VOL. II, NO. 11 N E W Y O E K, N . Y. MARCH 14, 1942

These periodical bulletins may be obtained on request addressed to the BELGIAN INFORMATION CENTER, Room 3055, 630 Fifth Ave., New York Donald Duck Gets Hurt

"L6on Degrelle, leader of the Rexist move• ment, has been wounded in Russia while warding off an enemy air attack."—RADIO SAPLITZKY BERLIN, Mar. 5, 1942.

It is a matter of constant amazement to Euro•Chantal. After the elections of 1938 in which peans that Americans as a rule have a decided he ran against Van Zeeland, the Rexist Party weakness for colorful characters, regardless ofdwindled like Lenten snow. It was clear by then their moral standing. Billy the Kid has always that Degrelle got his orders and funds from been much more admired in this country, for Berlin and Rome. The Fascist radio gave him instance, than Blessed Mother Cabrini. ample occasion to insult the Belgian Govern• Belgians in particular have been completely ment. He was seen and followed in Berlin. But puzzled by the amount of publicity which the all his intrigues were of little importance with antics of the Fascist agitator, Leon Degrelle, regard to the absolute unity of the Belgian have received in the United States from a people against the Nazi menace. His machina• generally well-informed press. Belgians have tions belonged to political vaudeville and not always known perfectly well that he was a tem• to international politics. However, the rest of porary phenomenon. They did not, like some Degrelle's story may have an interest and a American correspondents, picture him as a part moral for all people at war. of the general movement of totalitarian ideas When the Nazis invaded , the Bel• in Europe. They knew he lacked originality as gian authorities put Degrelle in custody and well as real guts, honesty as well as conviction.later sent him to France. He was released by They had followed him in his brief career as his friends, the Germans, for his former attitude a crooked politician and an unscrupulous dema• put him in line as the ideal "Gauleiter." But the gogue of the mud-throwing school. To the Germans, who were wooing the Belgians in the American onlooker he was a typical example of first months of the occupation, waited to see if experimental Naziism. To his disgusted country•Degrelle really "had the Belgian people behind men, he was nothing but the quacking Donald him" as he pretended. They soon found out that Duck of Belgian politics. the people the Rexists claimed as followers were Degrelle attained the height of obscene ridicu•trying to shoot them, as evidenced at Tournai lousness the day he claimed bankruptcy—having and , where Rexist Party leaders were transferred his property to his wife's name—and murdered. announced with dramatic lamentations that he So once again Degrelle became a political had even had to sell the cradle of his daughter. nonentity. When the "crusade" against Russia NEWS FEOM BELGIUM MARCH 14, 1942 began, a couple of hundred folloivers (out of a Besides, the Belgians have not forgotten what population of 8,300,000j joined the anti-Soviet Degrelle wrote after the invasion. They remem• league and solemnly departed for the eastern ber that this lackey of the Nazis repeatedly at• front. Apparently Degrelle's health had im• tacked some of his own countrymen, that he proved with the advent of war for he had never asked the German authorities to punish those done any military service in the Belgian Army, who did not approve of the New Order, inciting nor had he volunteered to defend his country the Nazis against his own people, and begging since September 1939. them to be hard and strike hard. Now comes the news that he has been Americans should not wonder at the amount wounded. It may seem cruel to make fun of a of hatred men like Degrelle provoke. They man who is down, but the Belgians have two should learn from this story how far Quislings good reasons for not taking the news too serious•can go—even in their impotence—in taking re• ly. First of all, they are used to the fact that venge on their compatriots. Every country has Degrelle has often started to war but never yet its traitors. They deserve only one kind of got there. He went to Mexico during the revo• epitaph, that trenchant French phrase: lution, where he wrote a book on the condition "Morte la bete, mort le venin." of the Church, but it is still doubtful if he ever But it is better to write their epitaph before set foot on Mexican soil. He went to Spain to they compose an epitaph for democracy and support Franco, but nobody saw him at the decency. front. And now he has gone to Russia. —THE EDITOR

