Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-22
BELGIAN SOLDIERS
Il GET PROPAGANDA
Hun ArpIanes Drop Leaflets
Into Trenches With Mes
l. ages From Home.
TRICK DOES NOT WORK

Accounts OF typical cases of German
propaganda among the Belgian SOL
diers in the trenches are furnished in
a statement issued by the Belgian
Information service in Washington.
The statement says:
For some time the Germans have
been dropping little illustrated leaf
lets into the Belgian trenches. They
are entitled Across Flanders but the
author and the place of publication
are not indicated. In one OF the latest
of these productions is an article en-
titled The Awakening of Our Towns
whose object is to persuade the Flem-
ish soldiers-in whose language it is
written-that over there at Client, at
Antwerp. life is sweet and good.
Phrases Bstray Authors
The ruse is too gross to require
comment Phrases such as the fol-
lowing defeat their object and betray
their authors:
With the Germany occupation a
spirit of order such as, thanks to the
negligence OF former governments.
we had never known has been intro
duced into the country. The
new light of Flemish autonomy shines
from all the belfries of the city
tGhenD. Little by little the people
are coming to realize that their town
may once more become what it was
be due to the German occupation, and
In spite OF threats from Havre.'
Photographs Even More Absurd.
But the photographs which illus
trate the articles are still more alb
surd- One shows a dozen urchins,
thinly clad. playing leapfrog: but all
the photographer. The street is
empty. though the picture is taken
In front of the Flemish theater in
oihent. usually very busy locality.
il is evident that the scene has been
faxed up for the occasion. Other
pictures show German soldiers buy
ing flowers in Brussels, some civilians
at a distance looking on; officers and
young women at a German military
concert: crowd in front Of St. Mich
oias Church in Client. Impressive
services for peace. In all the German
actors look posed and the civilians
turn away. 1t is curious how isolated
the German soldiers appear in
Brussels crowd, no one speaking or
looking at them. They are there, but
st is clear that they have no part in
the Belgian's life.
Silent on Forced Labor and Raids.
las for the sweet and happy life at
Client, what of the raids for men for
forced labor behind the western
front? How about the acquisitions,
even down to clothing, bedding.
lamps, etc, and the fines and punish
ments inflicted on Flemish towns for
the slightest manifestation of loyalty
n nat ry lot tr,n II ia
derS is farce, and u sinister farce
at that
-One day family of Flemish peas
ants received visit from Il photog-
rapher-apparently good sort and
kind hearted-for he offers his serv-
ices for nothing, or almost nothing,
sAnd. if they like, says he will arrange
TO send copy as souvenir to their
hoy i'll the army fighting on the other
side of the lines. He says he has Sc
That the boy will certainly receive
their photo.
There are few families under the
present circumstances in Belgium
who would refuse such an offer. He
seems all right. After all. it is only
10 do US a good turn and there can
be no harm in it The poor boy over
there will be so happy to get picture
! Of the old folks!
Dummy Food on Table.
and so, the father and the old
mother or perhaps the wife and young
children accept. The photographer ar
ranges the scene. He covers a table
with dummy food and empty bottles,
makes every one dress in their best
and takes the group, presently send
ing copy to the family. Shortly after
a sack of illustrated papers falls in
the Belgian trenches and is taken by
the men to their chief. often unopen-
led The officer opens it and finds re-
productions of the family group
Jrinted in Across Flanders Below
Them are faxed messages: N. family
at x: Dear Jean, we miss you so
much: NJ family at Y: Dear Pierre,
Jour pface is kept for you: o. family
at z: Dear Andre, it is so tranquil
hero while you are over there fighting
SGse tho English and the French
Belgian Soldier Not Deceived.
Tho soldier h mentioned not only
Ny name, but also by number and
feeg1ment- But the Belgian soldier is
mot deceived He is only irritated and
these things only increase his hatred
sDf the enemy. He showed this we'll
ttenough at Marckem, on April II, 1918.
Tho day before, in order to prepare
tthe ground for their attack the Ger
Smans had inundated the Belgian
trenches with their various appeals.
/. especially in Flemish. They were
4 none the less so cordially received
$ha,r no0 MAN l-;llad