Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-10
=: The Truth About Belgium =:
BY BRAND WHITLOCK

Or STuSSels, III which II was Stipu-
lated: The indemnity thus paid
hy Greater Brussels he ng $1,000
0ro ira mes. II is understood that
there will not be imposed either di-
really or indirectly, any new con
tribution on the inhabitants or
Greater Brussels. In case. however.
that a Grim NAL attempt should be
made against the German troops
there viii be imposed on the COM
munes or the agglomeration, IN the
territory where the attempt was
committed. contribution, or some
other punishment.
Treaties Made to Break
This convention was negotiated
between ii. LcmonnieT, the acting
burgoaaster of Brussels. and Herr
Won Scnwabach. as the representa-
tive OF the German authorities. In
discussing the clause relative 40 the
criminal attack NJ. l.emonnier re-
marked 70 Herr Won SChwahach that
this clause should not be made to
CONVEX any deed OF violence except
one undertaken deliberately by
considerable portion Of the pcpula-
ton. that is 10 say, that il az in
sane person. or some assassin,
should strike at a German soldier. Il
should not be considered as Justify
ing the application of this clause.
Herr Won sch va bach stated that he
was absolutely in accord with TINS
view of the matter, that the clause
meant an attack on German troops,
and nothing else. s few days after.
however. i'm that same month OF Oc-
tober. a German detective or police
man in civil attire tried 10 arrest
a newsdealer and the newsde3ler re
sisting there was a scutfle. Two
Brussels policemen ran TO the scene
and in the scramble the German de-
tectivs was injured. Thereupon the
two Belgian policemen. de Ryckers
and Ceghers. were arrested, tried
before a German coUrt-martial be-
hind closed doors, without any one
10 defend them. and condemned 10
tnree years Imprisonment the
military governor. announcing this
condemnation TO the city authorities
of Brussels. wrote that de RyckerS
had been condemned for an assault
on a German fUnctionary. and Tor
having attacked a German soldier.
Therefore, because soldier had
been attacked. said the military gov
ernor. the punishment mentioned IN
article II OF the convention Of Octo-
Der 1e applied, and the city OF Brus-
sells was fined five million francs.
By A somewhat too evident coin
rident the five million francs was
precisely the amount by wnicG the
original contribution had been re-
duced. and as a final touch, almost
artistic. Rurgomaster Max. some
weeks before. having asked how
many detectives the Germans were
maintaining in Brussels, had been
officially informed by the German
authorities that there were no Ger
man policeman in plain clothes, 10
use our American expression) in
Brussels The soldier, or policeman,
was not in uniform.
The city OF Brussels OF course
protested: an inquiry had revealed
that the policeman had not injured
the German secret agent. and the
city cited the original convention,
claimed that even If the German
agent had been wounded. and b.
Brussels policemen, it could not. be
said that German troops had been
ATTACKED. because the agent was not
in uniform The German authorl-
ties. however, insisted, and the fine
was paid. VI. LemOnnier appealed TO
Herr Won Schwabach. VINO could only
reply:
Il regret il. but my personal
conviction can alter nothing"
This was the frst violation OF the
convention OF October. The second
occurred on October is when the
Germans imposed a war contribu-
ton Of four hundred and eighty
millions OF francs 90 the provinces
OF Belgium. TO he paid AZ the rate
OF forty-tvo millions a month from
that dav. The convention OF Octo-
Der L had stipulated that no FUR
ther contribution should be impos-
ed on the inhabitants or Brussels,
Brussels is in Brabrant and OF the
fifteen hundred thousand 'nhabl-
uauts in Brsbrant. seven hundred
and fifty thousand lived in Brus-
sells. and were obliged TO pay their
share OF the four hundred and
eighty millions. which was, as II
would seem 10 mos; minds. an in
direct method of filming once more
the c.iy or Brussels.
The third violation OF the con-
ventiou OF October - occurred on
Jauuar- Is. 1915. when the gov
erro- general imposed on hose
BeIgians who had left the country,
that is. on the refugees among
whom. of course were many innabl-
tants of Greater Brussels. tax
aouivalent to ten times l per
sonal tax they paid.
The fourth violation was that or
March u. 1915. when the city OF
Brussels was fined five hundred
Thousand marks for refusing TO re-
pair the road from Brussels 10 Ma
lines. And all this in addition 10
those contributions that were so
frequently imposed the COM
v,,unes under the form of condemna-
rion for dana ges which IL was sald
German citizens had sustained
when war was declared. TO DO TINS
easily and readily the governor
-eneral issued a decree changing
the Belgian law which made COM
n1ures liable in DANA Ses Tor the
work OF mobs, but that is another
story 70 be told later in depicting
the courageous and heroic conduct
oF Leon Theodor, the leader OF the
Bar OF Brussels.
There were many other contriou-
lions. When the German army ar
rived at Brussels. it demaded each
day. for the troops, eighteen thou
sand Kilograms OF wheat. ten thou
sand Kilograms of fresh meat six
thousand Kilograms OF rice. ten
thousand kilograms of sugar. sew
erty-two thousand Kilograms OF
oats. and similar acquisitions were
MADE in every city through which
German troops passed. At Louvain
the Germas reqUisitioned a quar-
ter OF a million francs worth OF
preserved vegetables; al Malines,
four million francs worth. In Elan
GERS and in part OF Hainut they
80 .zed nearly AL the horses and
beasts Of burden belonging 10 the
u 4