1915-05-29 — Page 8

THE HONGKONG TELEGRA PIH.

TALK WITH THE KING OF THE BELGIANS.

BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART.

In the Philadelphia "Saturday Brening Post!

"Bat as a necessity of war?. His Majesty the King of the Belgians received me at the head- I asked.

"Not at all. They have saved quarters of the Belgian Army on Friday, the fifth of February. The buildings when it suited their No milit audience was quite informal. I convenience to do so. bowed; then we shook hands and ary necessity dictated the des- he asked me to sit down.

traction of Louvain. It was not

It was to be a conversation bombarded. It was deliberately rather than an interview: bat it destroyed. But, of course, you was to be given as accurately as know that."

The matter of the violation of possible to the American people. It was, in effect, a statement of Belgium's neutrality still remains the situation in Belgium as the an open question," I said, "I have King of the Belgians sees it. 1 seen in America facsimile copies spoke first of a message to of documents referring to conver

America.

"I have already sent a message to America," ho informed me

41

quite a long message. We are; of course, intensely appreciative of what Americans have done for Belgium."

sations between staff officers of

the British and Belgian armies documents that were found in the ministerial offices at Brussels when the Germans occupied that city last August. Of course I think most Americans realize that, had They are anxious to do what they been of any real importance they can, naturally; the general they would have been taken away: feeling is one of great sympathy." There was time enough. But "Americans are both just and there are some, I know, who think humane," the King replied; "oud them significant.". their system of distribution is ex- : Unofficial Papers. cellent. I do not know what we should have done without the American Relief Committees."

Is there anything further Your Majesty cen suggest?"

The King of the Belgians shrug ged his shouldere.

"They were of "an uncllicial character and entirely without

EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1915.

11

Belgium has made a great sacrifice in flooding her lowlands." I said. "Will that land be as fertile as before ?"

course, during the invasion-such things are not happening now, so far as we know."

He had spoken quietly, but there was a new note of strain in

Not for several years. The his voice. The burden of the King flooding of the productive land in of the Belgians is a doable one. the Yeer district was only carried To the horror of war has been add-cat as a military necessity. The ed the unnecessary violation and water is sea water, of course, and will have a bad effect on the soil. The King then referred to the Have you seen the flooded die German advance through Belgian triot ?" territory.

death of noncombatants.

fi

"Thousands of civilians have been killed without reason. The execution of non-combatants ie not war, and no excuss oan be made for it. Such deeds cannot

be called war,

"But if the townspeople fired on the Germans?" I asked.

"All weapons had bean de- posited in the hands of the town authorities. It is unlikely that any organized attack by civilians could have been made. However, if in individual cases shots were fired at the German soldiers, this may always be condoned in a country sufering invasion. Dar ing an occupation: it would be different, naturally. No excuse can be offered for such an action in occupied territory.'

"Various Belgian officers have told me of seeing crowds of men, women and children driven ahead of the German Army to protect the troops. This is so incredible that I must ask whether it has any foundation, of truth."

It is quite trae. It is a barb- arous and inhuman system of protecting the German advance. When the Belgian soldiers fired on the enemy they killed their own people. Again and again icascent ficed to protect the invading army during attacks. A terrible sleagh- ter

She has given money,

The letter announcing that I There can be no justification England rose to the ore of that was to have an audience with the for the frightful destruction and nation. King of the Belgians reached me loss of life in Belgium; but a care and asylum to the Belgians; at Dankirk, France, on the even-frank statement will lead to a true she houses them in vast numbers, In her anxiety and financial ing of the day before the date set. and balanced realization of where It was brief and to the effect that the responsibility lies. Ous side stress she has unselfishly taken the King would receive me the of the question-the German-up this additional harden, and next afternoon at two o'clock, at has been placed before America, bears it with osim confidence in the Belgian Army headquarters. On the other hand, the English the ultimate triumph of right. The object of my visit was well and French authorities have pre- And Belgium has felt that the known; and because I wished on served a dignified silence, confid- time to speak has come. The authoritative statement to give to ent of the virtue of their own Saturday Evening Post. I told him I had been to the America, I had requested that the cam Belgian trenches, and thea across notes of my conversation with His the inundated country" to one of Majesty should be officially ap the outposts; a remarkable ex-proved. This request was grant perience one. I should never for- get. The King had already heard

of the exploit.

7

The conversation shifted to America and her point of view. to American women who have married abroad. His Majesty mentioned especially Lady Jarz on. Children of the King are with Lord Carzon, in England, at the present time. The Orown Prince, a toy of fourteen, tall and straight like his father, is with the King and Queen.

The King had risen and was standing in his favourite attitude, his elbow on the mantelpiece. I

rose also.

ed; everything I have recorded was submitted to the royal ap- proval. Nothing has been added to it.

