The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-12-27
UNDER HUN
WAS LIVING HE'LL
Eng|ishman Tells of Four Years
in Bruges During 0ccupa-
ton.
CRUELTY OF kULTuR RULE
Determined Efforts by German officers
to Break Spirit of Belgian Resi-
dents Prove FutiIe-Fined
Unfortunately.

London.-Life under the German
heel is wildly portrayed in the diary
of Mr.. Humphrey Page, an English
man who lived four years in Bruges
during the German occupation. Events
are recorded showing determined at
tempts by the German officers to break
the spirit of the Belgian residents
proved futile. The qualifications of
kutur-rule also are shown. Here are
some of the events. sketchily told:
In September, 1916, the Bruges city
council was directed to find a speci-
fed number of workmen for the Ger
mans under penalty of $4,000 fine for
each days delay. All who refused to
work were imprisoned.
M. Schrauvune, leading attorney,
discussing this affair with Belgians
In cafe, said he would not work for
the Germans, and considered Bel
CLANS who did as towards. The next
day the attorney was summoned be-
fore the German commander fined
$3.50, sent to Sedan for six months
hard labor, but never was returned.
There were all sorts Of petty
tyranny. French and English adver-
tisements on buildings had to be re-
moved. Even printed funeral notices
In French were forbidden.
Ban on Kings Picture.
No resident over ten years old was
allowed to be in the streets without
passport containing his photo. 1t
was a punishable offense to exhibit
portraits of the Belgian king and
queen. German officers stood at
church doors to confscate coins, worn
as brooches or lockets, bearing the
likeness of the Belgian king.
No one was allowed to be on the
streets after p. m. Occasionally,
when the whole town was punished
for some alleged offense, every resi-
dent had to remain indoors after 6
p. M, an especial hardship for the
poor in summertime.
One of the sources Of income to the |
German overlords was fines inflicted |
on persons whose watches or clocks |
kept Belgian time, instead of Ger
man, as ordered by the kaiser.
An officer sent to inspect the con- /
vent of st. Andre, a girls school, re-
ported that the sister who showed
him around had q wrist watch show
ing Belgian time. The sister was
6ned $3.50. A Grand Place sh0pkeep-
Or was imprisoned three months for
telling an officer Belgian instead of
German time.
With the beginning of 1917 prices
# all commodities scared. A pound
# starch cost $3.50, an ordinary
candle 60 cents, ordinary shoes $15 to
go pair, re-soling same So, while
lress goods and flannels became SO
expensive only the wealthy could buy.
Food supplies were unsatisfactory
md the Germans did nothing to allie
late them.
In November, 1917, metals Of all
orts, especially brass and copper,
we're confscated, German soldiers
DING from house to house and build
ng to building to strip away the
1etal.
Uses Funeral for Propaganda.
On February 2, 1917, some German
lanes dropped bombs by mistake on
sruges. Won Buttlar commandant,
ecided the funeral of the victims
ould be utilized for propaganda pur-
oses. He got wreath and pho
ographer, and while the mourners
yere about the grave, made them line
o, put himself in the center and had
he scene recorded. On September 3,
917, allied airmen dropped bombs at
he Bassin and were fired at from st.
roix. Shells fell in Bruges, killing :
dozen people. The German officers
afused to allow funeral mass notices
} be posted unless the line KILLED
Y English Shells was added. The
elgians refused and the notices were
)rn down. :
Two Germans constructed bomb !
roof cellars accommodating 200 to {
600 persons each. While excavating !,
ley came upon 5000 hidden bottles !
wine belonging to M. Ganshof. The
Inc was taken without payment. ,
he bomb-proofs were for Germans s
Id people in small houses without !
liars had to take their chances at .
ght, although they could use the