
selves, 80 that II cannot be alleged
that civilians have fred:
An act Of violencs committed by .
single civilian would be . crime for
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Mrs. Whitlock Helps
Quiet Hysterical People

| came back to the legation and
told my people that the way was
clear and that they had nothing 20
worry about. Mrs. Whitlock and
Miss Darner had taken the family
in hand, were petting the baby boy
and had them all cheered up TO a
sensible state of mind. got them
into the motor and whisked them
down 10 the lines that were drawn
about the block. Here we were
stopped and, sooner than undertake
a joint debate with the sentry, was
for descending and going the rest
Of the way on foot.
When "a few Of the idly curious
gathered about the car, the woman
nearly had hit and scrambled bacl.
into the car almost in spasms. or
course the scene drew some more
people and we soon had a consider
able crowd. ] gathered up the bow
who was a beauty and not az all
afraid-and took him out of the car.
There was in the front rank an
enormous Belgian with a fiercely
bristling beard. He looked ike a
sane sort, so I said TO him: "Er-
pliquez d ces gems que cons n'6te'
pas des ogres pour croq,er tss
enfdnts." ("Explain 70 these people
that you are not the kind Of men
who devour babies" He growlei
out affably; "Nais non, on ne mango
pds les enfGnts. nj ie1us n1res.'
("No, indeed, one does not eat
babies nor their mothers,") AMI
gathered up the baby and passed him
about for the others TO look at.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
1t Was Altogether
A Night of Horror.

My passengers then decided that
they were not in SUCH mortal danger
and consented 10 get out. An officer
knew came along and offered 70
escort them inside.
On the way in / ran into Madame
Carton De Wharf, wife Of the Minis
ter of Justice, who was there 70 do
what she could 10 make things run
smoothly. She is rabid about the
Germans, but is not for taking 70
out on these helpless people. And
that seems to be the spirit Of every
body, although it would be quite IN
derstandable if they showed these
neople some Of their resentment.
The Gardes were bestirring them
selves TO look after their charges
Some of them had contributed their
pocket money and had bought chloe
olate and milk for the children and
mineral waters and other odds and
ends for those that needed them
And some Of them are not very sure
as TO how long they will nave pocket
money for themselves. Aside from
the fright and the heat and the
noise Of that crowd in the Cirque.
i. was all pretty depressing.
During the night one cid man died
probably from fright and shock
and a child was born. It was alto
gether a night of horror that could
perfectly well have been avoided if
people had only been able 10 keep
calm and stay at home until time
for tn. train TO leave.
Having settled my charges anc
taken a look round, went back 10
the legation and got off some tele-
grams and talked with Bell over the
telephone. He had lot Of news that
we had not received and many
errands to be done for people who
had friends and relatives here.
,cspynsht 1917. Doubleday. PIso a Co. ~
osls waoiD
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04

all; that an apparatus was now made
that could be concealed in hat and
brought out at night to be worked.
He stopped in the middle Of word,
fer suddenly we heard the rasping
intermittent hiss Of a wireless very
near at hand. Everybody stiffened
up like a lot of pointers, and in a
minute had located the plant. 1t was
nothing but a rusty girouette on top
OF a chimney being turned by the
wind and scratching spitefully at
every turn.
The discovery eased the strain and
everybody laughed.
Then there was another sound, and
we all turned around to see trap
door raised and the serene, bemon-
ocled face Of my friend Cavalcanti
looked out on US in bewilderment. In
our search we had strayed over onto
the roof Of the Brazilian Legation.
1t seemed TO cause him some surprise
to see US doing second-story work on
their house. 1t was a funny sltua-
tion-but ended in another laugh. 1t
is a good thing we can work in a
laugh now and then.
The day was chiefly occupied with
perfecting arrangements for getting
off our German refugees. The Min
lister wished the job on me, and !
with some elements of executive abil
ity myself gave the worst part of it
TO Nasmith, the Vice-Consul-Gen-
eral. Notifications became neces-
sary every few minutes, and Leval
and | were running around like
stricken deer all day, seeing the dis
heartening number Of government
officials who were concerned, having
changes made and asking for addi-
tional trains.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Americans All
Busy as Beavers

This was done to-day. Committees
were appointed to look for a house
where Americans could be assembled
III case of hostilities in the immediate
vicinity Of Brussels; to look after the
food supply; to attend to catering;
to round up Americans and see that
they get to the place of refuge when
the time comes; to look after desti-
tute Americans, etc.
Now they are all happy and work
ing Ike beavers, although there is
little chance that their work viii
serve any useful purpose aside from
keeping them occupied.
We got Mrs. Shaler to open up
the Students Club. which had been
closed for the summer, so that the
colony can have place to meet and
work for the Red Cross and keep its
collective mind off the gossip that is
flying about.
Last night our cipher kilograms to
Washington were sent back from the
telegraph Office with word that I'M
der the latest instructions from the
government they could not be for
warded. The minister and | hurried
over to the Foreign Office, where We
found several of the colleagues on
the same errand. 1t was all mis-
take, due to the fact that the General
Staff had issued a sweeping order
to stop all cipher messages without
stopping to consider our 2ecial case.
1t was fixed after some debate, and
the minister and | came back to the
shop and got off our last kilograms,
which were finished at 3 this morn
ing.
I was back at my desk by little
after and have not finished this
days work, although it is after mid
night. | have averaged from three
to five hours sleep since the trouble
began and, strange TO say, / thrive
on it.
! have called several times to-day
d. the French and British legations
TO get the latest news. They keep as
we'll posted as is possible in the pre-
vailing confusion, and are most gen.
erous and kind in giving US every
thing they properly can.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Rumor Makes Mob
Appear Dangerous

