The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-17
BELGIUM UNDER
THE GERMAN HEEL
on BRAND WHIrLocK.

published by special arrangement
with the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Copyright, 1919, by Brand Whitlock, un-
der. the title Memories of Belgium
Under the German Occupation" All
rights reserved. Copyright In Great
Britain, Canada and Australia, All
rights reserved for France. Belgium,
Holland, Italy, Spain, Russia and the
scandinavian countries.) ,
After the GermaD occupation OF all
the ministries, the national administra-
tive departments Of the Belgian govern
ment excepting those OF foreign affairs
and OF war. had continued to function
much as they had functioned before the
war; they were indeed invited to do so
by the German authorities.
On the fourth Of January, 1915, the
ehief OF ~ civil administration DR..
all the Belgian ministerial departments
q statement OF the governor-general,
Baron Won Kissing. informing them
that he would leave II to the Belgian
tunctionaries, ito decide freely whether
they were able to reconcile the future
exercise Of their functions with their
duty toward the Belgian state" assur-
ing them that those who should resign
the declaration OF loyalty would have
no reason to fear any harm from this
TACT, excepting, Of course, the loss of
their salaries, providing they had done
nothing in the pursuance Of their duties
and obligations that was against the in
teIests Of the German administration"
This striking generosity, this gracious
permission to functionaries to resign II
they did not care to retain their posi-
tons, was superrogatory, since even IL
elementary rules Of justice did not give
a man the right to quit his employ
ment, that right had already been ex-
pressly secured to these functionaries
by article 40 Of the regulations annexed
to The Hague convention Of 1907.
il was In accordance with this assur-
ance that the functionaFies continued
at their posts and carried on internal
affairs, though they did It with diff
tent, nagginE Interference on the part
of the swarm Of German f~unctionaries
that were brought into Belgium or were
already waiting there when the Ger
mains arrived.
Americans coming to Belgium used
to be surprised to note so much order,
such comparative peace and qHietness,
1t was due to the fact that Belgium
was. governing itself In most Of her
local affairs and that her government
continued In many ways to function.
The system Of Belgian government
L. based on the commune, ii is the cell
OF the whole organization. Each Com-
mune elects Its common council, which
governs In much the same way as do
The common councils Of English or
American towns,
The system is as old as the struggle
Of the city to be free, and It Is to that
Belgium owes her genius for self-gov
eminent. that love Of freedom which
has Kept the nation alive and stub
hornly determined to contest hey right
to liberty through successive domino
lions OF Spaniards, AuStrians, Dutch
men and Germans.
While Constitutlonally they despisc
the system the Germans did not inter,
tere with the communal organization as
such; here and there they arrested a
burgomaster or members OF the com
mon councils. but they respected the
system as a system; they could no
have governed the country 80 easily Ii
any, other way, or, In the eyes of the
minimizing, so cheaply acquired a rep
u~tatlon for efficiency by claiming as q
result of their administration the com
parative order that prevailed. That
condition was wholly due to the school,
ing IN disagreement the Belglans hat
acquired in their communal system, aut
existed not because Of, but In spite O.
German tyranny.
With this Intense devotion to tn,
commune, there Is, nevertheless, II
Belgium, a very high and striking ma.
tional spirit. The Belgian is not onl,
proud Of his commune; he is proud o
being a Belgian.
When the Germans arrived at Brus
sells, the late Baron Won der Colt
Iasha, the first governor-Reneral II
Belgium, did not al once begin TO rult
the country with fire and sword; h
issued, as will be recalled, a proNama
tton TO the people saying that he aske,
no one to .renOunce his patriotic feel
tngs, aspirations or sentiments. BIZ
Won der Goltz Pasha did not renal
long In Belgium; he was soon there
after transferred to Turkey. And Vo
Kissing came, Then the Belgian fla.
was ordered down, the people were for
hidden to wear the Belgian colors or t
display the flags Of the allies, to sim
the "Brabanconne," or the ''Marsail
laise" or the songs Of any OF the allies
Slowly, by well-calculated degrees, tn
, pressure closed upon them with tn
, long, deliberate. well-matured intent L
destroy the soul of the Belgian nation
On the twenty-fifth OF March, Il
1916, there had appeared In La Bel
Clique, the organ. OF the general govern
ment, this proclamation Of a Germa'
, general:
) UNIVERSITY OF CLIENT.
. Order of the Commander OF the "
Army Prince Albrecht Of Wurttem
berg;
IN modification of article s of tn