Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-11
MANY bELG|ANs EvADE
HUNS TO JOIN ALBERT
Enemy Has Long Kept Closest Pos
sibic Guard Over Holland
Frontier.
SOME THRlLLING ADVENTURES
Young Men, Taking Their Lives in
liici: Hands, Escape in LarG.
Number by Every Possible Route
10 Iklp Fight for Freedont.
Bl EMILE; CAMNAERrS,
The famous belgian Poet.

BY EMILE CAMMAE;RTS,
The famous BeIginu Poet.
Interra, iouai News Burcau)
Thcr. Is. besides the western front.
another zone OF tragedy. heroism. and
known TO the public From the sandy
shore OF The North Sea I" the hills OF
the Mouse IL stretches over miles OF
swaInps and fields along the frontier
separating Belgium from Holland. We
hnoH' Very lizzie Of tho unequal con-
test which is waged there. every day.
between the Belgian patriots and ;ncir
German gloi.rs. We realize vaguely
That ia" crossing .: the wire erected
ali along the liue Is made suilicicntly
people irom seeking refuge abroad, but
we httle realize that about so per
in occupied Belgium. the great add
venture perish in the attempt. or
are sent - prison ana deported to
Il seems a pity that las aspec. Of
Belgian resistance should have re-
manned 50 long in tho dark. ana That
me full story 81 the 30,o0G young man
who braved al! obstacles to join King
Albert's army and OF the thousands
OF men and womcn who at;empted to
escape from the clutches of German
oppression. For Il contains many epi-
sodes which should prove just ;;s thrill
ting AZ the most Inspiring tale from
the trenches. Gnnappily. and for OH
rious reasons. il is :, subject on whirh
it is better 70 sly TOO little than TO-"
jeoDardizc the chances OF further cS-
capes or even increase the risks OF the
enterprise. We must therefore ba very
grateful 10 Mr.. Mcl0t. a nigh official a:
lie Have. who, after Il careful perusai
of official reports, has recently pub
Rslrinuc." which. without giving any
Information 20 the cnemy. allows us.
at :,ny rate. t" understaan me loyaitE
and stcadfas'ntsS OF the Bcic who
"a. ..-rv
OF their prison.
During the first months Of the oe-
cape into Holland. hut the informa-
ton received in Relgiurn at the time
gave the people tn" wrong impression
that victory was close AT hand, ana
that. Within 4 fe~ months. King Al
bert would $c-enter his capital The
victory or the Marine and the commsn-
fortified this belief. Under the circum-
stances many men postponed their de-
parture until the obstacles put in their
way by the German authorities became
almost insuperable.
Ei:CJME MUCH morn:
DIFFICULTY TO ESCAPE
What are these obstacles?
Quite apart from the Legitimate
hositations which the Belgiars might
feel in leaving their families under
foreign yoke and exposed t. the
rnrnr"'s reprisals, II has become. with
IN the last three years. more and more
fugitive stpu, il: "The greatest Diff
Guilty is not so much to cross the
frontier as to reach it. Every man OF
military age must report twice a month
to the Mcideamt. that the disap
pearancc of any man is soon reported
Ia the frontier authorities. Everybody
mus, he registered and produce his
identity card when asked for it, AS
such a control is exercised III the trains
and trans. in the railway stations and
on all main roads. and AS. besides.
D Il II l,f.t
permit. IL becomes exceedingly dill
cult 10 reach the frontier zone Those
VIII" try to do so must avoid villages
sleep in the folds and are often reduced
70 starvation when :heir small pro-
visions are exhausted.
When the patriot has trainped the
distance which separates his home
from the frontier zone. avoiding guards,
patrols and spies under various dis
Euises, who increase in number and
journey, he finds himself confronted
with a treble barrier OF barbed and
electrified wire. Tho following is the
description given in one of the reports
First, a fence of barbed wire eight
feet hieh: two yards further, fence
still. another fence similar 10 the first.
If the top wire OF the second fence is
even slightly touched. an alarm bell
rings in the neiGhbo:ing posts. Even
Instance. the treble barrier runs UNI
interrurtedly. emerging about yard
above the water. Scntries are posted
every fifty yards. and patrols make
their rounds many times during the
night. Beyond the treble barrier
which runs on the Beigian side OF the
frontier there is zone about half =
mile wide which is swep, by machine
gums. and in which the seurchlighta
can locate any fugitive. This zone ii
often crossed bv natural obstacles. such
as rivers. marshes or canals, which i'm
pcde the flight"
The difficulties are so great that
some prefer TO reach HOLLAND Indirect
~ through Germany. since the Dut CHI
German frontier is not so strongly
guarded. \ great number of Snug
Glers. Tor whom the German scutrics
show an exceptional indulgence do the
journey every night, and may serve as
guides 10 the fug.tives. ON the other
hand. voyage through Germany pre-
sents 4 considerable danger for any
one who is nol familiar won the Ian
guaGe, SO that the real front OF battle
remains along tho Dutch Belgian bor-
der.
ALL PoSSIDLE NIEASUHES
TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES
All the measures which human in
genuty can contrivc have been usc,,
to overcome the obstacles At III.
beginning. of the occupation il was
sill! possible 10 smugsIc men in carts
or under various DISCUSSES \ ,ozrI,
of them succeeded. for instance Il,
trossing the frontier. III closed butch
er's cart. When the conductor was