If we consider that Britain has a population I. Occupied Belgium of J).0 million and Belgium a population of only 8 million, these figures mean that if Belgium A. War and Its Aftermath had 1^0 million inhabitants, the increase in the number of the dead would amount to 125,000 The New YorJc Times, Berne, Mar. 8. —• Belgians as against 38,000 in Great Britain.'] Europe's death rate, excluding war dead, in• o creased between 1938 and 1940, with infant mortality rising especially sharply, the statistic• INBEL, London, Feb. 18.—All Rumanians in al year book of the League of Nations disclosed occupied Belgium who were born in 1922 have today. been summoned by the Rumanian Consulate Infant mortality in 1940 increased in Bel• General in Brussels, in order to register for mili• gium from 73 to 89 per thousand, in France tary service. —o from 63 to 91, in Italy from 96 to 104 and in Eumania from 176 to 189. INBEL, London, Mar. 4.—The Italian press The general death rate in Germany increased is canvassing for the nationalization of the from ll.C per thousand in 1938 to 12';7 in 1940; Italian branch of the Wagons-Lits and Inter• in Belgium, from 13.1 to 16.1; in Britain, from national Express Company. At present, 60% of this company's shares is in the hands of II. 8 to 13.9, and in Rumania, from 18.6 to 19.2. Belgians and French. The data, collected despite v.'ar diiliculties, showed that the world population in 1939 in• creased to 2,170,000,000. L'Independant, Woonsocket, R. I., Feb. 20. The result of the 1941 census of British India —The Belgian Administration Reconstruction showed a population of 389,000,000, which far Commission has published the official listing exceeded estimates. Japan's population, like• of the destruction caused by the war. One fifth wise rose more than expected to 73,000,000. of the cities and villages is untouched; 9,832 [In an editorial published on March 10, The houses have been completely demolished; 24,156 New York Times, commenting on those statis• badly damaged; 16,710 slightly damaged; 352 tics, figures out that in Belgium 25,000 and in factories, 6,000 miles of roads, 100 railroad England 38,000 civilians who would not have stations and warehouses, 1,455 bridges and tun• died if there had been no ivar actually did die nels destroyed. Reconstruction will cost 13 in IHO. billion Belgian francs.

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The main damage is concentrated in a terri• tory reaching from the Meuse to the Lys. Brus• The Occupation sels, , Liege and Ghent are practically Administration untouched. However, the cities of Tournai, Louvain, Echo de la Bourse [Nazi-controlled], Brus• Nivelles and Ostend were badly bombed. In sels, Jan. 22.—Two decrees have been issued, Tournai, for instance, almost all the historical concerning an extension of workmen's compen• landmarks were destroyed, the cathedral giitted sation to cover injuries due to acts of war. by fire, and three other churches, as well as [These decrees tend to show that the Nazis are 1,200 houses destroyed. Ostend is in ruins. placing Belgian workers wherever there is a Thirty thousand workers are now being em• danger of British air raids.] ployed on its reconstruction.

