Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-06-25
6cOztinued froH. Last Issusl


~ HE Baron Won der Lansken had
dropped in that evening to
. inquire about Gibson, who
two days before had gone to Ant
werp with dispatches. tie had been
accompanied by the old Count
Woest, distinguished Belgian
statesman, just then experiencing
among his Belgian fellow citizens
the unpOpularity OF the pacifist in
times of war. He had asked for Il
seat in our motor and we had grant
ed the request without asking why
he wished To go TO Antwerp, and
when a little red-hGired German SOL
der, with his 'front.' teeth all gone
and a great gun on his back, had
come in the rain bearing Gibson's
passierschien. the name OF the Count
was on it, as was also that OF the
Marquis OF Faura, secretary of the
Spanish legation, whom Gibson was
TO bring back from Antwerp that he
might be at the bedside OF a dying
son. Gibson. excited with the pros
pect of adventure. had departed
with his aged companion, and the
Pacha had arranged an entr 'acte,
had agreed to leave of firing for 4
time, to allow them TO pass through
the lines. and they went bearing 2
napkin to use as a white flag-like
Napoleon III and his table cloth.
The Count had gone, as the event
proved. to see if his government
would be disposed to consider some
means. If they could be found, of
discussing terms. II was said by
the gossips that there were those
- 10 hnr
duty and that some sort of truce
was not impossible. Indeed, | had
had a call from three gentlemen,
Belgians, one of whom was con-
nected with the Brussels branch of
the Deutsche bank, who came to
me one afternoon-it was Wednes-
day, the I'd September-with some
tentative suggestion of conference,
an armistice. Monsieur D. told
me that the Germans had summon
ed the forts of Antwerp to surren-
der. and with great hesitation, and
with evident appreciation of the fact
that he was venturing on most dan
gerous ground. suggested some sort
of truce be arranged by the Presi-
dent. I could, of course. have moth
ing to do with such a delicate bust
mess i EOuAu OAA. CAbA0~h 49,
carefully the neutral position OF my
country and that l could make no
demarche on unofficial representa-
tons or without authority from
washington. And Monsieur D
wheeled into the discussion those
famous cannOn-a formidable ar
gument. to be sure,
Gibson was back in a day or two
xrhn hn--nVaT
much a pacifist. had shown no fear
OF the military movements they were
compelled TO drive through on their
return journey. but was as uncon-
eerued under fire as though he had
been a miIitarist. His mission. what
ever IL was, had been wholly fail
ure. and any proposal of discussion
or ARRANGEMENT he may have made
at Antwerp had been coldly received
and instantly refused.
II was a relief, but worry was
never absent long and it promptly
came in its protean form. as note
from the Duchess OF Sutherland,
written from the Hotel Astoria. a
hosiery which the Germans had
taken over. as they had the classic
Hotel de Bellevue ct Flandre and
most of the other hotels in Brussels,
TO be used as a club for officers
The note of the duchess was urgent
unprepared to find her under arrest,
and I went at once, not altogether
since one of the physicians attached
TO her ambulance had been in several
times from Namur to report the yarl-l
Gus difficulties the Germans were al
ready causing them there. She and
the nurses with her had remained in
Namur throughout the bOmbardment
of the 23d of August and during the
DAYS of the dreadful week that fol-
lowed. Afterwards the duchess had
taken her Red Cross establishment
In Maubeuge. But now Maubeuge
had fallen-we had had news from
James Barnes and from Commander
Gherardi of our navy. who had come
down from Berlin with German Off
GERS expressly to witness the reddi-
ton OF the city.
The Astoria had an empty air ana
the porter in his uniform was some
what subdued IN manner by the new
guests installed there. but he sent
me I'D at once 20 the apartments OF
the duchess. and at her door ! found
two uushaven and unkempt sentineis,
and. while doubtless not barbarisns,