Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-30
Special Gable to Evening Public Ledge,

brugee)
The stars and stripes was the first
Allied fias flown in Bruses In the CEN
trail square after the German evacuation.
II was hung out by an American
artist, $. Arlent Edwards, inventor Of a
lor engraving process, VINO has been
living in Bruges for the last Ave years
We had been anxiously expecting the
arrival of the Allie. for twenty -four
| hours" said Mr.. Edwards to your cor
respondent, .. and had prepared to strins
fhe flag. and had arranged with the
proprietor OF the house opposite my
| square-the Germans seized my house
as soon as America entered the war---to
hang 1t across.
| Il was awakened at G 80 o'clock Sat
urday morning by tremendous cheering
| and. looking out of the window, saw 81
| Belgian private surrounded by an ex.
cited crowd. 7 dashed across in o
dressing gown and had the flags up five
| minutes later. Then we hung out a
| copper kettle, the largest brass object
| hidden from the Germans. At first the
people didn't understand the reason
Then they caught on and very soor
there was a display OF brass and cop
| per at every window"
| Mrs Edwards gave the correspondent
| the hospitality OF bedroom and q
| delicious dinner in the newly liberated
| town--ham and eggs-almost the las
l. Of huge store long prepared-wholt
meal bread made of flour ground al
night. in coffee mill from smugglet
grain hidden at the bottom of an Amer
lean steamer trunk; home made jam
smuggled' butter. coffee and sugar witt
| condensed milk.
Felt Prussian Domination
Like most inhabitants Of Bruges. the
Edwards family had not suffered per.
| sonally from the Germans, but had been
made to feel the weight of Prussiar
domination nevertheless. During the
|, first three years Of the war the Ger
mans had not molcsted them at all, al.
though they were forced to obey the
regulations az to being indoors after
dark and producing papers at the field
gendarmerie at regular intervals.
Mr. Edwards had obtained docu-
ment bearing the official stamp from
the American consul at Client, stating
that his house was the property of an
American citizen. which he affixed to
his courtyard door. Gradually the inn
preston spread among the poorer. pop
sui and now he is known throughout
the city.
Constantly during the first three years
people used to ask his advice and help
in difficulties with the invaders. ana
he was able to redress many grievances
by an appeal to the German chief or
police. who behaved with cold courtesy.
Mrs Edwards was a member OF the To-
cal relief committee. and the couples 8
presence in Bruges undoubtedly contrib
uted to relieve the German yoke.
But when America entered the. war
there came an abrupt change. On the
following day q file of marines appeared
with a curt announcement that the house
and its contents were requisitioned and
that the family might take its cloth
ing, but must leave within two hours.
Mrs. Edwards was Ill in bed and with
utmost difficulty her husband obtained
forty eight hours of grace. during which
time sentries. were posted with ioaded
rifles at all the doors. He also got
leave to take his own work and mate
rails, books and papers. desk ana three
or four pieces of furniture. but the rest,
including his automobile, was pitilessly
seized.
Furniture Il Smashed
After eighteen months OF German oc-
cupation the house was in deplora-
ble condition. The furniture, glassware
and china were not only smashed. but
pictures stolen and slashed to ribbons
or torn from the frames, and there
was appalling dirt and disorder every
where Once. when the breaking OF
woodwork and crockery was clearly aud
ible by the neighbors, Mr.. Edwards was
told roughly:
you damned Americans should have
kent out Of the war. You are lucky
| that we don't smash you instead OF your
furniture"
F,ortunately. the family anticipated
| trouble and had laid in ample stores OF
provisions in the cellar Of friend and
hidden a quantity of .copperware and
some choice pieces from china collec'
| ton.
After America began fighting no let
| ters might pass nor was one obtainabie
but French and English newspapers
l ca me regularly. over fortnight late
1by an underground route.
! Though the relief committee func
toned admirably. II was smuggling that
l proyided the greater part of their food
To get milk, Mr.. Edwards wore specia
belt with a row of tiny bottles. which
| were filed at a farm on the outskirt!
OF the town. and walked back unmo
Tested. The trick was widely copied
and one day he learned that the German
sentries had orders to pass their hand.
4 over the persons OF those entering th'
town: and then condensed milk became
a general necessity, though fresh mill
was still smuggled occasionally. Th'
Germans tried To keep the milk To-
themselves by sending soldiers to mill
all cows twice daily. The Belgians re
piled by milking the cows at night ant
when the boches arrived the COW wal
nearly dry.
Greed Of Invaders
Especially during the last year thu
greed of the invaders increased Snug
Cling enormously. By, collusiOn with &
German inspector, one COW was requisi
1 Homeland paid for in cash-thirty diff
| ferent times, each time the farmer split
ting the proceeds hfty-ffty with the in
spector, who passed part Of the graf
| to his superiors. according to the bes
| low-brow traditions.
Another farmer had pig which fol
three long years never passed the weight
/ of sixty kilos. Sometimes a German
would remark on the perennial youth