The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-02-11
Reports of Inactivity of
Army of Over-Run Coun-
try Not Based on Fact.
NATION IN EXILE
SPURNS PEACE
Holds It's Men in Trenches,
and Tries to Save People
Nearing Starvation.

benlIu bT1LlSn Lines IN FTance,
Feb. 10.-"I think that definite eff
fort should be made by Americans
to counteract the reports that are
being circulated about the inactivity
of the Belgian army and the disloy-
atty of the civili"r population of
free Belgium SAL Captain Won
Schaick. Jr., acting director of the
department for Belgium of the
American Red Cross in a statement
to the correspondent of the Associa-
ted Press.
81 knew the Belgians before the
war" said Captain van Schick 81
worked among them the first year of
the war and l have been in close as
sociation with their army, the gov
ernment and the refugees for the last
few months. These reports may be
a part of the German propaganda to
stir up trouble among the allies. 1t
is undoubtedly true that such a pro-
paganda has been used. They may
be simply the results of fatigue and
irritation incident to over three years
of desperate war. When i was IN
Holland | saw one process taking
place which may explain part of it.
quickly taking care of themselves.
They either went back to Belgium or
they joined the army, or they found
Jobs. or in other ways took the re
sponsihility of their own lives. Grad
ually the residuum left became worse
and -orse, composed of the feeble,
the shiftless. the criminal or similar
classe. In England such refugees
have out-stayed their welcome. In
England also the idle rich, few
though they be, have been spending
their money and giving a bad name
to their country.
with the army it is undoubtedly
true taht for many months it had
been held back from any advance by
the nature of the ground Immediately
in front, and by the necessity of wait
ing for the development of the plans
of the British allies Immediately to
the right; in all that time, however,
it has held its ground and done what
has been asked for it. / have met
many of the commanding officers,
from the minister of war and the
chief of staff down, have seen them
repeatedly, become intimately ac-
quainted with many of their subor
dinates and / have nothing but IN
tense admiration for these clean. up
standing, nOHOfdDle ana eHlClent
men.
"We were all carried away by the
intense admiration for the little army
which held the forts at Liege and for
the government which would not sell
its Lonor. We must not permit our
selves to absorb the opinion that this
government or this army would now
lie down on its job or taint that
honor in any way.
"We have German-America~ some
of whom undoubtedly are in the Ger
man spy system. We forget that
Belgium had German Belgians in
Belgium for commercial purposes,
many of whom are now in the German
spy system. They no more represent
Belgium than our traitors represent
us.
Here is a nation in exile, compelled
to live on borrowed money, forced to
depend on the good offices of its al
lies for almost four years, and yet
it still exists. 1t spurns the slightest
suggestion of a premature peace. Itl
holds its men in the trenches. 1t ]
tries to save its people in exile. 1t
plans for its afflicted people in oc-
cupied Belgium lest they starve. we /
must not eXaggerate the virtues. and /
most certainly not exaggerate the de- |
fects of the Belgians. They will meas
ure up pretty we'll with all the rest /
of US and great deal better than
some of us"