The Washington times., 1919-10-21
By DON e. CHAMBERLAIN.

By DON r. CHAMBERLAIN.
NEW YORK. Oct. 21.-How the
famous mystery paper of occupied
Belgium-La Libre Belgique Gree
Belgium)-deied the German govern
ment and told the truth of the war
right under the noses OF the German
officials in Belgium, was told here
today by Pierre Goemaere, one of it's
staff of reporters.
Goer1aere, who is only twenty-five,
Is accompanying the Belgian rulers
on their tour of the United States,
and today, for the first time, he told
some of its history. Goemaere, who
acted as one of the twelve contributors
of the famous newspaper. has writ
ten book on his experience which
is shortly to be published.
THE Libre Belgique was founded
at the beginning of 1915 by the aged
Brussels journalist, Victor Jourdain,
who gathered around him 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
a secret chamber, where an electric
bell had been installed to warn them
OF danger. While waiting to send
the articles to the printer, the writers
hid the manuscripts in the pipes OF
the radiators.
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 the other, so it can
well be imagined that the place of
publication changed often). The Ger
mans believed the printing place was
in an automobile, but the Libre Bel
gique was most often printed in the
cellars Of abandoned houses or in
secret underground spots.
Dangerous Work.
ar the work of printing twas dan
gerous there was another part of the
task Of publication even more peril
ous-that of distribution. Here is
how managers generally proceeded:
when the paper had been printed
10000 were run off at a time-they
were carried to certain central places
known to the men in charge OF dis
tribution. To enter these places pass
words were required, such as For
the King, Praise Cod Princess
Marie Jose or Long Live America
After thus obtaining their supplies,
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 1t is
well to remark that one man invaria-
bly, found a way OF placing a copy Of
the paper on the desk of the German
military governor in Brussels. who
ragged and fumed but never found the
guilty one. The distributor learned
that a certain hour each day che gov
ernor went into a room adjoining his
to dictate letters. He chose this hour
to enter through window. After
several times German detectives were
put on the job, but they never sue
ceeded in catching their man.
The Germans were highly enraged
Their pride could not support the
thought OF being thus Knocked. But
the more the lion rosred the more
the mouse tickled. Street urchins
took great delight in pinning the Sc
cret paper to the backs of dandy Ger
man officers.
"woes OF Love-,
when the Libre Belgique had
reached its first anniversary a humor-
Gus cartoon was published under the
title, THE Woes of Love" 1t showed
the German governor seated in his
armchair, with an air of desolation
Before him were the records of all
the searches which had been made to
discover the publishers OF La Libre
Belgique, also the bills paid to de-
tcCtivcs. Above the governors head
I'D fI... IL IL