New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
All Judges Resign
In Belgium Ouer
German Medd{iuo

Oftlclal dispatches from the Belgian
government received here and made
public last night indicate that all the
Judges and court officials in the occu-
pied territory of Belgium have resigned
as protest against German inter
terence with the administration Of ius-
tee Flemings and Walloons are
aroused to new heights of indignation
by the intrigues against the solidarity
Of the Belgian people. -
Inc crisis is the outcome of the Ger-
man attempt, long under way, to set up
an autonomous government in Flanders
Win the help of few previously un-
known Flemings.
lhese men, however, in spite of all
tnelr efforts and of the support of the
German authorities. have not been able
ti,ana 10 raIiy oa11 more than few hundred par
They assembled for one dav. Fehru-
ary 4, 1917, at Brussels, in so-called
Natlonal Flemish Lantag," created n
Councll of Flanders' of thirty mem
pers, which wNs to be permanent OK
ccutlVe commission, and sent their lead
ers as delegates to Berlin to prepare
with the German government the ad
mlnlstratlve separation of Flanders
from the rest of Belgium.
Calls Activists Nobodies
Camille Huysmans, secretary of the
Socialist lnternationale and one Of the
lew Belgian pacifists who fathered the
project of the Stockholm conference
among Belglans, characterizes the "Ac-
twists" as "nobodies." "They are non
existent" he says.
OF the seven delegates, two, Yer
nieuwc and Verhees, were formerly
minor officials Of the central adminis-
tration in Brussels; three others.
Borms. Lambrichts and Tack, were
formerly school teachers; another.
Dumon, is physician; the seventh,
Van der Brock. lawyer
These men went 10 Berlin and met
the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor
and other officials. They were accom-
panied by a German officer. Count Har-
rach, whose title as "Chief of the Po-
litical Division" at Brussels is sig
nifcant
A few days later, March 81. 1917, the
separation was effected. with the ad-
ministrative capital of the Flemish half
of Belgium at Brussels and that of The
Walloon part at Namur
The next step was taken January 20.
when the "Activists" assembled to
proclaim the political autonomy Of
Flanders.
Protest to Chancellor
On February l all the members Of
the Relgian Chamber and Senate.
Flemish as we'll as Walloon. who were
IN occupied Belgium, protested to the
Imperial Chancellor at Berlin against
these acts. On February 8. the Flemish
"activists,' 600 in number, attempted
TO celebrate this proclamation of Elem
ish independence at Antwerp. but. in
spite of the protection of the German
troops, they were Kissed by an I'M
mense crowd and some of them beaten.
On February the Court of Appeals
III Brussels ordered the Public Prose
cutor TO proceed against the "activistsv
for violation of Articles 1O4-1O9 of the
Penal Code, which forbids treason and
plotting against the form of govern
ment established by the constitution
The court Immediately ordered the
arrest of two of the leaders, Borms and
Tack They had been appointed Nom
oers OF the "Provisional Government
,f Flanders' by the so-callcd Council
If Flanders"
Germans Order Release
The Germans promptly ordered their
release and arrested the president of
he Court of Appeals and two of tho
cading judges.
The Supreme Court Immediately con
idcred the case. Intense excitement