GHENT PRO-GERMAN UNIVERSITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1917, Page 7

GHENT PRO-GERMAN UNIVERSITY.

OSTRACISED STUDENTS. A cable on Wednesday stated that the Governor-General of Belgium has issued an order dividing the country into two administrative, sections, separating Flanders from Waloon. The order makes Brussels the capital of the FJemish part and Namur the capital of the Waloon. The official newspaper claims that the order realises the long-harbored wish of the Flemish people to have a Flemish university at Ghent. Flanders will have its own administration with the Flemish official language. The vacant professorships in the Ghent University are being filled by pro-German neutrals.

A recent issue of the London Times contains the following particulars of the movement: — Information has been received from Ghent about the new university which shows the absolute failure of Germany's great manoeuvre, to divide the Belgians. In spite of an intense propaganda in German prison camps and of the fact that entry as a student at the pro-Ger-man university is the best guarantee against deportation, 80 students only arc. following the courses. They are obliged to wear a special cap with an orange colored badge. Every Gantois when Be meets them in the street greets them with the words; "Vive J'Armee!" They are absolutely boycotted, and nobody will associate with them.

The little group of Flemings who have thrown in their lot with Germany enjoy all sorts of privileges, and are constantly seen going in and out of the German offices. Some of them even enjoy considerable influence in the organisation of public education. When some Reichstag deputies went to Ghent in order to report on the social conditions of the conquered provinces, they wore solemnly received in the rooms of the Provincial Palace by a few obsequious pro-German Flemings, designated by the Gorman Governor of Ghent as the notabilities of the town. At the time a genuine Ghent alderman was in the same building under lock and key, but these "notabilities" were able to give the Reichstag deputies a most favorable report on the. situation of the town. This incident throws some light on the nature of the information which people are able to gather in Belgium when they meekly follow their guides. If anything were needed to stiffen the resistance of the Flemings against their oppressors' manoeuvres, th© treason of this handful of Flemings would be enough. The orange caps of the students are a more bitter sight to them than the German helmet, and no difference whatever is made between the trait* ors and the invaders. It is already decided that those, who have helped the oppressors have lost their nationality and forfeited all their rights. It is probable that they will follow their protectors to Germany. _ In spito of their sufferings and of the increasing difficulties created, by thereckless requisitions of the army, the spirit of the people remains excellent. Nobody doubts the final victory of the Entente and the early deliverance of Belgium. The way in which the German garrison, amounting to an average oi (iflOO men, received the news of the peace proposals went far to confirm this feeling of optimism. The joy of the men showed plainly how anxious they were to see the end of the struggle; every one imagined he would be sent back to the Fatherland within a week or two. Their disappointment after the Entente's reply will, no doubt, be another source of comfort to the flantois.

A letter has been received'in London from Cardinal Mercier stating that an offer has been made to yon Hissing, the German Governor of Belgium, by the Roman Catholic clergy,' offering to act as substitutes for the Belgian men who have been driven into slavery by their conquerors.