The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-04
BRAND WAITLOCk

Spaniard NIllalObar turned to Whitlock.
"We1l remember this scene" he said.
Through thirty-two months Brand
Whitlock was to live surrounded by those
uniforms of the sinister greenish field
gray, fighting, protesting witness to the
evil yoke of which they were the symbol
and the enforcement. His story, bril-
liantly written, vivid, obviously the re-
suit of impressions holly recorded at the
moment and later weighed with serupulous
care, is of scope and richness which per
nits only the merest suggestion. So much
happened in Belgium in the course of
those thirty-two months. The violation,
the atrocities, Louvain, Edith Cavell, the
deportations-those were the high lights
of the crime which fiared up to view and
dignation But the long struggle waged
by the American Minister in behalf of the
stricken people, the persistent endeavor
TO soften the rigors of the iron rule, was
the every day work that was lost in the
echoes from the battle fronts. On one
side the firm protest, the argument
couched in phrases placating and punctil-
ious, the appeal based on simple justice
and humanity; on the other, threat alterna-
ting with exaggerated politeness, affected
bonhomie, the smashing of heavy fist on
table, the frank expression of the dream
of weltmacht, with now and then the sug
80 o,,of,nDol K1lfur or
its apogee in Belgium was always crop
ing, always making the maddest of blum
ders. Once, when for the purpose of the
German White Book the Germans were
conducting an investigation of what had
happened not only at Louvain but also
in scores of other Belgian towns, a portly
bespectacled officer. bearing an enormous
portfolio appeared at the Legation of the
United States. He entered, clicked his
heels, bowed stiifly, seated himself at the
Minister'S desk. and ordered the Minister
and the other members Of the Legation
to begin testifying.
To the undaunted spirit of the Belgian
people under the CALLING yoke Mr.. Whit
lock bears eloquent testimony. That
spirit blazed forth in a thousand ways.
often defying the death threat, as in the
case of the editors Of the Libre Belgique,
that satirical little sheet that, appearing
mysteriously from time to time, always
found its way to the desk of the furious
Won Kissing. 1t expressed itself daringly
on the lips of women and of little children
In Brussels tram very dirty German
soldier munehing a sausage. A small
Belgian boy contemplates the scene and
turns to his mother. "Look, mamma!
There is one pig eating another pig"
A German officer, overhearing, gives
warning advice. my boy, I understand
French, English, Spanish and italian
Indeed is the reto-t How convenient
that must be for travelling" Several
German officers after dining toss five
mark piece before the dame de compton,
1t is not enough, she protests. "Bul look"
they say. at bears the portrait of His
Majesty the Emperor and King"
emperor or no Emperor" she answers,
at is worth just six francs fifty" 1t
was in the true Belgian spirit that she
,aid the resulting fine.
No days Of the thrty-two months were
more pregnant with event than those be-
tween the I'd of February, 1872, when
Washington, as result of the German
oppouprnr,nDt ~ tho vlao ~ y,,fbia-c