BELGIUM UNDER THE IRON HEEL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 252, 18 July 1919, Page 13

BELGIUM UNDER THE IRON HEEL

ME, BEAND-WHITLOCK'S NEW " BOOK. . Mr. Brand-Whitlock, the American Ambassador in Belgium, who remained in. Brussels during the German occupation, had every opportunity to Gather material for an interesting book. In "Belgium Under the Gorman Occupation" he hao put together, in a quiet, attractive, liter;ary manner (says a "Daily News"' re? viewer), the story of those tragic.years in the Belgian city. The first tragedy was the city's inability to defend itself. When the Germans wore approaching Mr. Brand-Whitlock visited General Clooten, commanding the Gardes Civiques. "As delicately cs we could, we approached the question of tho defence of the city, feeling our way to a footing that would permit us to give our counsel to attempt nothing with tho means at his command." Mr. Brand-Whitlock reminded him that Brussels could not bo 'bombarded unless a defence were attempted. But the General drew himself up'and said: "I si all do my duty. 1 shall defend (he city W the bnd." - Burgomaster Mas was equally determined. Later orders came from the-Ring at Antwerp that no resistance was to bo offered. "The news," writes Mr. BrandWhitlock, "was a relief for which we could thank tho King, who lias a very level head on thoso broad shoulders." '. The German armies arrived, and then there fell over tiie city an uncanny silence. There was no nows on which any reliance could bo placed. "Every day General von Luttwilz would tell 'mo df the progress of those armies, nearer the French capital by so many kilometres, and at last one afternoon he remarked s siniplv, 'We shall enter Paris to-mor-row.'" Two days later Mr. Brand-Whitlock paid to the General: "1 presume you,_arp in Paris now?" ' " "No," replied tho General. "After all, .you see, our objective is not Paris. Our army is making an enveloping-move-ment. .We must destroy the French Army." That was all the poopta-oi v know of tho Battle of Itho Manic. .-'• : Perhaps the part played by " Eord French's Army in that battle explained to some cxtont tho hatred the Germans then l»ro tho English. "This hatred,',' writes Mr. Brand-Whitlock, "was a wild; implacable thing, not lo bo overcomes f 'Wo are going to continue this war!,' said • a German official to nie, 'until one can travel around the earth without seeing Englishmen who act as if they owned it. But, apparently, all Germans were not; sn fiery. Occasionally, in Ihos-/ passing troops, if one looked closely one didtsco fino faces. Now and then, toc.tlvoro was a snd face, They did not, all-relish tho glory of war." • ."■ -■ -,t .. • Switzerland's national debt has increased from .£15,560,000- in December, 1917, to ,£57,400,000 in December, 1918.