HUN TYRANNY IN BRUGES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16412, 4 January 1919, Page 12

HUN TYRANNY IN BRUGES.

* Comic in their Tovelation of the petty tyranny of tlio Hun, and in. some instances" poigmant in their disclosure j o ' his utter luck of l:um;ui feeling, aro tho stories told in ; 'The Times" by Mr Humphrey Page, who lived through the lour years' German occupation oi Bruges. The following arc extracts from Mr Page's diary:— Si. .Schrauvune, a leading advocate, talking in a cafe, remarked: "'I not work for the Germans myself, and consider anyone who will do so a coward." Ono of those present must liave given him away, as next day he was ordered to appoar at the Komniandantnr. where ho was reminded of the conversation, tho accuracy of which he denied, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment and a fine of 3000 marks. He was sent to Sedan, but after the expiration of his term ho was transported to Germanj". and had not re"itimed when the Germans left in October. 1918. It was mado punishable to exhibit portraits of tho lloyal Family of Belgium, and manj* wonicn and children were stopped bv soldiers in tho streets, fir on Sundays-when leaving church, to sltow whether the coins they worn as brooches or lockets boro tho likeness of the Belgian King ; such ornaments were instantly confiscated. Ono of tho enemy's most profitable source.s of inc-onie was from fines inflicted on persons whoso watches or clocks indicated Belgian time. officer was sent to inspect the Convent of St. Andre. The sister who was showing him round, telling him the time, said, "Oh, but my watch keeps Belgian time." Sho was fined 1000 marks. Commandant von Buttlar, when asked that ths fine might be remitted or reduced, wrote: "Your prayer is rejected: your letter is full of lies, but as you aro an Englishwoman thero is nothing astonishing in this." A storekeeper in tho Grand Place was nsked the timoby an officer, and instead of pointing to tho Belfry clock, pulled out his watch; tho officer, seeing it, asked, "Don't you know that tho Kaiser ]ias r.rdored that all watches shall keep German timo?" to which tho other replied, "Tho Ivaiser be /' or something equally uncomplimentary. This was too bad for a fine, so the man got throo months' imprisonment. On February 7th, 1017. shells were fired at the aeroplanes by tho eanntfn at St. Croix, and one, bursting on tho ed'jre of tho canal killod about a dozen children just leaving school, together with sereral adults. As usual, notices were published that the torriblo disaster was tho re.sult of l>ombs dropped by tlio English! Von Buttlar (tho Kommandant) was present at the burial of the victims, carrying a funeral wreath; and, as a final outrago, tho mourners were hustled about to stiit tho convenience of a photographer sent to take a picturesquo group, -with this ruffian in tlio middle.