The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-24
DEVOTED BELClANS GIVE LIVES TO SAVE
"HICHER- UPS" IN LOYAL ORGANIZATION
lRy A..ociated Pressl

(By Associated Press)
BRUSSELS, March 24.-Stories of
heroism, patriotism and devotion Of
Belgians during the German occupa-
ton are continually coming to the sur
face of the miasmal pool Of intrigue,
treechery and seldshnees which the
Germans left behind in Belgium.
How two men gave up their lives
would have lasted twenty years had
the Germans been victorious, that the
man higher up" might live and con-
tinue managing the underground or
ganizaticn which was sending valuable
Information out Of the occupied coun-
try has now been related to the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent by the
man whose life was saved by their
sacrifice.
Adolphe Buyl, liberal member Of the
Belgian Parliament, Alderman Of the
Commune Of Ielles in the city Of Brus-
sells, Is the man for whom two men
died and who for four years conduct
ally in the fear Of execution by the
Germans.
Late in 1914 the Germans had not
organized the Dutch frontier with that
murderous efficiency which sent to
their graves many young Belgians at
tempting to cross into Holland. Buyl
had access to the seals of the munici-
pality and every evening in various
out Of the way cafes, twenty, thirty,
sometimes as many as fifty young men
would assemble, reaching the place
singly and by devious ways. The seal
of the municipality was there in the
hand Of different man every night
Passports and Identification blanks
were there. and the young men would
emerge from the cafes supplied with
proper, or rather improper identified
ton and make their way into Holland
and thence join the Belgian army bat
thing on the User, More than one thou
sand men were sent out between DC.
tober, 1914, and February, 1915.
Then the Germans became aware
of the leak and the frontier was her
metically, electrically sealed and the
work became more dangerous and
difficult. Guides had to be provided
generally smugglers Of gasoline and
other commodities across the Dutch
border-who for a consideration aver
aging fifty. francs for each man, would
pilot them across the frontier Rub
Der gloves and wire cutters were nee
essary tools of their trade and many
a German sentry was found by his
relief with knife sunk deeply in his
Cnroat and lying alongside break in
the wire fence.
Protected Man Higher Up
At no time were there less than
100 men engaged in the work. They
included railway station masters,
crossing tenders, mail carriers, cafe
keepers and many others in humble
walks Of life, all volunteers DESTROYS
of serving their country, even at the
risk of being stood against hte wall
and shot, and as matter OF fact,
many of them were. But at no time
did more than two or three men en-
gagged in the work know that Buyl
was the man higher up"
The first member of the Organiza-
ton to be taken by the Germans was
PHILIPPE Baucq. whose arrest was SIM
ultaneous with that of Edith Cavell,
the English nurse whose execution by
Germans sent thrill of horror
throughout the world. Baucq was shot
on October IL, 1915, with the brave
English nurse. Miss Cavell, however,
was never charged by the Germans
with espionage, but with aiding Bel
gians and others to escape from Bel
GUM.
Baucq was succeeded as Buyls right
hand man by another man named Du-
bois On June l, 1916, Dubois, with
so others, was arrested and improsen-
ed at Hasselt. The Germans boosted
that they had smashed the Belgian or
ganization which had evaded them for
two years. Dubois and three others
were shot on September rs, 1916, and
sentences aggregating 200 years were
imposed upon others accused OF act
ing with them.
Both Baucq and Dubois knew that
Alderman Buyl was head OF the or
ganization and both took their orders
from him. For days before the execu-
ton the German endeavored by Offer
Ing to spare their lives to induce them
to denounce their leader but they re-
fused and were shot. Nevertheless the
work went on.
In 1917, Buyrs secretary was arrest
ed and Buyl went into hiding.
"For nights / could not Sleep" Buyl
told the Associated Press, "the slight
est noise would make me start, ! could
not eat and there were moments OF
depression when l would gladly have
faced machine gun at the edge OF a
little wood to escape the mental tor
ture of those long endless days and
interminable nights His secretary
escaped with a short sentence. Buyl
emerged from his hiding place and
went on about his work.
1.-TWO days before the armistice, I
sent out courier to Holland" he said
with a tinge of pride.
"Heroism is the work of an instant
but what have gone through during