There is a German-American girl
married 70 a German who lives
across Il rect from me. | sent
her word Today that she and her
husband and little boy had better
get away while there was a way
open.
Last evening while we were at
dinner at the legation the three Of
them arrived in panic. They had
heard that there was mob If 10000
people about the German Consulate
about 10 break in and kill every
German in the place. Of course they
could not be persuaded to go near
the consulate or any Of the other
refugees.
They wanted to settle down and
stay at the legation. AS the minister
was on his way out to the meeting
of the corps, the woman waylaid
hin, had got down on her knees
and kissed his hand an@ grovelled
and had Mysteries. He called for me
and we got them quieted down. /
finally agreed to go down to the
consulate and take a look so as to
reassure them.
When ! got there I found that
the streets had been barred of by
the military for two blocks in every
direction, and that there was only
a small crowd gathered TO see what
might happen. About as hostile as
a lot of children.
I got through the line Of troops
and in front Of the consulate found
several hundreds of the refugees
who had been brought out to be
marched TO the Cirque Royale, where
they could be more comfortably
lodged until it was time to start for
the train.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Asked Special Train
To Take Germans Out

He got the point at once and joined
forces with US in request TO the
Minister Of Railways for a special
train. We soon arranged matters as
far as the Belgian frontier.
! then telephoned through to The
Hague, got Marshal Langhorne and
asked him 10 request the Dutch gov
Gnment 10 send another train TO the
frontier 10 pick our people up and
kad them through 10 Germany. He
s.nt of with a right good will 70
arrange that, and ! hope 70 have an
nswer in the morning.
We plan 70 start the train on Fri
esy morning at 4 o'clock, so as to get
Cur people through the streets when
there are few people about. We are
raaking il known that all Germans
mo With 70 leave should put IN an
appearance By that time, and 1t looks
"a though we should have from seven
hundred " a thousand 70 provide for'
u Will be a great relief 10 get them
81. ard ! hold my breath until the
Hsin L. safely gone.
The Belgian government is making
10 Distinction between Germans, and
. letting those liable for military
srs1ee get away with the others.
Wild stories have begun 10 cir
sslas> about what IL bound 70 happen
Americans and other foreigners
men hoStilitiez yet nearer 10 Brus-
'sh, and we nave had 10 spend much
aas that could have been devoted 70
11sr things In calming lot u 60
pssbls people Of both sexes. finally
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04

bowsky, a typical white-haired Ger
man functionary, was potterlng
about with sealing wax and strips
Of paper, sealing the ar"hIves and
answering questions In a deliberate
and perfectly calm way. 1t was for
all the world like scene in a play.
The shaded room. the two nervous
Siplomats registering anxiety and
strain. the old funetiooary VIC was
20 stay behind 10 guard the archives
and refused 10 be moved from his
calm by the approaching ca'a 'lysm.
II seemed altogether unreal, and |
had 10 keep bringing myself back 10
, realization Of the fact that il was
only too true and too serious.
They we're very oninous ehout
what an invasion means to this
country, and kept referring to the
srnv as a steam roller that will
leave nothing standing in its path.
stumm kept repeating: "Oh, the
moor fools! Why don't they get out
of the way Of the steam roller? We
don't want to hurt them, but if they
stand in our way they will be ground
into the dirt. Oh, the poor fools!"
The government had a special
train ready for the German diplo-
matte and consular officers who were
10 leave, and they got away about
T. Now, thank goodness, they are
safely in Holland and speeding back
70 their own country.
Before leaving Bulow gave out
word that we would look after Ger
man interests, and consequently we
have been deluged with frightened
people ever since.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04

them comfortable, and TO reassure
them promised that | would 20 with
them TO the station, put them on
their trains and see them safely Off
for the frontier.
That particular crowd cheered up
somewhat, but | could not get near
enough to be heard by the entire
outfit at one time, so one Of the
officers dragged me around from one
part of the building to another until
| had harangued the entire crowd
on the instalment plan. They all
knew that we were charged will
their interests, and there was nearly
a riot when I wanted to leave. They
expected me to stay right there until
they were taken away.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Everybody Stifened
Bv Intermittent Hiss

We looked the place over very
carefully, and the workmen-evi-
dsr,lv in order TO feel that they were
doing ,vmething few wires
which probably resulted in great IN
convenience to perfectly harmless
reople further along the street. But
tbere was no evidence Of wireless
outfit.
One of the men started to explain
,a me how that proved nothing al
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Copyright 1917, Otis F. Wood

which the law provides arrest and
punishment. II is all the more rep
rehensible in that it might serve as
a pretext for measures of repression
resulting in bloodshed and pillage or
the massacre of the innocent pOpu-
lation with women and children.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
German Refugees
A Troublesome Burden

During the afternoon more and
more Germans came pouring into
the consulate for refuge, until there
were over two thousand of them
there, terribly crowded and I'M
happy. Several converts were also
packed. and we calculated that we
should have two or three thousand
TO get out Of the country. In the
morning the legation was besieged
by numbers of poor people who did
not know which way TO turn and
came 10 US because they had been
told that we would take care Of
them.
We were all kept busy; and Leval,
smothering MS natural feelings,
came out of his OWE accord and
talked and advised and Gained the
frightened people in their own lam
guage. None Of US would have
asked him to do it, but he was fine
enough to want TO help and to do it
without any fuss.
A crowd Of curious people gath
cred outside the legation 70 watch
the callers, and now and then they
hooed a German.
| looked out Of the window in time
to see somebody in the crowd strike
at a poor little worm Of a man who
had just gone out the door. He was
excited and foolish enough to reach
toward his hip pocket as though for
revolver. In an instant the crowd