The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-18
How Mystery Paper
Of Belgium De6ed
German Militarists
RY Don p. CHAMBERLAIN

NEW YORK, Oct 18.--How the
famous mystery paper of occupied
Belgium-La Libre Belgique free
Belgium) dcfed the German govern
ment and told the truth right under
the noses of the German officials in
Belgium, was told here today by Pier
re Goemacre, one Of its staff report
ers.
Goemaere, who is only %, is ac-
companying the Belgian rulers on
their tour of the United States, and
today for the first time he told The
United Press some of its history.
Goemaere, who acted as enc of the
twelve contributors Of the famous
newspaper, has written book on his
experiences which is shortly to be
published.
"The Librc Belgique was founded
at the beginning of 1915 by the aged
Brussels journalist, Victor Jourdain,
who gathered around his several de-
voted collaborators," said Goemaere.
Together this group of friends wrote
the articles for the paper. To do this
they retired with their chief to Sc
cret chamber, where an electric bell
had been installed TO warn them OF
danger. While waiting to send the
article to the printer, the writers hid
the manuscript in the pipes of the re-
diators.
1.-THE day on which the paper had
to be printed saw the manuscripts
transferred to the hollow interior of
several walking sticks, and thus were
they transported through the streets.
where was the paper printed? is
a question often asked. The Libre
Belgique had no less than sixteen
printers (they were all thrown in jail
one after another) so it can well be
imagined that the place of publica-
ton changed often. The Germans be-
lieved the printing place was in an
automobile, but the Libre Belgique
was most often printed in the cellars
of abandoned houses or in secret un,
foreground spots.
"If the work of printing was dan
gerous, there was another part of the
task of publication even more peri
lous-that of distribution Here is
how managers usually proceeded.
when the paper had been printed
fifty thousand were run off at a
time they were carried to certain
central places known to the men in
charge of distribution. To enter
these places pass words were requir-
ed, such as For the King, Praise
Cod Princess Marie Jose, or Long
Live America.
after thus obtaining their sup
plies the distributors went about the
even more perilous task of giving
them to the people. To give an idea
of the audacity of these distributors
it is we'll to remark that one man in
variably found way of placing q
copy of the paper on the desk of the
German military governor in Brus-
sells, who ragged and fumed but never
found the guilty one. The distribu-
tor learned that at certain hour each
day the governor went into a room ad-
joining his to dictate letters. He
chose this hour to enter through
window. After several times, Ger
man detectives we're put on the job,
but they never succeeded in catching
their man.
"The Geramns were highly enrag-
ed. Their pride could not support
the thought of thus being Knocked.
But the more the lion roared the
more the mouse tickled. Street ur-
chins took great delight in pinning
the secret paper to the backs of dan
dy German officers.
when the Libre Belgique had
reached its first anniversary a humor-
Gus cartoon was published under the
title The Wolves of Love 1t show.
ed the German governor seated in his
armchair, with an air of desolation
Before him were records of all the
searches which had been made to dis
cover the publishers of La Libre Bel
gique, also the bills paid to detec-
tives. Above the governors head
was the indication of his dream; an
automobile rushing about in a cloud
with the poor official ringing his
hands and crying: For year now |
have searched for thee night and day,
O beloved, but always thous hast es.
Caped me.
"Another time the Libre Belgique
published the portrait of the COVER
nor, and under it these words Our
dear governor has done US the honor
of sending his autographed photo
graph, and we thank him heartily
The alleged autograph was as fol-
lows: I thank you sincerely for all
of tho coponIin1 ants Won have not cpas-