Radio Bruxelles [Nazi-controlled radio sta• Radio Bruxelles [Nazi-controlled radio sta• tion], Brussels, Feb. 15.—The Belgian Red tion], Brussels, Jan. 10.—An edict just issued Cross at Lisbon has just made arrangements to has created a Department of ]\Ietropolitan Ad• send 1,200,000 cans of sardines to Belgian ministration. This department will be in charge prisoners in Germany. The shipment will con• of the administrative unification of Antwerp, sist of 2G0 tons of goods, including 12,466 boxes Brussels, Ghent, Charleroi and Liege. of sardines, which will be parceled out in Geneva and sent to the several camps. Hamhurqer Fremdenhlatt, Hamburg, Feb. At the same time, an announcement was made 14.—The Nazi program of "rejuvenating" the by the Belgian Red Cross that, as of January administration of Belgium by requiring all men 31, 1942, 2,400,000 parcels had been sent to over GO to resign and by sponsoring the appoint• war prisoners in Germany. At present, approxi• ment of younger men has produced the best re• mately 200,000 parcels monthly are being sent. sults in the province of Antwerp. In the Wal• 0 loon districts, the process is slower, Brussels Le Pays Beel \Nazi-controlled], Brussels, has not even got a new mayor, and the gigantic Jan. 14.—This newspaper has just interviewed organizational problems there have not yet been a Belgian conple, returning from France. They attacked. had left for the South in May, 1940, and were The larger cities are being given special at• forcibly detained for 16 months in a Pyrenees tention and Ghent, Liege and Charleroi are concentration camp. There are still from 2,000 already in the process of reorganization. to 3,000 Belgian prisoners being held in the camps of Argeles, Rivesalte and St. C'-"r>rien. The French authorities do not grant Belgian IKBEL, London, Feb. 28. — The Brussels refugees any means of keeping in touch with [Nazi-controlled] radio is now broadcasting their relatives still in Belgium. local information as well as foreign and national The physical state of these Belgians is fright• news. This policy has been made necessary by ening. They are literally devoured by lice au'i Belsrian reluctance to listen to German-con• weakened by prolonged undernourishment. trolled radio stations. Their food is not only insufiicient; it is often The circulation of controlled papers among inedible. the population, however, is also decreasing. In an attempt to increase circulation, all commnni- Le Fays Reel \Nazi-controlled], Brussels, Jan. 28.—The Belgian hospital train, which ques concerning rationing coupons and simil:!r left for Germany last week, returned yesterday information are printed only in newspapers; to Antwerp, bringing back 317 ill or wounded the knowledge of this news is essential to the prisoners. public. Among these, some will immediately be de• These tactics, however, have had little effect; mobilized and sent back to their homes, and people still do not listen to the German-con• others will be transferred to several hospitals trolled radio stations and the newspapers are of Greater Antwerp to receive necessary medical continually complaining of the contempt in care. which they are held. The weekly Nazi-controlled

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paper Le Travail states that "many Belgians citizen and a 16-year old legionaire. In an inn, refuse to read the controlled papers, which they he encountered "Degrelle.. .busy dancing the say are not free." tango with some Ukrainian girls who could hardly be described as shy." [Degrelle is the Belgian Rex-Fascist leader who wrote recently Political Life in one of his periodicals that he urns suffering INBEL, London, Feb. 17.-—Propaganda for Hell in the mud and the cold of Russia!] the recruiting of Rexist and Flemish National- Socialist legionaires into the German Army in Russia has been increased. The Germans are Economic and Social Life promising free passes to all wishing to go by TxBEL, London, Mar. 5.—A Siberian cold, train from their homes to recruiting offices. reminiscent of 1917, has settled down over Bel• gium. The temperature is at 10 to 15 degrees below zero, and rivers and canals are frozen Het Nieuivs van den Dag [Nazi-controlled], solid. In downto\vn Brussels the snow is several Brussels, Feb. 17, announces that all Rexists feet deep, and traffic has been reduced to a and Flemish National-Socialists who sent wool• minimum. Ice covers all the streets even in the en and fur goods to the soldiers on the Eastern outer sections and accidents are frequent. front are to be given priority in all future pur• People who own ski suits wear them on the chases of textile products. streets, and even sledges are used for carrying goods. But lack of coal creates the greatest hard• ship and there are few heated houses today. Le Pays Reel [Nazi-controlled], Brussels, Those who can, wear furlined jackets indoors Feb. 3, reports that a Mrs. Jadoul, Rexist De• and those who haven't any are suffering terribly. puty District Leader, was publicly rebuked for The poor who must eat at a communal kitchen showing a lack of enthusiasm for National- go early in the morning, hoping to warm up a Socialism. little in front of the fire. Another woman Rexist, Lucienne Foucoux, of Brussels, was dismissed from the Rexist The Rexists and Flemish National-Socialists Youth Party as unworthy to help in the Na• are taking advantage of the people's misery by tional-Socialist revolution. calling meetings as often as possible in the hope of attracting the public with announcements The leaders in the Namur district have been that their rooms are heated. publicly denounced for being inexcusably ab• sent from a leaders' meeting in Brussels. [Mem• bers of the Rex-Fascist party are quitting in INBEL, London, Mar. 5.—A number of mines increasing numbers.] in occupied Belgium are in financial difficulties owing to the rise in working costs and a decrease INBEL, London, Feb. 21.—The Flemish Na• in production. A fund was recently set up into tional-Socialists have taken over the administra• which the Central Administration is paying 30 tion of Maldeghem, a commune of 11,000 peo• million francs a month as subsidy. ple in Eastern Flanders. A similar system of compensation has now In spite of strong public disapproval, they been announced for textile and other trades have rechristened North Street, Adolf Hitler through the Department of Economic Affairs. Street. Factories which under present circumstances A section of the organization, De Vlag (Deut- are idle, will be assisted by those which are still sch-Vlamische Arbeitsgemeinsehaft) is working able to run. These latter will pay a tax which there under the direction of the National-Social• will be divided among the bankrupt industries. ist Dr. Delille. Overseas News Agency, London, Mar. 8.— Der Angriff, Berlin, Feb. 4.—German war Belgian sources reported today that hospitals correspondent Herbert Neumann writes about in occupied Belgium are crowded with patients his trip to the Russian front where he visited who are brought in as hunger victims, many of the Walloon Legion which "has faith in Eur• whom die after two or three days from sheer ope." He spoke of meeting a 50-year old Brussels exhaustion.