And official Belgium has made no complaint. She has bowed to the judgment of her allies, know- ing that a time would come, at the end of the war, to speak of her situation and to demand justifiable redress.

LIGHT EXTINGUISHERS.

An ingenious device has now appeared on the market to extin- A general from the Ministry of But a willion homeless Belgians guish the lights in a hotel room" War came to the Hotel des in England and Holland proclaim when the guest leaves his room Arcades, in Dunkirk, and I was their wretchedness and the pre- and forgets to turn them out. taken in a motor car to the Belgian sent state of this heroic little When the guest returns to his Army headquarters some miles country broadcast. The future room, however, the lights detect away. As the general had in may bring redress, but the pre-his coming and flash up regein fluenza, and I was trying to keep sent story of Belgium belongs to before he gets into the room; so my nerves in good order, it was the world. Amerios, the greatest that he does not know they have rather a silent drive. The car, of the neutral countries, has a been out during the time he has 88 are all military cars and there right to know now the suffering ara no others was driven by aand misory of this patient, hard- soldier chauffeur by whose side working people. sat the general's orderly. Through the narrow gate, with its draw bridge guarded by many contries, we went out into the open country:

been absent,

The trick is done by a switch in the jamb of the doorway from This war may last a long time; the room to the corridor. This the western armies are at a dead-switch is operated by a bolt run- "I was given some instructions

lock. For months the line has ning from the lock of the door.. as to the ceremonial of this audi-

varied only alightly here and Thus, when the guest goes out of ence," I said. "I seem to have

there; has been pushed out or his room and locks the door from the outside, as he is pretty sare ignored them!"

The road, considering the con.. back only to straighten again. "What were you told to do?"stant traffic of heavy transports

Advances may be counted by to do, the bait switchon off the and gans, was very fair. It is feet. From Nieuport to Ypres lights in the room. When he re- under constant repair. At first, attacks are waged round solitary turns to his room, the unlocking during this severe winter, on ac farms which, by reason of the of the door switches the lights on i count of rain and snow, accidents fl:ods, have become tiny islands so when he opens the door he were frequent. The road, on both protected by a few men, mitrail- finds them burning. sidee, was deep in mud and proli- lenses, and entangelments of bar- fic of catastrophs; and even now, bad wire. Small attacking bodies with conditions much better, capture such an outpost, wading there are numerous accidents, breast-deep-drowning

said His Majesty, evidently amus

red.

16

I began to explain, but be inter- rapted me."

J

We are very democratic-we Belgians," he said. More de mocratic than the Americans. Tae President of the United States power. He is a czar."

If he extinguishes the lights when he goes out they will not light up on his return. If he when leaves somebody in the room, and

"They seem to have thought.ol importance. The German Staff civilians of both sexes were sacri. has great power-very Cars all travel at frightful speed: wounded-in the stagnant water. goes out and locks the door, the

everything," the King said simp. Probably knew all about them ly. The food is invaluableng before the declaration of war. particularly the four. It has They themselves had, withons saved many from starvation."

"But there is still used?" "Ob, yes great need."

4.

11

t

their own towns,"

"That is true, of course; but what can we do? And the civilian

He referred to President Wil- son in terms of great seteem not only as the President but as a man. He spoke, also, with avid eat admiration of Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. McKinley, both of whom

There are no restrictions, and it is There are no glorious charges nothing to see machines upset here, no contagion of courage; and abandoned in the low-lying simply a dogged and desperate straggles gain which the next fields that border the road.

day may see forfeited. The only thing goes on steadily is the de- vastating work of the heavy guns on each side,

Conditions, however, are better then they were. Part of the con- servation system has been the building of narrow ditobes, at right angles to the line of the road, to lead off the water. Every ten feet or so there is a gutter filled with fagots.

person in the room is able to keep the lights barning.

THE CHINA TROUBLE AND THE COTTON TRADE,

devotion; and now they are euf, then, for the violation of Balgia population is very brave. They was at an end. Fragments of the I had been in the general's car The cudgel of public opinion is a Associated Cotton Spinning Com-

fear invasion, but they no longer pay any attention to bombs. They work in the fields quite calmly, with ebells dropping about. Thoy

1

I

doubt; discussed and recorded, His Majsaty made no effort to eimilar probabilities in case of conceal his great grief and indig war with other countries. It is a nation. And again, as before, It was clear that the subject common practice in all army or there seemed to be nothing to say,

ganizations to prepare against

"Even now," I said, when he had mat. was a tragic one. The and plight different contingencies. It is a the Belgians return the German I looked at the clock. It was of his beloved people has caused | the King of the Belgians great quation of military routine artillery fire they are bombarding after three and the interview had began at two. I knew it was time valy." grief. He loves them, as they love There was no justification,

for me to go, but I had been given him, with an absolutely unselfish

no indication that the interview nentrality?" I inquired. fering and he is belpless.

