South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-17
BY FREDERICK MAXWELL.

Repressive In the extreme were
the measures taken by the Germans
during the period extending from
February OF last year down 90 the
signing OF the armistice
The enemy realized then that the
years OF suffering borne patiently By
the Belgians were bearing fruit, and
that those people were quietly pre-
pairing for the day when their re-
venge would come IS the German
hold on Belgium relaxed. II was in
the hope Of Countering this move
ment by establishing greater
region Of terror throughout the
occupied territory that the Germans
took the course they did.
When il was decided 10 exacuate
occupied towns or villages the order
was given that the residents were
not 20 apear in the streets, until
they got epecial permission from
the German authorities. and as no
Good was provided for them this
meant that the people were left TO
starve.
Civilians Ordered TO STAY In.
In the same way. when German
troops were being massed i'm Bel
gium before the great attack Of
March 21st. the civilians were or
dered on February 2ud 90 remain
indoors during certain periods Of
the day-periOds selected for the
passage OF the troops. All of the
soldiers sent through Brussels were
new men, who had been in garrison
in different parts Of Germany. with
the exception of a few units made up
OF men who had been called back
70 the army after being discharged
in consequence Of wounds sustained
earlier In the war.
] mixed very freely with the Ger
man soldiers at that time. for
though 7 had many close shaves
when helping Allied prisoners TO es-
cape. my Belgian nationality was
never questioned, and no one iden-
tined mo with the man whose assoc
citation with escaping prisoners had
led 10 the offer OF a reward for his
capture I found that the Germans
were very respondent about the out
look
One man said 20 me. cit is folly
We are beiEg sent 10 death. The
not hope to prevail
German officers at that time we're
hardly less pessimistic. but some of
them counted on catching the Brit
ish mapping One officer of the Ger
man army with whom / talked when
he came 10 see me in Brussels in
March OF last year about the billet
ing OF fresh troops was a Major w
an Alasatian and a relative
OF a Freich officer.
Typical Officer
The major was typicalIy German,
and had the fixed idea that his rela-
tive had brought disgrace on the
name by aiding against Germany.
When I suggested 10 him that the
world was sick OF the war the major
replied.
Yes. but IL will soon end. The
British are going 10 be surprised and
beaten badly. Then we can deal
with the degenerate French. AS for
the Americans. they don't count. The
British are certain that the talk of
an offensive from our side is blun.
and they Will be bluffed badly. for
they are not taking precautions"
That was typical OF the thought OF
the German officers At that time.
and 7 fancy that the Germans must
have tried al one time TO make the
British really believe that their talk
OF an offensive was blum in order to
lulI the British and French into false
security.
German Nerves.
German nervousness, lest the Allies
should learn Of what was going on
behind the lines became more in
tense every day, and BY the sum-
mer OF last year the German autho-
rites suffered very badly from
nerves. u was known or suspected
that aircraft were landing trained
intelligence officers, and IL was
known also that escaping prisoners
were taking back very valuable in
formation. Therefore. the guards
got instructions that they were 10
IRE az once on any prisoners at
tempting 20 escape in the streets OF
Brussels. even though it was well
known that crowds of innocent peo-
pie were in the streets TO see these
prisoners pass through The Ger
man reply 20 this point was that
people had no right 60 be in the
streets. and that II they appeared
there they must take the consequen-
ces.
Regulations relating TO aircra It
became more stringent and GER
man aeroplanes were required 10 an
swer signals from the anti-aircraf n
gun stations around Brussels Aero
planes passing over the city were
fred on unless they observed the i'm
structions issued 10 them. and IL was
a common occurrence 20 ind the
guns suddenly open fire on appar-
entity innocent aerolanes overhead.
Showers Of shrapnel fell I'm the
streets on such occasions. and
many innocent passers-by were bad
Is injured. The Germans gave them
scant sympathy. saying that II they
wished 20 escape such dangers they
should either remain indoors or APP
peal 10 the British and French 10
stop sending spies by aeroplaue
Stil Those Attempting To Escape.
Outside Brussels. as have
already stated. The practice was not
only to fire ou prisoners attempting