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Convalescents have to leave the hospitals be• The stockholders of the Banque Nationale fore they are well in order to make room for are in the danger of being in a situation ana• newcomers, according to accounts reaching here. logous to that of the Christians in the 14th Medical supplies for the hospitals have almost century. Upon the death of Governor Janssen, stopped, and food is completely inadequate. Mr. Goffin was legally appointed as his succesor. In the military hospitals severely wounded There is no question as to the legality of his men are fed only a few vegetables and one appointment. potato for a meal. The state of health of the But, adding another ludicrous fantasy to those population is gradually deteriorating. for which they have been famous for the last Last month, the inhabitants of Brussels ex• year and a half, Pierlot and his three pals exiled pected that the monthly potato ration would be in London have decided to name their own bank- 30 pounds per person, but only four pounds director. Their choice is the distinguished were available. It is estimated that the potato politico-financier, Mr. Georges Theunis. [The supplies are 300,000 tons short of the require• Supreme Court of the State of New York has ments. just recognized the Belgian Government in exile Well-informed circles here believe that there as the only legal authority to act in the affairs will be famine in the majority of Belgian homes of the Belgian National Bank of which Mr. by the end of the winter. Lack of fodder has Theunis has been appointed governor without aifected the livestock, and almost all slaughter• salary. Cf. page 88.] ing has been halted. What milk and butter there is, is reserved for old people and children. Vege• Le Nouveau .Journal [Nazi-controlled], Brus• table fodder and beet seeds are unobtainable. sels, Jan. 19.—The National Society of Belgian Railroads has been forced to drop a certain number of passenger trains. [Probably because INBEL, London, Mar. 4.—A collaborator of the Germans requisition still more and more the German-controlled Brussels Radio visited a carriages and locomotives for their own use.] workers' camp at the Brandenburg ironworks 0 where he interviewed a woman worker from Le Soir [Nazi-controlled], Brussels, Jan. 24. Brussels. —The continued bitter cold has caused a marked "As in the case of many of my country• decrease in the milk production of the country. women," she declared, "it was the lack of work The decrease from November to December was that made me board a train for Germany. I have 12% of production, and from December to two children, a boy of fifteen and a twelve year January, 20%. [The cold and German plunder• old girl. Up till then, I had not thought of ing, of course, prevent the Belgians from getting traveling. Forty-three years of my life were even scant quantities of milk.] spent in my native town of Brussels, and I hope to return for good as soon as it is possible." Le Soir [Nazi-controlled], Brussels, Jan. 2. She added that her only reason for going to •—Chicory is now being rationed at 125 grams Germany was to alleviate the miseries suffered monthly and butter rations have been decreased by her children owing to the war. She had first from 250 to 200 grams. [Even so, these rations been sent to a china factory in the Tyrol, in the are unobtainable.] company of two workers from Ghent and Ant• werp. There she fell ill and after returning to Le Soir [Nazi-controlled], Brussels, Jan. 22. Brussels she found herself forced to leave again, —Twenty-one thousand two hundred and thirty this time for the outskirts of Berlin. tons of Dutch potatoes have already been im• o ported and distributed as well as 3,450 tons of Le Pays Reel [Nazi-controlled'], Brussels, new potatoes and 13,500 tons of potatoes of Jan. 15.—During the great occidental schism German origin. The quantity of new potatoes the faithful did not know whether to honor the has been doubled since last year. As of this Pope of Rome or the Pope of Avignon. They date, as a matter of fact, the number of imports were sure that only one was legitimate, but it surpasses 1941's by more than 10,000 tons. was difficult to know which one. The issue was [But the average Belgian still cannot get a particularly confused by political interests. normal ration of potatoes.]

