South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-19
BELGIAN GENERAL
SAYS He OPENED
SHOW FOR HUNS
Member Of King AIbert's Party
Relates Some Thrilling
Experiences.

NEW YORK. oct IS-IAeut Gen.
Baron Jacques. who. according 90
his own assertion. occupied the
front seat in the front row when
the Germans opened the great iu-
ternational show" in 1914 is the
most striking member Of the suite
which is accompanying king Albert
OF belgium on his visit boz the Unit
I'd States. Tall. straight as an ar
rev. gen jacques locks like the
hghtinR man he is and has been
from boyhood for he is one Of the
professional soldiers upon whom
Belgian relied when 90 made the
Ereat decision which held up the
German army until French and
British soldiers could get into ac-
ton.
Gen. Jacques was IN command Of
the Twelfth regiment, one of the
crack military organizations of Bel
GUM and was stationed at Liege
where Gen Leman was IN command.
Confidence IN Men.
II had never been impressed by
the bcra hast of the German soldiery
and / had full confidence in my own
men" said the general as he sat in
his plainly furnished cabin on
board the George Washington on
the voyage 10 New York and talked
of the early days OF the war.
We first came IN contact with
the Germans on the bridge at Wise,
and after a sharp dght drove them
back. capturing the flag OF the 9th
Brandenburg regiment
That fight aroused the people,
and Immediately we had more than
a thousand civilian volunteers. dig
ging trenches and helping IN every
way possible. Gen. Leman issued
proclamation in which he said: Big
Germany has invaded our country
imposing an ultimatum which cor
stitutes an outrage. Little Belgium
proudly accepts the challenge. The
Belgian army viii do its duty The
people OF Liege only ask 60 be al
lowed TO do theirs"
Compelled 10 Retire
During the discOuFaging days
which followed when the Belgian
army was compelled 10 retire from
place 10 place until it AT last had to
give up Antwerp and begin it's slow
retreat along the coast, Gen Jacques
never doubted the inal outcome,
and encouraged his men by point
ing out that when they reached the
User river the backward movement
would end. And so it did.
My regiment had orders 20 hold
DiXmude till oeath and we did. Not
until high command decided 20
evacuate the town did we leave our
places" said the general
The war is over But the Ger
mans still have arms and men. IL
* up 10 the allies to see they do not
use them again. / look upon the
German as barbarian who still has
an his heart the desire TO conquer,
because ne is trained 90 il from the
cradle This war was not a war en-
tirely OF the kaiseT's making 10 was
war OF the whole people "a war
for loot. They believed they would
be able to get 10 Paris in SIX weeks.
and the booty hey took would am
ply compensate for the expense Of
military operations"
Gen. Jacques has had an adven-
IturOus career AS a young officer
| ne went out 20 the Congo. and i'm the
early n;neties began his memorable
fight against the Arab slave traders.
| On one occasion. when ne and his
natives were hard pressed by a large
body OF Arab slave traders. he kill
ed IS OF them with his own rifle
! His administrative work in the Con
so also was OF a high order. lie
has been decorated II times and
wears the highest honors his coun-
Try can give, while other countries
have been only little less generous
n recognizing his ability and valor.