THE CHINA MALK FRIDAY SUP
DECEMBER
BELGIUM'S SECRET NEWSPAPER
NE of the most
ON
remarkable
untold stories of the Great. War has now been told in full by Oscar E Millard in "Uncensor
It is the story of "La Libre Belgique, the famous news- paper run in Brussels, in defiance of the enemy, during the German occupation. The group of Bel- gian patriots who carried out this secret enterprise did so at the risk of their lives. Several, indeed, faced the firing squad for their part in the daring work that infuriated and baffled the Ger- mans right up to the end of the
war
Copies of "La Libre Belgique” were delivered to the Kaiser and placed regularly on the desk of the German Governor of Brussels. "It was read throughout Belgium. and the advice it gave strength- ened the Belgians in their pas- sive resistance to the invaders. Mr. Milliard has found a stirring subject in this clandestine news- paper. He gathered the story from the survivors themselves and he has presented the true narrative in a form that rivals spy fiction.
74-Year-Old Patriot
Among the conspirators was Victor Jourdain, a heavy man of 74, editor of the "Patriote," known to his political opponents. as a bulldog. The Germans tried to persuade him to continue pub- lication and fill his columns with subtle German propaganda. Jour- dain refused.
Then there was Eugene van Dorén, owner of a small card- board factory, who plunged into the dangerous enterprise with en- thusiasm, and the black-haired, fearless priest, the Abbe de Moor, who assisted French and English soldiers to escape and became an active member of the Nurse Cavell organisation.
A Vast Concentration Camp
"The running of an illicit news- paper in occupied territory was dificult to the point of folly. The iron heel had descended on the Belgians and the country had become
vast concentration camp under a tyrannical - rule. Three special brigades of secret police bad been organised. "Military necessity" was the only law recognised.
Under such conditions the newspaper was planned. A prin- ter was found, and on February 1, 1915, the first issue appeared. The Kaiser's copy was posted to him, but a pretty Belgian girl delivered the paper to Governor von Bissing with the aid of a sentry, and wrapped in a pink envelope like a love-letter. The girl did not wait for an answer.
All Knew About It
Within a month of the first appearance there was not a son! in Brussels who had not heard of the paper and seen at least one Copy The city was combed by the Germans. Baiding parties put every printing press they could find out of action. A few minor distributors were caught, but the headquarters of the "Libre Belgique.”- often moved, were
never located.
An Agent In Disguise
Taken at Gripps on Christmas Eve.. ("Mail photo).
Once a German agent in dis- guise approached the Abbe de Moor, saying that he had a large sum of money to remit to the or- ganisers of the secret newspaper. The Abbe was not deceived; he cleverly threw the agent off the scent and the work went on.
One of the distributors of the paper was Gabrielle Petit, just 21 at the outbreak of war, “but with her wild auburn locks and candid brown eyes she looked scarcely 17." She hid her fiance, a wounded Belgian soldier, and
tried to raise money to send him out of the country by selling con- traband- newspapers. The 'Ger- mans caught her at last, and she was shot. -
Secret Chamber Built
After a number of issues had -been printed. Van Doren succeed- ed in smuggling a printing press. into his cardboard factory. A secret chamber was built, with bricks brought in a few at a time` in paper parcels. Just in time. No sooner had the press been in- stalled than the former hiding
place was raided, Bancq (one of the conspirators) was arrested and sentenced to death. He gave ́nothing away.
HONG KONG HOTEL/ PENINSULA HOTEL REPULSE BAY HOTEL
LA LIBRE BELGIQUE
Issue No. 52 appeared with a fine portrait of King Albert on the front page and the first in- stalment of the book, “J'Accuse,” by an anonymous German, at-
1938
tacking Germany.
Burnt Ender Soldier's Nose
During one of the periodical hold-ups, a courier with copies of the "Libre Belgique was wait, ing his turn to be searched. A German soldier was trying to light a fire in a bucket. The cour- jer stepped forward
“What you want is some paper. my son," he remarked. And under
• the soldier's nose he burnt the banned newspapers.
On November 12, 1918, when the German troops in Brussels were in revolt and the haughty Prussian officers were tearing off their rank, badges and scurrying like rats into hiding on that day the last issue of "La Libre Belgi- que" appeared. 200,000 copies.
Long before that day the paper had made a bold promise to the King of the Belgians:
"Cost what it may, we solemm- ly swear it, Your Majesty will find acclaiming him on the day of his triumphal entry into his be- loved capital a special edition of the Libre Belgique.*"
"La Libre Belgique" had kept, faith to the end.
NEW YEAR GREETINGS
THE HONG KONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS, LTD.
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