South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-26

CONTINUED FROM PAGE p
posted the news in the town The
notice ran:
THE Burgomastcr Max hav-
ing failed i'm his engagement
concluded with the German gov
eminent. 7 am compelled to sus-
pend him i'm the performance Of
his functions. ". Max will be
placed I'm OnOrable-detentiou
i'm a fortress.-The Governor
General. Baron Won Luttwitz.'
Now previously TO this. on Sept.
&c. had issued a placard TO my
fellow citizens with reference TO the
German demand for the discon-
tinuauon of the display Of the ma
tional flag ON Sept Won der
Goltz had publicly proclaimed that
hc would require nobody to refrain
from patriotic sentiments Then, on
Sept IL. Won Luttwitz issued a proc
lamation declaring that the display
OF Belgian flags was a provocatiou
which might give offense TO German
troops passing through Brussels
In my request 10 the citizens
asked them to give one more exam
pie of their resignation under mis-
fortune. concluding with the para
graph: Let us therefore accept
the sacrifice imposed on us. Let us
remove our flags i'm order TO avoid
conflict and await patiently the hour
Of reparation."
An OTenSp TO Germans.
Those last few words gave great
offense 20 the Germans. ON Tie fol
lowing morning I was arrested and
brought before a Iaj. Boyer. who
told me that T might be sent a pris-
oner to Germany. I replied that 7
was prepared 20 go. but could not
understand the meaning OF the
threat. for I had only issued nay
placard i'm order 10 induce the citi-
zens 70 comply with the order 81
the German governor. II 7 had not
done so. 1 pointed out the Belgians
would most likely have resisted any
attempt on the part OF the Germans
to remove their flags. and blood
would have doubtless been shed.
Mai. Bayer demanded that
should tender an apology. but I re-
fused energetically 20 apologize for
an act which I considered patriotic
and humanitarian.
He then observed that the word
PREPARATION" was synonymous with
vengeance He said that ne had
verified it by consulting a dictionary.
I I told him that il must have been a
very Indifferent dictionary. Eventu-
ally I was allowed to return to the
Hotel de Vile.
Fire Escapes Destroyed.
In addition TO my refusal 10 con-
teuance their eNtortions. and the an
novance caused them by any proc
| lamations to the people. there We're
other reasons which, I think, had
much 20 do with their determination
| to arrest me.
on the same day that I refused
GAL THREE VI. MAN TELLS
to consent to the payment of the
/ 3 900. 600 unless l received a guar
antee that the money was 10 be de-
voted solely 10 the cost of reQuisi-
/ tiops had all the fire. escapes in
/ Brussels destroyed. These frees
capes were of exceptional length.
and had heard that the Germans
purposed their confscation with a
view to using them for observation
III therefore sent round to all the fire
stations an order that the frees
capes should be destroyed. This or
der was instantly complied with.
Yet another reason. 1 am con-
WINGED. was that the Germans wish
/ Cd 10 make an example of me. The
/ burgomasters Of other towns in Bel
I cium acted i'm exactly the right
spirit, opposing with all determina-
Y ton the illegal demands of the in
vaders. The Germans Thought that
/ by srresting and imprisoning me
( they would frighten other burgo-
masters into acQuiesCence with their