The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-11-08

is unlikely that any organized attack
Dy civilians could have been made
However, if in individual cases shots
were fired atzthe German soldiers, this
may always be condoned in a country
suffering invasion. During an occupa-
ton 1t would be different, naturally.
No excuse can be offered for such an
action in occupied territory.
Various Belgian officers have told
me Of seeing crowds Of men, women
and children driven ahead of the Ger
man army to protect the troops. This
is SO incredible that I must ask
whether it has any foundation of
truth?'
ut is quite true. It is barbarous
and fnhuman system Of protecting the
German advance. When the Belgian
soldiers fired on the enemy they killed
their own people. Again and again
Innocent civilians of both sexes were
sacrificed to protect the invading army
during attacks. A terrible slaughter Z"
There was much more to the inter-
view, but this part is the part that
concerns US now.
There is no surmise in the kings
statement. It is quiet, digni1ed, as
restrained as possible, bare recital Of
fact. On the right Of Germany to in
wade Belgium there may be differing
opinions. On the right of any army
pretending to civilization to so protect
it's advance there can be but one YER
dict.
The king of the Belgians had
spoken as a ruler and soldier. He
had himself fought with his army
those terrible rear-guard engagements
which could have but one end. He
himself had seen this thing, SO shock
ing that it is small wonder that
America heard it with incredulous
ears.
A kings statement and a mans.
How about woman who herself had
been among the last to leave Brussels,
and before whom, in the intimacy of
that small villa at La Panne, came
soldiers and refugee mobiles with their
stories of murder and debauch by the
invaders?
have never before broken the ST.
1ence Of my interview with Elizabeth,
queen Of the Belgians, that small,
frail and heroic woman who has lived
for three years under the roar Of the
artillery at Dixmude and Newport.
But the time has come to break that
silence. Not all can be told, but be-
cause an Infamous report has been
spread broadcast that Elizabeth of
Belgium sympathfzes with Germany, I
shall tell some of the things she said.
QUEEN TELLS OF HORRORS.
Again I quote from my notes, OF
| that interview:
'Tt is the women and children y
! she said. EFT is terrible. There must
be killing. That Is war. But not
this other thing
She could not understand American
skepticism on this point. She had
hut lust returned from England,
where in one convent % Belgian nuns
were enceinte by German soldiers. She
had visited them.
That to her was the most terrible
thing of war That these quiet women
living their devout and simple lives
should have suffered so grossly Devil
yiered and dazed her. Was there moth
inc. then. sacred to these invaders, not
even the church?
+T nm q Bavarian," she said. "
have always from my childhood heard
this talk that Germany must grow
must get to the sea. thought 1t was
i,1st ta1k-a pleasantly. And the lies
they have told about us! Inc 81"
nerOr has always pretended to be 81
FRIENDLY, and all the time"
She held out her hands express1Vely
-.Anvone who knows the king knows
that he cannot do wrong thing.
rs not possible for him. He cannot e
any way but straight"
Then she required to the invasion
and the terrible cruelties of the Ger
/ man army.
s:They were terrible she said
sesnecialfy what they have done q
vonnen and children. But more thar
anv men in the world the Germans are
i cruel To women. have seen them my
solf when they did not know VINO
i xuas-o1 trains sOmetimes-nOt Slnc'
tho war. of course. But the very wa!
+hev stare at women is OdiOus."
She fhoueht that this attitude O
the Germans explained many thnss
And she told me in detail revoitln'
stories of the proclamation OF churche
nnaer the pretext, totally unfoundeo
Hha+ the Belgian churches were store
he,,ses for arms. She told me. too, O.
the especfa1 cruelty they had shown T.
inr;ests and nuns; Of locking the priests
In churches and, after insulting Tn
altar. of killing them.
said it was difficult to say wha
amy army would be in an occupied
eo1,ntry. But she protested.
o&uN DIARIES CONVICT.
do yeu think the Be1glans woui'
have done such things? Never. Never
| Isolated instances might be possible
Ru+ the Germans have committed
thousands Of crimes. nave SAT- il
t1-.a ~7oru roam while the diaries o