Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-30
:: The Truth About Belgium ::

BY BRAND WHITLOCK

bEAEA1uSs anu IL nau pO4S-
nant significance for his people in
that tragic year of 1914 The news
OF the horror OF Roulers had just
come 10 town. another Louvain in
the fury of its vengeance on the
civil population because the Bel
gian army had again blocked the
path of German Imperialism. The
king-down there on the battle line
in the far corner OF the land, fight
ing with his men behind the User.
whose yellow waters had flooded
western Flanders. older. as Arno
Dorsch, who had seen his majesty
at Furnes. could describe him to US.
moustache grown long, a fixed sad
ness in his face and a steady fame
in his eye, somehow like a viking:
and the little queen, quite simple,
going about on errands of mercy. a
romantic picture-was never so near
10 the hearts of his people. And
Brussels was arranging a demon
stracon. The people wished it TO
assume the solemn form of a high
mass al Ste Gudule, and the word
was whispered about; everyone was
going. But the Germans got wind
OF that. as OF everything. and for
babe IL and there was no high
mass. So everyone went. instead.
20 low mass, an enormous crowd
that trooped in out OF the rain
mixed with snow that was falling.
TO III the old grey church and stand
in silent masses in the aisles while
the low mass was said. and then at
the end TO shout the passionate:
'Svive lie Roi. Vive Ia Belgique."
At the Church OF st. Boniface a
Belgian flag was displayed and
German soldier tore IL down The
Hivre dor at the house OF the grand
rnarechzl. in which people were TO
sign for the king. was seized by the
German police. Two boys who
shouted 'svive la Roi" were arrested
and. since nothing was too insignffi-
cant TO pass Unnoticd. the little son
OF the Countess de Buissaret was
arrested for making goose steps in
the srtset while squad OF German
soldiers was passing. The countess
was an American and il required
a week of effort 20 have the lad re-
leased from the Kommandantur.
And I heard of a man who was
arrested pour svoir regarde une
dame aIIemande avec insolence dams
Ia rue" C'For having looked inso-
iently at a German woman in the
street")
some one was always being ar
rested: the Politzei in their helmets
and boots. with their brassards and
long bayonets, arrested high ana
lev from the wife OF the grand
narechaI OF the court down TO the
man who, sinking by in the twi-
hight. offered me the Times for sale.
The Oldest and proUdest names IN
Belgium were, on the roll or patrl-
OTIS
The Germans began. too. the seiZ-
ure OF property, not only puO'iS
but private They closed the gates
Of the lovely Pare, designed Oy
thinner in 1TT4. with its lofty trees
is nreasant alleys, its fountains
.p6 statues, where Brussels loved
% letter and listen to the music
ard where the children played II
u-as all changed; in the place re-
~n-ves aux ieux 6'enfants C'cnll-
dren's pIay-ground') officers eXer-
rissd their horses. Already IN the
,-fTIsres and suburbs they were seiz-
i1v bronze and copper-even the
5oor knobs and kitchen utensils
The directors of the Banque Ma
,,oh.Ie were subjected to the nrst
~ a long series of vexatons' IN
-evsnxe for the action OF the oahA
in removing all of it's treasury
20 Antwerp and thence to England.
rrber, the Germans began to arrest
tbose members OF the Garde Civique
-ho bad considered il point OF
:. rriotis-, not 10 report to the Melo-
camp in obedience to the herman
order.
There was trouble about our
courier from Holland, VINO was
uavs being arrested or stopped anu
searched by the military authOrlIles'
there were troubles about the post
the Germans were opposed TO our
carving letters from anyone out
Them. and when the military heard
.bat a Belgian had sent word TO
friend in Holland to send his let
,ers in care of the American lega-
tior they thought that was con-
elusive evidence that we were re-
refvfu- and delivering and pespatcn-
ing letters. We finally arranged the
AFFAIR OF the post satisfactorily. the
courier going into Holland in a mo-
tor with a German soldier on the
box carving the pouches OF the
Soarish. Dutch and American lega-
,fors and though the service was
now and then interrupted, as a mill
tarv necessity. the Germans always
scrupuIously respected the seals on
our pouches- 1t was hard TO refuse
the moor folk who wished to send
letters TO their friends and reia-
rfves outside. but having given word
not 10 forward any letters the con-
stand refusals became one OF the
hard tasks of each day. They could
see no reason why one should keep
ones word when IL had been given
20 a German, which shows what
example will do.
But all these troubles faded, into
nothing one night late in November
when a message came from WASH
inEton in these words:
Your despatch Of September 20,
1914. referring TO conditions IN
Brussels since its occupation by the
Germans, has been received and
read by the department with much
interest The department informs
you that the patriotic and efficient
way in which the numerous dim
cuIties that have arisen during the
past few months in Belgium have
cen met In appreciated"
One afternoon the Marquis OF VII
lalobar. whose pretty red and yellow
flag. with the royal arms of Spain,
rluttered so gaily about Brussels on
its various errands. came in with
an important gazette. Won der Goltz
had gone to Constantinople and was
tn be superseded II was sur
prise because for days Turkish
--saces had been in Brussels and
CTsre had been wonderful dinners
and fetes in the dining halls of the
r--.-.--- L.. .a-.-- -.-l.a-a .hn DaEka