Evening journal., 1918-12-31
BELGIANS give
HUNS OWN Dose
Fourteen Points Like Rules
Fixed by the
Germans
CRUELTY, THOUGH
NOT INCLUDED
by HAROLD EDWIN BEcHT0L.

Observation-Disclosures, Germany. Dec.
3i.-Germans in this Northern Rhine
district occupied by the little Belgian
army, are getting taste-but only a
taste-of how the Germans ruled Bel
gium for 80 months.
Let it be understood at once that
there is no cruelty and no vindictiye-
ness about Belgian occupation.
NO torturing Of prisoners and priests I
No shooting Of the populace
No desecration OF churches.
No wholesale looting
No stripping of factories
But the Belgian command here in
Gladbach has posted over the entire
district list Of IA rules-Belgiums a.
points, the soldiers call them-and
many of these rules follow almost TO
letter the German rules posted in Bel.
gfum for the conduct of the Belgians.
Somebody with an uncanny sense OF
justice conceived that pharaphrasing
idea. No cruel or oppressive German
rule has been used, only those that
govern the saluting OF officers and Of
the flag and which prohibit gun-toting
their homes after O'CLOCK
The Belgians are strictly enforcing
these rules.
The attitude of most of the Germans
IS sulky. They are poor losers. Dozens
OF Germans have complained TO me Of
the Z o'clock rule. They cannot go any
place or do anything as usual, they
wall.
told one German storekeeper that
1t was one Of the German rules in Bel
gium.
Zach, the war is over now," he re-
piled irritably
The Belgians hold frequent parades.
They march proudly down the streets
of Gladbach and other towns behind
flying flags and banners and with bands
playing "Brabanconne" and the Mar
seillaise"
The residents are not permitted to
forget how gravely Germany erred in
believing she could crush and German
ize and absorb her little neighbor-Bel-
gium.
In Aix-la-Chapelle, a black box hangs
over the statue Of Wilhelm lover
horse and all. 10 has been there since
the big military review of the French
and Belgians and Americans.
Allied banners and pictures OF allied
heroes are everywhere.
The little eBlgian army is proudly
conscious Of its victory After news Of
the armistic was received most Of the
battle fronts quieted down. In some
places Intermittent firing continued, in
others there was not shot, but on
the Belgian front. when the news came,
the guns let loose and fired continu-
ously until exactly II o'clock, when The
armistice became effective. This was
told me by an Ohio officer who was
fighting alongside the Belgians near
Ghent.
] have taken notice of what the Bel
gian soldiers talk about as they go
about their duties in the occupied
region. 10 is not of the days Of Ger
man occupation, but of the days Of
1914, when they fired the first shot
against the outlaw invaders and bled
and were pushed back fighting, but de-
layed the incoming Germans until the
line behind was formed
But, most OF all, these Belgian SOL
diers talk Of the future, in which. il
the peace congress does its work well,
Belgium's destinies will never again be
q matter of European convenience.
They talk of a future in which they
can restore their country, with the as
surance that the days Of Belgium as
4 cockpit are gone forever.
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