Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-05
The Truth About Belgium
CONTINUED from Last IssaO
BY BRAND WHITLOCK


had had, We never could have accom-
plished what we did; the monstrous
task would have appalled, US. Just
then that autumn evening it meant
zsArely that there were certain stores
OF wheat in Antwerp; there were
armies between us and Antwerp, but
If we could get the wheat through
all would go we'll for those anony-
nous poor who were hungry. AS for
our being hungry, the thought was
inconceivablei went then at once
that evening to see Won der Lancken;
the question was, how to communi
cate with the Belgian government in
the beleaguered city. Won der
Lancken was entirely sympathetic.
Sitting there is that great bureau in
the ministere de Horticulture We
talked across his great table. The
question, as l say, was to commun;-
cate with Antwerp.
1T is simple" said Lancken.
How"
Max can communicate with Ant
werp," he replied quietly.
How" 1 replied.
There was a shrug OF the shoulders
in the gilt epaulettes, and the trace
OF a smile. But such a request to
Max? No, not that. Max's means of
communication were then the i'm
portant thing, And came away.
saw Won der Lancken the next
morning; he still thought 1 should
ask Max to communicate; there were
rumors of a secret telephone of some
sort But I refused to ask Max. The
next afternoon ] suggested that mas
much as we seemed unable TO agree
on Max we compromise on Gibson
and send him 10 Antwerp-he knew
the way: and during several days the
baron and I tossed the two names
back and forth with the most amiable
persistence: and finally he agreed to
Gibson's going The journey as
planned this time was not dangerous;
the German army was investing Ant
werD too closely and the battle was
raging too iercely for him to 60
directly; he would have to turn, as
II were, the German right flank from
the rear-a thing that your military
man would say could not be done
that is. 90 around by Maestritcht
into Holland and enter Antwerp from
the north. And as he was going this
WY we decided that it was best to
take advantage of the opportunity
and seLd OUT the two old ladies with
him. We ISd been concerned about
them. there was 200 much danger II
the air: no one ever knew. The
recollection OF the mother OF Madame
PouIIet. who, at eighty years of age,
had walked all night all the way from
Iouysin into Brussels, was ever pres
eut and too suggestive; and there
we're always those horrid tales OF
what happened whenever the Ger
mans were checked anywhere--foT
Belgium not only suffered from Ger
man Victories but paid the penalty
of allied victories, too. We would
be easier with the dear old ladies
away, sad = we were to see them go.
They had been so fine, so brave;
never a word OF fear, playing cards
in their room. keeping away from the
windows lest IL the Care de Luxenl-
bourg. half a block away, should he
blown I'D by bombs from some air
craft the pieces fly that way; taking
pointed OF their trip TO Paris-like
the Germans.
And so. IL was agreed that Gibson
should go with them in the motor TO
The Hague and leave them there
while he went to Antwerp to arrange
for sending through the whest, then
rejoin them and escort them to Lon
don. We asked for the passieI-
schiens.
Misunderstandings Grow.
While we were engaging in the
first negotiations for the reyictual-
ing OF Belgium another curious and
complicated series OF events were
mounting TO the climax that had
been inevitable from the beginning;
the duel d'espTit between the Bourg-
metre and the Germans was rapid
" approaching an acute phase. When
Max's affiche asking his "Chers CT
toyens" to make one further sacri-
ice, to take down their flags and TO
await the hour of reparatiOn, was
covered that night with white paper
by the military authorities, this did
not close the incident, for Max vas
arrested by the German authorities.
The commandant of the place, Major
Bayer. had appeared at the Hotel
de Vile with four German soldiers
and informed him that he was under
arrest.
''Je m'incline." C"I SUBMIT Max
replied, and so went en- gallant
homme to be informed that ne was
a prisoner and would be sent to Ger
many.
Max bowed He said:
ct regret, Of course, that l cannot
continue to discharge my duties to
the end, but / must submit How
ever, / have the satisfaction Of hav-
ing done my duty. You told me at
the beginning that you wished 70
avoid trouble and difficulty in Brus.
sells; know the temper OF my people
better than you do, and IL ! had not
interposed myself between you and
the population Of Brussels we should
have had bloodshed here. Therefore,
/ cannot regret having done what /
did. am glad, too. that up to this
time when my authority ends, we
have had peace here Now that you
have made me prisoner. I find Ger
tain relief in the fact that ] shall not
be responsible for what ocurs here
after
General Won ,LuttwitZ started he
had not forescen such a result and
he said. wait a minute" and went
away At the end OF a quarter of an
hour he came back, having seen the
L, e.SH