None whatever! The German

coaching I had received came to His face clouded. Possibly be violation of Belgian neutrality

my mind, but nothing useful; so was seeing, as I am sure I was, was wrong." he said emphatically

stated my difficulty frankly, and the dejected figures of the peas-"On the fourth of August their

again the King's serious face ante in the fields; the long filos Own chancellor admitted it. must work or starve.'

lighted up with a smile. of his soldiers as they made their Belgium had no thought of war. He then spoke of the ́ morule of There is no formality here; way through wet and cold to the The Belgians are a peace-loving the troops, which is excellent, but if you are going we must find trenches; the destroyed towns people, who had every reason to and of his sympathy for their the general for you." the upheaval of a people.

So we shook hands and I went "What is it possible to know of believe in the friendship of Ger- situation.

Their families are in Bel out; but the beautiful courtesy the general condition of affaire in

The next question was a dif- gium," he said. "Many of them of the soldier King of the Bal that part of Belgium occupied by ficult one. I inquired as to the have heard nothing for months. gians brought him out to the door the Germine?" I asked. "I do behaviour of the Germans in the But they are wonderful! They step with me. not mean in regard to feod only, conquered territory; but the King are fighting for life and to regain

A Tragic and. Herolc Figure, but the general condition of the made no sweeping condemnation their families, their homes and That 18 the final picture I have Belgian people..

of the German Army.

their country, Christmas was very of Albert I, King of the Belgians Fearful things have been sad for them."

a tall young man, very fair and "It is impossible to say," was

11 done, particularly during the in-

In the event of the German blue eyed, in the dark blue uni-

the answer,

During the invasion," he said, weighing his Army's retiring from Belgium, do form of a lieutenant-general of his vasion it was very bad. It is a

worda carefully; "bat, it would you believe, as many do, that then army, wearing no ordera or de- little better now, of course; but be unfair to condemn the whole there will be more destruction of corations, standing barebeaded in here we are on the wrong side of German Army. Some regiments cities? Brussels, for instance ?" the wind and pointing out to me

"I think not,"

the direction in which I should go the line to form any ordered jadg- have been most humane; but

to find the general who bad ment. To gain a real conception others behaved very badly. Have

brought me. of the situation would be neces you seen the Government report?" eary to go through the occupied I had heard that a careful invest- I said I had not seen it, though portions from town to town, al- most from house to house. Have igation had been made.

many.

His Majesty's Opinion of the il

Sack of Louvals.

P

Meantime, both in England and The extent of the blow dealt to in France, there is a growing sen- the cotton trade by the diplomatic timent that the Governments' crisis now passing away is shown polior of silence is a mistake. by the return published by the before. The red-haired Fleming heavy one. The German propagpanies for the opening days of the with the fierce moustache who anda in America goes on steadily present month. All new ship- drove it was a speed maniao, and There is no argement where one ments have been stopped in anti- passing the frequent sentries was side only is presented. That cipation of the crisis in Sinc- only a matter of the password. A splendid and solid part of the Japaneze affairs, and even come signal to slow down, given by American prople, the German po of the goods on the way have been the watchful sentry, a hoarse palation, essentially and natural returned. Accordingly the figures whisper of the password as the ly patriotic, keeping their faith in for the period covered by the oar went by, and on again at full the Fatherland, is constantly report show a grave decrease of speed! There was no bothering presenting its case and againas 6,477 bales se compared with the that nothing official has been of same time last month, and of with papers.

On each side of the road were fered.

3,900 bales as compared with the trenches, barbed wire entangle England is fighting beroically, same time last year, the total ments, earthen tarriere, canale stoically; but her stoicism is a volume of the term's shipments filled with barges. And on the vital mistake. This silence has being 8,023 bales. Kobe a share road were lines of transports and nothing whatever to do with in the figures is 4.124 bales, a file of Spahia on borseback, military movements, their success Osaka's 2,461 bales, Yokohama's picturesque in their flowing bar or their failure. It is more fun- 192 bales, Nagoya 0451 bales, nouses, bearded and dark-skinned, damental, an inherent characteris- Mojt's $71 bales, and Nagasakiu riding their unclipped horses tio of the English character, 220% bales. The biggest buyer reserve-perhaps was Shanghai (2,668) bales, then through the roads under single founded on rows of trees that bent forward tinged with that often misunder Tientsin (1514) and Tsingtao like marching men. We rode on stood conviction of the Britisher (1,172). through a village where a pig had that other persons cannot be real- escaped from a slaughterhouse ly interested in what is strictly He is a very courtecus gentle- and was being pursued by soldiers another's affair.. man, with tas eyes of one who-and then, at laat, army head- The Allies are beginning 10 I referred to my last visit to loves the sea, for the King of the quarters and the King of the Bel-realize, however, that this war is Belgium, when Brussels was the Belgiana is a sailor in his heart; gisus. "The Goverument was very

not their own affair alone. It Received by Royalty.

affects the world too profoundly,

About 0,000 tons of TadianTM cautions," His Majesty said. "The capital; end to the contrast now, a tragic and beroic figure, bat

when investigation was absolutely im. Not yet; I may go.