[85] NEWS FEOM BELGIUM MARCH 14, 1942

Briisseler Zeitung [Nazi-controlled], Brus• Echo de la Bourse [Nazi-controlled], Brus• sels, Jan. 25.—The report of the National Bank sels, Jan. 15.—During the first ten months of shows Fr. 11,090,000,000 in the Checking Di• 1941, 1,529 corporations reported losses total• vision and a state credit of Fr. 15,550,000,000. ing Fr. 214, 836,000 [nominally $7,161,200]. The credit circulation is Fr. 49,160,000,000. o

0 Echo de la Bourse [Nazi-controlled], Brus• Briisseler Zeitung [Nazi-controlled], Brus• sels, Jan. 17.-—The philatelic market shows sels, Jan. 29.—A special permit is required for little activity. Transactions are not large, and clearing money through Holland. This applies quotations are almost static. [It is characteristic to any amount over 1,000 francs. of the little faith the Belgians have in markets controlled by the Germans, that stamps are now listed on the .] The New Yorh Times, Berne, Mar. 7.— Conscription of labor in some occupied terri• Echo de la Bourse [Nazi-controlled], Brus• tories, much discussed in recent weeks, seems sels, Jan. 16.—The number of transactions on to have actually begun. Advices from Antwerp, the Brussels Stock Exchange has considerably Belgium, tell how skilled workers from auto• decreased. There is no doubt that the market is motive plants there received orders this week psychologically affected by speculation about to entrain at short notice for Germany. [During the duration of the war. World War I, the Germans also forcibly de• The parallel deflations of credits should be ported Belgian workers to Germany.] examined in the light of the fall in the level of production and consumption. [Most industries produce only 30% of their normal capacity.] National Zeitung, Berlin, Feb. 5.—The in• dustrial reorganization of Belgium has been ac• o Briisseler Zeitung [Nazi-controlled], Brus• complished. Seven hundred thousand directors sels, Jan. 25.—Measures have already been of concerns have been registered in the new taken to insure a further decrease in the con• economic organization. All of industry has been divided into major groups and technical sumption of gas. Infractions will be severely classes, following the German example. [In punished. [Gas is as important to the Belgians other words the Nazis can better control Belgian now as electricity to the Americans.] industry through rigid organization.] Radio Bruxelles [Nazi-controlled radio sta• tion], Brussels, Jan. 5.—Officers and soldiers, Radio Bruxelles [Nazi-controlled radio sta• if ill when released from prison camps may get tion], Brussels, Jan. 8.—Mr. Gerard, General for a period of three months an extra monthly Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ration of fifteen stamps for milk and thirty of Foreign Commerce, and Mr. Kelner, Director stamps for meat. [But whether they actually of Commercial Policy in the ^Ministry of Agri• get the milk and meat is doubtful.] culture and Food, are going to Paris to negotiate with German and French authorities for the Briisseler Zeitung [Nazi-controlled], Brus• purchase of wheat. Belgium, in exchange, is sels, Jan. 31.—The number of unemployed has to supply horses, copper sulfate and industrial increased recently from 68,416 to 77,591. products. [Such negotiations were already undertaken some time ago but were nullified by Cultural and Religious Life the Germans.] The New York Sun, Mar. 10.—The Vatican radio today broadcast a pastoral letter of Card• • Radio Hilversum [Nazi-controlled radio sta• inal Van Roey, Archbishop of Mochelen and tion], Holland, Jan. 10.—Belga [a neics agen• Primate of Belgium, calling upon Belgians "to cy] announces that commercial talks will be be faithful to their fatherland, proud of its held between Belgium on the one hand, and past and confident of its future." Holland, Switzerland, Italy and the Scandin• The broadcast, picked up here by the Colum• avian countries on the other. Amounts of ex• bia Broadcasting System shortwave listening ports for 1942 will be determined. station, said tliat the letter was read in all

