New-York tribune., 1918-11-18
Burgomaster Tells
OF Reds Outbreak
In Belgian Capital
Committee Came From Ber-
lin and Arrested Ger
man Governor
Civilians Join Rioters
Brussels Mayor Refuses to
Recognize Authority of
Revolutionists

WITH THE ALLIED ARMIES IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM, Nov. II (By
The Associated Press The Burgo-
master of Brussels, NJ. Lemonnier, gave
to the correspondent the following
story of the revolution on Novem-
Der 10:
81 was informed that German sol
diers were making manifestations in
tho streets, setting prisoners free and
threatening their officers. The officers
resisted, but the manifestants over
came them. 1t was also reported that
there was to be meeting at the Place
Poelaert. arrived there at $3.50
o'clock and found crowd of between
five and ten thousand German soldiers
surrounded by crowds of curious Bel
gians.
"a non-commissioned officer and
group of German soldiers on motor
car were displaying an enormous red
flag and 4 bouquet of white flowers.
Many soldiers wore white brassard.
| was told that they were committee
of soldiers and workmen, organizing
a manifestation. Just as a noncom
missioned officer was concluding a Wig
orous speech an Allied airplane ap-
peared above and German anti-aircrafJ
guns opened fire, and at each shot,
which obviously missed the airplane,
the German soldiers cheered with
satisfaction.
Trample Own Flag
"After further speeches, the troops
formed a procession and marched to
the representatives Of the German
government in the Rue Regence Here
they trampled down a German flag. The
procession continued through other
streets, and by now quite a number
of red flags had been secured.
Arriving in the Rue Roi, | found
the place black with people. Unfortu-
nateIy. | must say, there were num-
bers of Belgians singing the "1nterna-
tionale." The Germans had invaded the
Governors hotel and hoisted the red
flag from the balcony.
Meanwhile | visited the Governors
offices and found them vacant. l then
went to the Hotel de Vile City HalD.
and, observing our workmen apparent
ly beginning to fraterniZe with the
German manifestants, thought it right
to give them some good advice.
AT this moment a young man with a
white brassard on his arm entered and
asked in behalf of the Soldiers and
Workmen's Committee that |, as bur
gomaater, should go to the Soldiers
and Workmen's headquarters at the
with them ] replied that | could not
recognize the authority of the COM
mittee.
Governor Arrested
+ "He responded that the committee
came from Berlin and had arrested
General Won Falkenhausen, the mill
tary governor, and other authorities in
Belgium. The committee desired to
avoid violence, especially as it had been
learned that civilians had bought arms
from German soldiers. A long colloquy
enSued, at the end of which he said the
committee wished to see me because it
desired to restore to the Belgians all
their rights.
Il replied that as burgomaster
must remain at my post at the Hotel
de Vile and could not visit the COM
mttee. He then withdrew and the
manifestations continued in various
parts OF the city. In addition to red
flags, British and American flags were
waved and the "Marseillaise" was sung
Unfortunately a large number of Bel
gan and French were still manifestine
with them.
Meanwhile the Spanish Minister as
sured me that the committee had beer
sent from Berlin, and when a delega
: ton from it came to visit me at the
hotel | declared that made myself re
sponsible for order among the civilians
but that they for their part must b,
responsible for order among the sol
diers."