Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-03
:: The Truth About Belgium =:
. BY BRAND WHTTLOCK


like to thing was not often failing.
There were always delicate ladies
whose country homes had been oc-
Cupiei; their stories we're chiefly
a repetition of the same acts Of
boorishness. but there was one about
that time whose husband had been
arrested by the Germans for some
petty offense. and taken away; after
many days OF Ignorance and uncer-
tainty. they reported 10 her that
he had committed suicide in prison,
which she did not believe, but sus-
pected a darker tragedy.
There was, too, the Chevalier Won
A. standing there in the hall one
morning Just released from the
Komma ndantur. where he had serv-
ed a six weeks sentence for hav-
ing written letters TO some one at
Havrr. He had come to thank me
for the effort l had made in con-
junction with Nillalobar to have
him released. The poor little cheva-
lier was much shaken by his expert
ence. and he had had. from all &C
counts. A terrible time. He was
confined in a room where there we're
no comforts or conveniences. with
all sorts and conditions of men.
many of them with loathsome dis
eases. After some weeks of this
he complained. and was then con-
fined with those who had what are
called nervous disea which
he said meant that they were half
mad: and that was even worse. so
that he nearly went mad himself.
''Et tout ca" he said. pour une
hetise." C(And all that for
trifle.")
was very sorry for the poor lit
tie fellow. The kommandantur was
a terrible place and long years will
not suffice to assemble and recount
all its horrors and injustices: some
of them will never be told, but be
lost in that dark Oblivion where
il hurried so many scores and num-
dreds of its victims. -
The new governor general had
not only reaffirmed all the assur-
ances given by Won der Goltz Pacha.
but when the Baron Won der Lam
cken returned from visit to
Berlin he brought welcome news.
On the day of his return when
conferred with him there in his Of
flee in the ministry of industry he
told me that the governor general
would enlarge the assurances given
by his predecessor. Not only Woulu
none OF the imported food stuffs be
seized. but no food stuffs OF any
kind that would have TO be replaced
even for their horses and cattle.
The governor general had already
issued orders TO that effect; ne was
ready to put it all In writing TOT
ms. and the baron concluded. spread
IN that
seemed to comprehend every facil-
ity:
"Yoa may establish any sort Of
control you desire
SAID of course that the word
of the governor general would be
sufficient, without any written en-
gagement.
Criticism of the c. r. d.
The new assurance came at
fortunate moment, for there was
criticism of the work outside, and
constantly reiterated statements
that the Germans were seizlnS all
the food brought in, and that the
work ought to be stopped. over IN
London, as the telegram was con-
stantly informing US, Mr.. Hoover
was having as great difficulties as
we were in Brussels. There were q
few petty souls who were saying
that il was wrong to feed the starN-
ing Belgians, because If they were
allowed to go hungry long enough
they would revolt against the Ger
mans. and they were saying that II
was an unneutral act on Americas
mart to feed them, since by so DOING
we were rendering a service to GER
many. not only by removing the dan
ger of Belgian revolt, but by relleN-
ing Germany of the responsibility
imposed by the conventions OF Inc
Hague.
II the Germans considered the
relief work as in any wise an aid
or comfort to them, they never said
50. in fact. everyone seemed to hold
to the view that in some way IL
was a great favor to the Americans
TO let them do the work; that u.s.
everyone save the Belgians.
The Germans were already begin
ming to show feeling against the
Americans; they resented the sell
ing OF munitions by the Amer
leans. which they always in
sisted upon representing as the sale
of munitions by America; and they
did not hesitate to bring up the sub
iert with almost any American they
met although none of the Americans
in Belgium then were, so far as |
know. manufacturing any munitions.
II this feeling against the Ameri-
cans was not allowed to show itself
in the attitude of the diplomats, IT
was shown by others to the dele
gates of the c. r. B.; if they were
not treated as spies. they were often
made TO feel that they were suspect
ed of being spies, or at least poten-
tial spies. The German officers with
whom they were oftenest brought
into contact seemed not to under
stand or not to appreciate the work
America was doing; perhaps 1t was
because they had an obscure SEN
sation that somewhere in the vast
scheme there was involved a certain
reflection on them, some vague re-
proach, though the Americans, IN
their carefully guarded neutrality,
tried 70 let no such sentiment APP
near Mr.. Hoover himself, in one OF
those frequent visits he. made TO
belgium, visits that involved the
uncomfortable and dangerous voy-
are across the North sea, went TO
see the governor general himself,
ana came away outraged in feeling,
threatening to withdraw from the
work and to leave the onus on the
Germans That interview concern
ed passports Git was before the
question vas settled), and about
the same time he had an interview
with a certain captain at the Pass
Zentrale, who said to him. point
blank:
What do you Americans get out
of this. I should like to known
Dir. Hoover looked at him an in
slant, and his eyes flashed, but ne