{86} NEWS FEOM BELGIUM MARCH 14, 1942 churches of the Cardinal's archdiocese on Feb• and Wuestwezel. The painting of "The Descent ruary 15. From the Cross," by Nicaise de Keyser, and "The supreme good of society demands that the Renaissance furniture, in the church. of the church be able to exercise freely her mission Sandvliet, have been preserved. in the world, and no new order can be bene- ficient that does not recognize the historic order Briisseler Zeitung [Nazi-controlled], Brus• established by God, in which individuals, fami• sels, Jan. 26. — A film showing Germany lies and peoples, all humanity, is set up in "Deutschland iiber Alles" is running in Brus• Christ and for Christ," the pastoral declared. sels. The commentary is by Edgar Delve, a VNV [Flemish Nationalist] party member. Verordnungsblatt [German official gazette'], Brussels, Jan. 6, announces that a Brussels de• cree places all artistic and literary copyrights Resistance to Nazi Occupation in Belgium under the control of the Nazi oc• The New Yorh Times, Berne, Mar. 11.— cupation army. [This army probably acquired Several persons were killed and an unspecified an artistic taste by plundering private art col• number seriously injured in the Brussels market lections.] place yesterday when two "terrorists" threw a bomb during the departure of a formation of INBEL, London, Mar. 4.—Two Liege churches Walloon legionaries to fight with the German have been damaged by the war; Saint Jacques, armies on the Eastern Front. a beautiful 16th century example of flaming It was the seventh bombing, shooting or Gothic, and St. Nicholas, whose carved oak knifing incident in the Belgian capital in three decorations dating from the Regency period days. In the first four outbursts several mem• were, however, saved. bers of the Degrelle Rexists were injured and The church of Seraing, near Liege, has also two were killed. The occupying authorities been damaged. At Huy, the Battia House, a warned the population that such violence "would late Renaissance building, has been partly de• meet with serious consequences." stroyed; Argenteau lost an 18th century church The answer to this warning, according to an and Berneau, an old 17th century house. unconfirmed report, was the death of another In the Vesdre region, the church of Foret was Rexist less than 100 yards from the German destroyed. This landmark dated from the 15th headquarters where his body was found in day• century. Near Foret, on the left bank of the light with a large V painted on the back of his Vesdre, the church of Beaufays, dating from the coat. I7th century, is in ruins. There has been no announcement of reprisals Many churches near Antwerp and Lierre have but several arrests were made. also suffered heavily and there have been numer• ous losses on the Dutch frontier from Loenhout L'JJnion Nouvelle, Los Angeles, Feb. 21.— and Sandvliet to Zwijndrecht and Burght. The Bhodesia Herald, appearing in the capital The high tower of the church of Kessel has of Southern Rhodesia, recently published an been gutted by fire and the Gothic church of article on the Belgian underground press. Loenhout destroyed. The church of St. Leonard, Under the title of "Prophets of Liberty," the which was only slightly damaged, suffered, paper recalls that no people has shown a more however, the loss of its four famous 16th century unconquerable spirit against the invader than windows. The baroque interiors of the churches the Belgian people during the last war. of Grobbendonck and IMeerhout have been com• In the present war, the Belgians, united pletely destroyed, and Beerendrecht, Brecht and against the Germans, national enemy No. 1, Bever's towers are all in ruins. maintain their heroic reputation, especially Three modem churches, at St. Job-in-'tGoor, through the publication of underground papers and Burght were hit, as well as the whose variation of opinions proves the ardent church at Zwijndrecht and the 18th century attachment of the Belgians to democratic tradi• chapel of Arendonck. tions. Four Gothic towers, though harmed, are re- The Ilhodesia Herald then shows the import• storable. These are at Berlaer, , Gestel ance of this press, which keeps up the courage

