A "VERBOTEN" PAPER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 250, 16 July 1919, Page 3

A "VERBOTEN" PAPER

"THE TIMES" IN BRUSSELS UNDER THE ENEMY AN ENGLISHWOMAN'S PLUCK The following from tho London "Times" is- an account of the personal experience of an Englishwoman who, with the lielp of a few trusted Belgians, distributed "The Times" in Brussels for eighteen months during tho Uerman occupation:— The lirst copy of "The Times" that I was able to get during the war was one I obtained through a waiter at tho Palace Hotel in Brussels, an old jockey, who knew English, mul waited on all the "Juiltured" Germans, from the drown Prince of Suxo (whose monocle; he annexed) downwards. An officer lelt a copy of "The Times" on tho dining-table in rieiitomber, I'JM. 'The waiter quickly picked it up, and by the time the owner had returned there was no trace of it—and it finally found its way to mo. Later I was able to get tho newspaper very regularly. One of tho Laeken firemen managed, Heaven knows how, to get a copy of "The Times" almost every evening, which he brought to me about II 'clock to translate the most interesting war items. At midnight I heard ■tho handle of my front door rattle, and I knew that it was the fireman back to fetch my translation and his newspaper, which, by the way, 1 was very glad to get rid of, as the German sentry was fifty yards from my door. Then in the night this energetic man typed tho translation into communiques, which were distributed to trusty Belgian sellers. and found their way into every nook and corner of Brussels. One by one, however, the sellers wero run down and arrested. An Early Morning Visit. Then the secret police gave me a call ore morning early in October, 1915, and searched my house from roof to cellar. Theit only plunder consisted of copies of the National Anthem, a letter I had received from England, and also an illustrated Belgian newspaper dated August 15, 1914, which was taken because it contained a photograph of the review of the Enu'lish Elect in July, 1914. My letter aroused their curiosity as it boro the seal of tho United States Legation, and it was minutely read through. As it was a year ago, T. had forgotten tho contents, but peeped over file German's shoulder to seo if it contained anything uncomplimentary to the enemy, and I saw at the end "tho D—s!" Fortunately, being in English, it took the German a little time to read,, whilo I ivas searching for some pretty word in England, beginning with a "d." Finally I was asked, ."And what is dntP" to which I promptly answered, "Tho Darlings." "Oh, yes, tho darlings," he repcicd, sceptically. ■ I could not resist answering, "Yes, over the left!" He plunged mj; letter into his pocket with an expression on his face that threatened future reprisals, but I was too indignant to be intimidated. I was still in bed when the two Germans entered my bedroom. I was groct> ed with "We are hero by order of thb German authorities to search your house for newspapers. I answered, "Well, search." I was ob'.iged to dress in theii presence. As it was just ten days after Miss Cavell had been shot, I consolea myself with thinking that was certainly the lesser of the two evils. Then the Questioning began: You have had English and French newspapers here, within the last fortnight? I answered, "No, not since the beginning, of the war." "Well, we know you have," cnc of the Germans answered with a leer. "Oh, if you know my .affairs better than I do there's no more to be said/' 1 answered quietty. "What will you say when we show you tho proof?" he continued. (I may explain that ho was a lawyer and had been employed by Princess Louise of Belgium in her action against her husband, Prince Philip of Saxe-C'obnrg.) I answered, "Show me the proofs first and you will hear what I have to say afterwards." I did .not wish them to know that 'I understood German, whicli I had learnt at school at Hendon, as .t thought they would speak more freely before me if they thought I did not understand, and 1 should learn moro o; their intentions. you don't speak the truth you will he more severely punished, and wo won't believe a. word you say," I was told, and I made a mental nolo that they had no certain knowledge of the affair. I replied: "If any one tells me a lie I never believe them . again either." The man added: "You will be summoned to the 'Koinmhndantur' to confront the witnesses," to which I replied: "1 shall be very glad to seo who has been telling lies about me." Then ho turned on me and said: "You aro English. Aren't you ashamed that wo have to search your house?" I looked him up and down with scorn and said: "It is not by my orders that you aro here. It is not tho first time you have searched people's houses, and I don't suppose it will be the last." No answer. . Further Search. younger and tho mora spiteful man then went to tho upper storeys, where he mistook tho English flag for a coloured curtain, it was lying between my curtains in a box. The elder cbstinued to .search in the kitchen. 1 had burnt letters I had received from Miss Cavell bearing on her arrest, as I knew that the Germans might 'bo expected at any moment. . I took some wood to light my diningroom fire; it was cold; I hud had no breakfast, and they had forbidden the servant to make luo a cup of tea. Not risking-a refusal by asking permission, I remarked: "I shall light the fire." (Vetting no answer, I took some wood and proceeded to light the tire, when 1 caught ot 1111 ex tract from the "Matin," wftTKi I deftly dropped into the stove V'V 1 . . s , omo other writings which were forbioden. After three hours search all they iound was an illustrated newspaper, and my letter, with tho dreadful D—s" in it.". A few days later I was summoned to tho Jv.ommando.ntur, and told that a young girl sftpposed to havo had tho papers after me, had "confessed," to which I replied-.—"l do not believe it; if so sho lies. Tell her to repeat it in my presence," The questioner fetched a cross-eyed'officer, and discussed the matter, and as they knew that it would be useless to fetch the young girl I was allowed to retire. After this the girl and I were summoned live or six tunes, and finally I was condemned to fifteen days' imprisonment or 12 marks fine. .On December 7, 1915, J was able to get away in a train under the protection of the United States Lega<)lU ' Wen ' ; n< 'oD. >\ hen it became 100 dangerous to continue the distribution of "The Times," tno Belgians had to fall buck on Dutch newspapers for any news of tho war apart from tho lies posted up in Flemish, J'l'ench, and German all over Brussels. (n "iP " lc ' r 110113 wos 111 favour ot the Allies, the Dutch nowspapcrs were not allowed to cross tho frontier. On one occasion I was very puzzled at reading on the walls of the Brussels Uf.yn Hall an extract from "Tho Times," which said exactly the rpposite Of what it ought to havo said. The explanation 1 heard later. The extract posted up by tho Uormiins as coming from "Tho limes was an extract which "Tho limes had taken from a German newspaper, but that little detail tho poster caretuily omitted to stato.