ALBERT THE GREAT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1442, 31 August 1915, Page 4

ALBERT THE GREAT.

BE I.(HUM UNDER THE CONQUERORS. M. Borhonx, .Secretary lo flic Belgian Chamber of Deputies, revisited his country from England recently as hast month. With papens duly in order 1m entered at Maastricht and made lor hi.s own house in the country near Venders. Hiving a lew of his impresion.s. he said that just across the frontier lie spoke with a peasant, a man seemingly j-nde and insensible. The man was, indeed, insensible and .struck dumb with the horrors lie had suffered and witnessed, not knowing how far it was a dream and how far reality. Ills brother-in-law had; a rope put about his neck, and so was so led around the village ; his own brother was made to hold the rope, and at every lew steps, they com (tel led hint to shout out that the Belgians were beasts, and,that Hie. Belgians wore traitors. r i “Say i-t ns .more!” the brother bade him at last. And the same night, for that, they took him lie fore a Herman ollieer, and the hitter hade him open hi.s mouth, and when in* opened it ho thrust Ids sword down the man’s throat. Beyond Evade n the open vehicle in which M. Borhonx was travelling was stopped by two drunken Herman soldiers, It seemed well to obey, and when the eoaeliman was told to ask what they wanted tin* Hermans only shouted; ’‘Beltnaps! Sehnaps!” ‘‘They are very drunk.” cried the coachman, and whipped up hi.s horses, and then it appeared the soldiers had lost their rifles, and so the travellers reached llerve. It was here that they full in with the burgomaster of Batfiee. “Have yon suffered “’’asked M. Borhonx. “Suffered, mon Dien! They took me out. into the fields, and made eic lie there; I have lived off roots. They made me lie there without moving ift head, on threat ol death, or without letting down my holdup hands. Before I was released my arms were numb and dead.” Of Herve then* remained nothing. The place was desolated. The whole countryside, was desolated. All that gay and lightsome countryside, with farms and houses given names that betokened how joyful and gay a countryside if was, whs desolated. Those who have seen it and seen the mins ol Pom]H*ii say that Pompeii is mil so ruined as it. HOW THE HERMANS HORHfO, Vervier.s was not a. very large town, of). 1)00 inhabitants; of these lo.tlUO wen* Hermans —they permitted too many Hermans in Belgium. But Venders used lo he lull ol tile, the home of artists, its people fond of the lilo ot cafes and the open air. The Flemings love Hie good things of life*. They like society. They like wine. The pictures of Jordaens and Teniers show the tradition of that way ot living. The Hermans in occupation also love the good things of life, but they—they gorge. They eat until they have over-eaten, and drink until they a.ro drunk. It is ,so at M. Borhonx’s own place. When yon seek for permits in some* office, Herman officers sprawl over the tables, gorged. In Hu* houses they occupy they get up, you will he told, at 11, and eat. t hey write a letter or two, and go hack to heel, and when they rise they start again eating and drinking until they are fit only for tho'ir beds. Tucllc e.st Kultur! ft is difficult to describe the feeling that broods over Venders. It escaped destruction by a miracle, but over it is a. .sense like the awe belore a thunderstorm. And no wonder, with this occupation—a temporary occupation—by the Germans, who have proved themselves an innately cruel race. One knows the devastation of soldiery in war, hut that men, many of’ whom must he lathers, many more of whom must) have looked forward to having children, should take the toys ol children find wantonly scatter and destroy them! it is thus' that the Hermans have murdered the soul of Belgium, Nothing has been safe from them. M. Borhonx found that in his own homo. They took everything especially metal tilings. They seized even the clocks. They .seemed to have a particular "down” on clocks. "Little wonder,” a Belgian explained, "Time hits been their chief enemy.” But M. Borhonx said, though the Hermans put restrictions tijHin all freedom, and levy fines on every infringement of them, the Belgians are still permitted to cherish the portraits of their king and his family. It seems as if the Hermans, insensible to every other noble appeal, have really felt the nobility of the King, who henceforth will be known in history as Albert the Great.