[87] NEWS FEOM BELGIUM MAECH 14, 1942 of the people, and constitutes a contemptuous York, to the courts of a country which refuses challenge to the invader, whose assurance can• to recognize the Government of Belgium or en• not but be shaken by so much devotion to the force decrees upon which the title of the plain• sacred cause of the Nation, and by so much con• tiffs depends is, in effect, to deny to them any tempt and hatred. right to litigate in any tribunal their rights After having recalled the scourging wit of under the laws of Belgium as promulgated by the Libre Belgique, revived in 1940, the Rhodes- its legitimate government." ian journal concludes by extending to the Bel• gian population the expression of its admiration In Great Britain and of its genuine sympathy, and of its hope INBEL, London, Mar. 2.—A new Belgian soon to see Belgium rededicated to a free and fighting squadron has been equipped by the independent life. Belgian Government in exile with the latest "The heroic action of the underground press types of Spitfires. The squadron is manned by is a source of inspiration for all free peoples." young Belgian officer-pilots who have recently completed their operational training. In handing over a flag to the squadron, in 2. the presence of Sir Sinclair, British Air Sec• retary, Mr. Camille Gutt, Belgian Minister of In the United States War, said: "Flag of the airforce I In the past you waved NEW YOEK, Mar. 5.—The Banque de France over a free and peaceful Belgium—a loyal and presented a petition to the Supreme Court of independent Belgium. Then for more than a the State of New York asking it to set aside an year, you lay buried yet safe from the trampling order of the Appellate Division allowing a judge of enemy feet until the day you were rescued by to hear an action brought before a court by the a Belgian hand and unfurled once more in a Belgian Government-in-Exile against the bank, free country! in the matter of the French gold in the United States attached by the Belgians in compensation "Flag of the airforce! For all of us you re• for the Belgian gold withheld by the French call the Fatherland: today crushed but never Government. conquered; tomorrow free." The flag is the original formerly given by The Supreme Court has dismissed the peti• King Albert to the Belgian Airforce. It was tion of the Banque de France, stating namely: brought over to England recently and bears the "If we sustain its (i.e. Banque de France) inscriptions: "Liege, Antwerp, Namur, Yser, contention that its property here is immune Flanders" in memory of the battles in which from process of the courts of this state in an Belgian pilots distinguished themselves in World action brought here by persons claiming to be War I. assignees of the foreign owner of a cause of action for conversion of gold in France or for breach of contract made in either France or Belgium, these plaintiffs, though residents of this state, must resort to the courts in Belgium LEOPOLDVILLE, Mar. 13.—Pierre Ryckmans, or in Paris, jurisdiction occupied by Germany, Governor General of the Belgian Congo, handed a power with which this country is at war, or over to the British authorities a sum of 44,200,- at best to the courts in unoccupied France, a 000 francs [about one and a half million dol• country which accepts as law the decrees of the lars] for the purchase of fighting planes. group of men who claim, under the aegis of The sum was subscribed to by the people of Germany, to be authorized to act as the Govern• the Belgian Congo and some of the forty planes ment of Belgium, though the United States to be bought will be manned by the Belgian Air recognizes as the only legitimate Government of Force in the defense of England. Belgium the group of exiles who are exercising The fighter-planes will bear the names of the governmental power entrusted to them by the principal victories in Africa achieved by the laws of Belgium in a coimtry not subject to the Belgian Congo forces in World War I and in domination of Belgium's conquerors. To rele• 1941, as well as the names of Belgian colonial gate the plaintiffs, though residents of New pioneers and of certain Congo cities.

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