BELGIUM: THE GRAVE OF GERMANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3980, 13 July 1915, Page 7

BELGIUM: THE GRAVE OF GERMANY.

A Frenchwoman, widow of a Belgian soldier killed in the war has just readied Paris, and gives some interesting information concerning the situation in Brussels, which she left on March 27. She says the population maintains its spirit of confidence. In the silence of tho night the muffled roar of guns is distinctly audible, and the people whisper “The Allies are coming!” “Hie streets are full of passing troops,” she continued; “artillery, commissariat, wounded, recruits. Military automobiles dash about the city recklessly and cause numerous accidents by 7 tho drivers’ contemptuous disregard of tho ordinary rules of the road.”

The policing of the capital is entrusted to the older men of the Landstnrni, who, less brutal than the first reservists, are glad to chat with tlie inhabitants. Many of them show signs of complete discouragement, and lament that “Belgium will be the grave of Germany.” In the matter of food, Brussels does not seem to be very badly off, although bread is rationed out; 100 grammes per person. White bread, which could not be bad iq> till February, has now made its reappearance. It. costs GO centimes a kilo. Pastry, however, is no longer obtainable. The German officers used te spend so much of their time in the patisseries and consume such enormous quantities of tarts and cakes that tlie Governor intervened, with the result that the pastrycooks are now allowed only to open twice a week, and their ovens may bake only between midnight and 6 o’clock a.m.

Copper hunting is still methodically pursued. The police strip all empty houses of every copper or bronze fixture, down to the smallest door knob. Gold is scarce and dear, and at a premium. The Germans have requisitioned all they could find. A French louis (20 francs) is now worth 32 trances 50 in German or Belgian eyThe Bruxellois continue to annoy the German officers with their polite sarcasm, and lose no opportunity of turning them to derision. Satirical songs are in circulation, labelled '‘To Ire sung in Belgian families after 10 o’clock p.m.” Sentinels are placed round the theatres. Two days before a recent grand concert given at the Monnaie the Germans barred all the streets leading to the building, and searched every corner for the much-feared bomb or infernal machine. The entire garrison and a large number of Germans civilians who have come to live in Brussels since the German occupation, were present, but only 12 Belgians were counted among the audience. Curious sights arc often witnessed in the streets. Thus, Mine, Dovriose says that a few weeks ago two companies of infantry from Native Chapelle were paraded through the city. The men were unarmed and had their hands tied behind them. Fifty officers. also unarmed, marched at their head, guarded 7 by okl men of the Landstimn with fixed bayonets. The two companies had turned tail during the Battle of Neuvo Chapelle, and were now being sent'to Prussia as a punishment. The Germans at present are trying to propitiate the population by their politeness. It is a common thing to see a German officer give up bis scat in a traumar, for instance, to a lady. On the other hand, their native brutality cannot be long confined. The other day German officers and soldiers burst into a church where a funeral service was proceeding for a Belgian Civil Guard, and one of them snatched tlav Belgian flag from the coffin lying before the altar. The enraged croud turned upon the military and booted them out of the church. Revolvers were fired, one man being killed and five wounded.

From another source 1 hear that the Belgian aristocracy in Berlin is particularly hated by the German officers who, it appears, are very disappointed to find that the Brussels drawing-rooms are closed to them! The Gormans seem incapable of understanding such a natural attitude. The wives of the high German civil and military officials are said to have brought with them to Brussels extensive and magnificent wardrobes with which they hoped to make an impression at society functions and recognitions in the Belgian capital I