Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-24
:: The Truth About Belgium ::
- BY BRAND WiITLoCK
CONTINUED from Last Issus)

lcSation in the hops of seeing
that the red. white and blue flag
was still there. il was also watch
ing the Italian legation, ever in the
Boulevard BischOffsheim. in the
hope of seeing that the red. white
and green flag had come down. The
interest in Italy had been for weeks
exceedingly keen. Crowds stood all
day long before the Italian lega-
ton. and before the residence of
Baron Resets. the Italian charge
d'afaireS. waiting for the moment
when the absence OF the flag would
indicate that Italy had joined forces
with the allies.
'I'Italie entrera-t-elle dams Ia
dause?" C''Will Italy enter the
dance?'l was the question that men
put to each other when they met.
The gossips could tell you of Resets
every movement: how often he went
10 see Won der Lsncken, or how
seldom: how he looked when he
came away. whether pleased or ill-
pleased: whether his monocle was
cody in his eye or dangling nerV-
ously by its cord; how Won der
I.ancken had treated him-and ali
that And they watched with eager
interest the movement of the drama
Inward its climax. Now the signs
were growing more and more de-
cisive. and with Italy--in the line
they felt the war to be all but
over. the victorious end in sight,
the king coming home. There was
something pathetic in the constant
reinsurance which they fostered, as
there is something tragic in the
retrospect OF their repeated deceD-
tions and cruel dissppointments.
But Al last the day came-the
flag was down. Italy had broken on
Diplomatic relations; Resets was
hacked up and ready 10 go; he had
applied for his passports.
Then Italy declared war. The
news came on Pentecost, when
every one was out of doors along
the boulevards. in the Bots, in the
Foret de Soignes, great crowds in
summer clothes-of a former sum-
mer. 10 be sure. but summer clothes
nsvertheleSs-and their wearers all
happy in the assurance of early
victory and peace. The people were
not allowed to celebrate the new al
lance. of course: they were not al
lowed to express their gratitude and
their sympathy with the Italians by
displaying the Italian colors, as
they would have liked 70. So. as the
latest expression of ia zwanZe
BruxclIoise," in all the shop win
dows there were eNpoSad quantities
OF macaroni. There wei those who
we're dreaming of new summer
clothes. and ST. MoritZ for August,
for il was said that the Germans
would now fall back along the line
OF the MauSe and abandon Brus-
sells.
The Germans posted a great blue
.'afhche" Cnoticel. complaining OF
Italy for breaking her treaties. They
were shocked by such immortality.
and enumerated all the advantages.
in the way Of territory belonging TO
Austria. that Germany had offered
her not 20 break them. But they
showed no sign of falling back along
the Meuse. over at German head
quarters one of the officers told
Villalobar that they had not de-
cided vet where 10 have their kom-
mandantur in Italy. whether at
FToreice or at Venice.
Isl jetais a votre place" said the
marquis, lie lie mettrais plutot d
Naples.'' eff l were in your place
I should put it rather at Naples
Then Brussels began to talk
ABOUT Roumania.
La Roumanie." they would say,
..va-t-elle entrer la danse?' t'Rou-
mania. is she going TO enter the
danceT)
And it was in the high hope
which the joining Of the new ally
inspired in them, and the prospect
- Of another new ally in Roumania'
that Brussels entered upon the
summer
The lovely chestnut gree which
We could see from OUR WINDOW,
acros sthe green OF the garden and
over the tiles OF the roofs. had shea
lis mink bloom. The white facades
of the closed houses glared in the
sun. Vt the Pslais des Academies
there were German convalesceuts
nasking in the sun. looking like
zanies in their costumes OF blue
and white ticking. At certain
maternity home extensive prepara-
tions were being made TO receive
the nuns from the converts IN the
eastern provinces Of Beigium-Vfc-
TINS of German soldiers; their hour
was approaching. When / met my
melancholy young German doctor OF
philosophy. who was so unappre-
ciated at German headquarters,
talking modify along the Rue
Ducsl. and stopped and asked him
how ne was. he shook his head
sadly and said:
Ca ne IA pas pien on Sc
tue 5artout-le monde est deVenne
.fou."
The governor general. who all the
sprinE had been seeking a chateau,
had found one at last--the chateau
of the Orbsns. "Trois Fcntsines,"
near Vilvorde-snd when the own
CT refused to reuJ II. had Tequ,SI-
toned il.
THE story ran in Brussels that
when the governor general onered
the owner OF the chateau one thou-
sand francs a month as rental the
owner replied:
II can accept no money from
YOU. If you want it you can, OF
course. take it by force"
Then" said the governor gem
eral. Il shall turn that amount
over TO the village of Niivorde for
But they will not accept ii,
either
Won Kissing then asked that he
nc assured that there would be no
interference with the "ster. Win
tho electric lights. etc.
~Fcan give Sou no such assur-
ance." Sid the gentleman. ~ on
must take your chances. I'm Bel
alan: I'm your enemy. II you don't
like II. send me TO Germany
And so the governor general turn
cd over the amount Of the rental
to the poor Of NilvoTde II do not
know whether IL was accepted or
%, ana re,sred To the "Trois