The Big Sandy news., 1918-02-08
8ELGlANS EASILY
OUTWlT GERMANS
Hugh Gibson Says Governor Gen.
eraI Gets Suppressed News
paper Regularly.
SPIRIT REMAINS UNBROKEN
stupid Proelamatlons of German Conn
maneers Cause Much Amusement
Among 8elslsns-says Stories
OF Atrocities Are All True.

New York.-Up TO the entrance OF
the United States In the war against
Germany. approximately 5000 BEL
gian civilians had been shot, taken
into Germany as prisoners, or nned TOT
offending the German authorities In
Belgium ln various ways, according TO |
Hugh Gibson. former secretary OF the
American legation at Brussels ana NJ
present chief OF the division OF foreign
intelligence OF the state department,
described with many poignant details
the sufferings Of the Belgians and the
lrrepressible and buoyant spirit OF the
people, which, he said, has not been
Quenched by the Teuton Invaders.
The stupid proclnmatlons OF the Ger
man commandants posted daily and
oftener on the bulIdlngS and boardings
OF the streets Of Belgian cities caused
the population considerable amuse-
ment nj FIRST, Mr.. Gibson said, until
II was announced from German head
quarters that any one seen laughing
arouud an official bulletin would be Sc
yeroly punished. Thereafter persons
reading the bulletins would mufiie
themselves up In neckcloths that con-
cealed half their faces and laugh 10
themselves.
All the Belgian newspapers were
suppressed. and the population re-
ceiyed It's news from publications Is
sued by the Germans, which told OF
their military victories Mr.. Gibson de
clared.
Papers Published Secretly.
"In spite Of this fact. the Belgians.
under the very nose of the governor
general, published clandesine newspa-
pers," he continued "The governor
general would get hIs copy regularly.
Sometimes he found II under his plate.
sometimes Il came Into his home with
the vegetables, sometimes II was
mailed 10 him In mn official envelope
Of the German military headquarters
Itself, but. In spite of the fact that he
offered 10000 marks for information
lending TO the arrest OF those con
eerned in publishing the paper, II
ayaIled him nothing. and when ! left
II was reported that every time he
saw copy of one Of the Belgian Sc
cret newspapers De feil into a tan.
trum."
English and Dutch newspapers were
smuggled into Belgium, Mr.. Gibson
continued. though copy OF London
paper sold ms high as $50 at ume
when the German authorities were do
Ing their utmost 10 stop the uiug-
Cling The papers smuggled In were
rented by the hour and the owner
would Sit on mhn's doorstep until
he had finished II, when ne would pass
II on To receive another fce from the
next customer Mr. Gibson referred
to Cardinal MERCER ns 'the splendid
old figure whose work has nndone the
inbors Of mahy German army corps"
The stories OF arson. pillage murder.
torture. and mutilatiqi committed by
the German invaders are all too true.
according to Mr.. Gibson. The true
story. no said. VIII not be told until
the Germans have been driven oot OF
Belgium aud northern France. when
the population Of the invaded districts
viii show the world the proofs Of the
German atrocities
German sples Poorly Paid
The hordes OF spies hired By the
Germans are for the most part poor
and nj paid. according TO Mr.. Gibson.
who said TINT he had the honor Of
having one assigned 10 follow him CON
.stantly. The man would stand In front
Of Gibson's house In all sorts Of wealth
er md would scan the visitors. Fre-
quently Mr.. Gibson would inform the
spy that he might leave, as he was
not expecting any more vlsitors.
Members of the secrstsry's stan would
uso the spy as messenger. and would
bestow liberal tips on him In rsturDl
for fetching cigarettes and othsr ar.
ticlss.