LIFE IN BRUSSELS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2345, 30 December 1914, Page 9

LIFE IN BRUSSELS.

GERMAN PLANS FOR RETREAT

TRENCH UPON TRENCH

A vivid narrative of life in Brussels was published by tho "Daily Mail" early last month. Apart from the romantic page in history a peep at tho city affords, more than one fact of military importance is recorded. Tho writer states; —

That these are "the last days of Brussels"—as far as Germany is concerned —seems manifest. The enemy realises that a retreat from Brussels by the end of the year'is inevitable, but, living up to his reputation, he proposes to defend.tho beautiful Belgian capital early in August an "open" city—even should such a. stand mean a second Loufain.

Already Marshal voii der Goltz's "fat old men of the Landwehr"—thus our informant characterises the army of occupation—are feeling their way, .preparing the population for the worst. "lVe liavo not harmed your wunderschone Stadt," they are saying, "but we greatly fear your' friends the Allies will." On every"side, in tho past ten days, the aspect of the city has altered. For miles to the north towards- Denderloo—where tho Anglo-Belgian wing may be expected to press down—trench upon trench has been constructed, a veritable "tube" network.

Here the Germans are ready to live and, fight underground for weeks if need be. Big guns have been skilfully bidden away and trees and houses in the line of fire have been destroyed. . But it is hi tho direction of Waterloo' that the Germans have prepared their piece de resistance in defensive, tactics.' Ever given to the theatrical, the Kaiser apparently hopes 'to conjuro up the. figure of Blucher, "the man who won the battle of Waterloo for the traitorous English." A Big-Cun Bluff? The historic battlefield has been converted into so many armoured acres. Small 'field forts and the most elaborate system of mined entrenchments are in course of construction. Herr Krupp himself has been superintending the defence of Brussels together with similar work along the line of the Meuse from 'Liege down to Namur and 1 beyond. Mention of Krupp incidentally suggests that thk enemy has been indulging iii one "kolossal" game of bluff in regard to the supposed existence of 17m. and even 20in. guns. "The Germans in Brussels are laughing in their sleeves at foreign credulity," our information goes. "They own that so far they have used nothing bigger tlan the equivalent to 12in.. or 13in. gins, but boast that bigger ones are on the way from Essen." Even in Brussels itself the work of fortification proceeds apace. The wonderful Palace of Justice would appear to be doomed should tbe Allies' over - have to bombard the Germans' fortified positions. In the im-mediate,-vicinity'two heavy howitzers face down the Rue Boyal, while a cc-uple of bigger guns dominate the entire districts of the city, together with a wide expanse of country. Sections of the Boyal Gardens haye been dug tp and stonework substituted. •

How aro the 600,000 odd inhabitants of Brussels bearing the ordeal? . Terrorised by the fate of thousands of fellow innocents, they aro behaving "far too well to .'the Germans." Our informant proceeds: "Poor people! They are ready to take to their cellars at. any moment. Not a house is without its cellar stacked with food. The well-to-do have even laid on water and- electric light in their cellars! They were only once really excited—when M. Max, their idolised burgomaster,. was taken away. 'The Germans'have not found a new burgomaster. There is no positive shortage of food yet, though the bread has been blapk for a fortnight . and tastes like earth." i ' The Germans have now given up trying to curry favour with the pqpula ; tion. Their bands no longer play by the Bourse; indeed, they seem now to be beginning a system of baiting the public. Last Saturday they tore down the Belgian flag from the Hotel de Ville. Tore it down' and trampled on it. . We knew that meant- a reverse. And von der Goltz had solemnly promised to respect the flag throughout the occupation. We. rarely, see him. He is a gouty, fat old German, and seems to have shifted the bulk of his work on to bouncing young subalterns. Thesestill sit about eating in cake shops There is considerable drunkenness among the rank and file, and I think if ever the peaceful population is drawn into a\ conflict it will bo bacause of an insult offered to ja Belgian woman. Our women refuse to speak to the Germans. The officors-soon enough found this out, so they sent for their wives. These all left suddenly early last week.

Skinning Horses for a Living. Tlie most serious social' problem in Brussels is unemployment. Threequarters of the city must be out of work., Thousands of men earn a precarious livelihood by visiting the battlefield and skinning horses tnere. The hides fetch two shillings. How short the Gormans are of weapons may be gauged from the fact that on Friday they emptied two large reservoirs at the suburb of lxelles' to obtain possession of thousands of 'rifles, revolvers, and knives thrown into the Water by the terrified inhabitants following M. Max's memorable proclamation of August 20 before tho German entry. . ' Miss Donnell, of Pombridge Mansions, Bayswater, who arrived from Brussel on Tueday, was able to confirm most of the above infbrmatiou, adding several new-points of interest. "I got into Brussels after innumerable adventures two days after the Germans. I at once took charge of the hospital of 100 beds at tho bank of the Societe : Beige. 'Instead of nursing Belgians, I had to nurse Germans throughout the teii weeks of my stay. With one solitary exception these wounded longed for one thing alone —to go home. "The Belgian ladies are extraordinarily kind to the German wounded, bringing them fruit and flowers. I think, in fact, the Belgians have been far too kind throughout. Why did I come away? Because ten days ago the Kaiser isued an ord'er that "no Englishwoman was to be permitted to nurse Gorman wounded any longer. Then suddenly, one night last week, all the Red Cross 'ambulances' - spread over Brussels were' emptied and chut up, • the wounded being taken en masse to tho threp big hospitals of St. Piorre, St, Jean, and the military hospital. I protested against one dying man being moved, but the.v told me to keep quiet. About a hundred English nurses were thrown out into the street. : "Tho officers, I' must say behaved well towards them, indulging in salutes without end."