L, a small seaside thinking himself neither-think- There was little formality. I Mentally, morally, spiritually and maize were shipped from Tairen "You should do that-ase be made. Donbte were cast on

partial and as accurate as it could resort hardly more than a village, ing of himself not at all, indeed; was taken in charge by the King's commercially, it is an upheaval in to Kobe since about last March, The bulk of these consignments, contains the court, the residence only of his people, whose griefe equorry, who tapped at a closed which all must suffer. the destroyed towns for youself.

And the English people, who says the Manchuria Daily News, of the King and Queen, and of are his to share but not to lighten; duor. I drew a long breath.

see them."

very flower of their country's to the West, but, owing to the manhood to the front, are baginatiff steamer freights, most of it is ning to regret the error in judge still lying at Kobe and a detsz- ment that has left the rest of the location in quality is fearod English-speaking world in com- Under these circumstances the parative ignorance of the true export of this kind of cereal to Japan has been stopped, but it is situation.

you been in the other part of Belgium ?"

The King's Esteem for Mr.

Wilson,

EXPORT OF MANCHURIAN MAIZE,

Louvain, Aarschot, Antwerpsee all statements-even those of the the various members of the house living day and night under the Madame Rinehart 1"gaid the have sent and are sending the is said to be intended for export

No one can foll you. You must most dependable witnesses-until

I was not certain, that I should

they could be verified."

hold. It seemed to me unlikely rumble of German artillery at equerry, and stood aside. They were verified?"

that would be attacked, as Nieuport and Dixmude in that There was a small screen in be permitted to make each a

"Yes; again and again."

the Queen of the Belgiana is a small corner of Belgium which front of the door. I went round "By the victims themselves?" Bavarian.

remaine to him, journey, but the King waved my

it. Standing alone before the fire doubts aside with a gesture."

"Not always. The victims of

"Do you think L will be He is a King who, without was Albert 1, King of the Bel-

suspicion of guilt, has lost his gians. "You are an American," he extreme cruelty do not live to tell bombarded ?" I asked. said. "It would be quite possible selves have told the story. We

"Why not?" of it; bat German soldiers them-

country; who has seen since last. We talked, almost informally, and you would Eos just what has

"I thought that possibly, on August two-thirds of his army of Belgium and Americs, The They are sending the best they being shipped in considerable happened. You would see open journale, fare many hundreds of Queen being there, it would be towns destroyed, his fertile lande statement was not to me but to as volunteers, go out to fight for Chins. There was a scheme on have had here account of Your Majesty and the lost, his beautiful and ancient King spoke unoanstrainedly. His have men of high ideals, who, quantities to Shanghai and North

thrown open to the sea.. prisoned Germans, farnishing "pared."

the American people. I have re what they consider a just cause, foot at Tairen to found a corn other towns that were destroyed elaborate details of moat atrocions where I go every day," he replied, at work. At Nieuport, Dixmude,

"They are bombarding F---, I went on. The guns were still corded exactly what he said.

The old families, in which love of mill where maize is to be ground after counpation! You would see acts. The Government is keeping Adore are German aerop Farnes, Perwez all along that the

The audience with the King of country and self-sacrifice are tra- into corn meal. However, it was a country ruthletely devastated these journals. They forgis Janes overhead all the time." fiat, flooded region the work of { stranged. The growing belief

had been carefully ditions, have suffered heavily found that the Chinese will have our wonderful monumenta de-

The orux of the situation is nothing but meal freshly ground, stroyed; our architectural and art powerful and incontrovertible testimony of what happened in

The mention of F-brought to destruction was going on. Over that an authoritative statement Belgium-the violation of her They will not tolerate an impair istic treasures sacrificed without Belgium when it was swept over my mind the flooded district near hond, flying high, were two Ger- should be made to Amerion as to neutrality; the conduct of the ired flavour caused by long storage, that village, which extends from man aeroplanes the oyes of the Belgium's situation was directly vading army her annecessary etc. This scheme has been given Nieuport to Dixmude:

commander,

responsible,

and unjustifiable suffering and up.

towns that were tombarded ;|

reason without floation

goyjusti

by a brutal army. That was, of