VOL. Ill, No. 41 OCTOBER 9, 1943 NEWS FROM BELGIUM AND THE BELGIAN CONGO
BELGIAN INFORMATION CENTER 6 3 0 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
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There seems to be a widespread belief in above petty strife and competition is enti• this country that America is an idealistic na• tled to rearrange the world for others. With tion and that all European countries must a broad gesture they sweep aside the indi• be accounted shrewd realists, if not down• vidual claims of a number of European right cynics. According to this school of countries as expressions of plain selfishness; thought, America is not so anxious to pro• they refuse to cope with arguments based tect her own interests as she is desirous of only, they are convinced, on narrow-minded securing the good of mankind as a whole, egotism. If, by so doing, they behave like a while European nations, regardless of the stray bull in a china shop, they are able to rights of their neighbors, are primarily con• point to predecessors of no mean standing. cerned with their own well-being. It should be remembered that Lloyd George If this were true, the moral standing of became highly indignant at Versailles when the United States, compared to that of the his attention was draivn to the situation in rest of the world, would, of course, be ex• the Banat of Temesvar. Who had ever heard tremely high, and the satisfaction derived of such a barbarous country, the name of from this fact would favorably reflect on which alone was an insult to the mellifluous each and every one of the individuals be• Welsh tongue? Not five years ago, on Sep• longing to such a nation. tember 21, 1938, Chamberlain, the man who This basic idea underlies a good deal of sold out, spoke of "a quarrel in a faraway the recent postwar reasoning of certain geo- country, between people of whom we know politicians and other world planners. They nothing." meaning Czecho-Slovakia, which feel that only that nation which, through he could reach from London by plane in a its undisputable moral position, stands few hours. All of which goes to prove that NEWS FROM BELGIUM OCTOBEE 9, 1943 smaller nations, those who have no chance lutions. If foreign observers are perturbed of belonging to the Big Four, Five or Six, at times when confronted with the Ameri• or whatever you have, are an insult and a can scene, when they fail to understand what nuisance to some men for no other reason is going on, it is primarily due to the fact than that they exist and dare to want their that there is often too great a gap between share in the sun. In certain cases to ask for the principles proclaimed by individuals or that share is regarded by some people, who contained in more or less official statements, don't even care to study the foundation of and the application of those principles. To the claim, as evident proof of a lack of put it plainly without offense: it takes a idealism on their part. great love for the United States and a pro• found knowledge of the dynamic forces of No one who has ever studied the elements this country, not to be frightened to death making up American culture could deny by the distance between Lincoln's noble the tremendous value of the idealistic mo• words on slavery and the sight of Negroes tives in everyday life. It is quite certain that killed on the very steps of the city hall of a a kind of idealism permeates the best part great American city. The remarkable fact is of the intellectual life of this country and that, notwithstanding these horrors, the that, from there, it seeps down into even idealistic impulse of the American man is the most casual expression of the American still a reality, that regardless of pitfalls his way of life. To the European onlooker, a trend is decidedly upward. fundamental optimism is part of that ideal• istic philosophy. Even the most vulgar forms But is, therefore, the nation, in its politi• of smart salesmanship seem to stem from an cal expression, to be regarded as idealistic? idea which is familiar to every man and Is there such a thing as an idealistic govern• ment? There are governments which are woman in this country — that the world is peace-loving and unobtrusive, there are ag• a good place, that people are nice and that gressive and imperialistic governments—im• evil is an accident and a result of poor di• perialism being, after all, a form of idealism gestion or an upset liver. When the cloak• — but there is little evidence of the exis• room girl gives you a smile which a Euro• tence of an idealistic government. For pri• pean woman would bestow only on her most marily a government is and considers itself intimate friends, when a restaurant hostess as constituted to safeguard the interests and asks you in a low, velvety, houri voice "How foster the well-being of a definite number do you feel tonight," as if you had been of people living within a given territory. recovering from a deadly illness and this Machiavelli has been blamed for introduc• night was to be the night of all nights, it ing into politics a revolting cynicism. Of all seems to go back to the Rousseau concep• course, in his age, people cared little about tion that everybody is filled to the brim with the means employed if the end was achiev• kindness and sweetness, and that there is ed, but basically his ideas were exactly those no other problem in the world but the so• of every government, namely: salus populi cial problem, which of course we will solve suprema lex, the good of the people is the before long. supreme law. In international relations a There are, however, other signs of Ameri• government's first duty is to protect and can idealism which are far more impressive: defend its people. There, like everywhere the spontaneous generosity of the average else, it is bound by moral considerations. American man and woman, the eagerness Although in their technique of documenta• and confidence with which they receive mes• tion all governments use a number of means sages from other parts of the world, their which in business or in personal relations constant preoccupation with justice and mo• would seem unfair, they bow to treaties, ral principles rather than with practical so• they fulfill obligations, they are not sup-
[322] N'EWS FROM BELGIUM OCTOBER 9, 1943 posed to take undue advantage of another's tries. In the first World War, the losses of weakness. But idealism supposes a readiness the American Army were eight j)er cent, in to sacrifice one's own good to help others, the Belgian Army they were 34.9 per cent, to suffer so as to alleviate others' suffering, or nearly us high as the British loss of 35.8 to cut one's piece of pie in half and give one per cent. The destruction wrought on a ter• half away. In a democratic regime no body ritory like Belgium, even compared to what of voters would ever ratify such a proposal. happened in France, was enormous. On the Even when a thing like that seems to hap• other hand, the contributions which small pen, behind the scenes one will fmd shrewd countries have made and are still making to bargaining, camouflaged as a noble gesture. civilization are also proportionally greater There are no idealistic governments, Q.E.D. than those of the more fiopulous nations, the best proof being the list of Nobel Prize The providential function of the smaller winners. countries, those who are unable to continue their existence without the goodwill of their On the basis of what they are, on the neighbors, consists in stating the issue of merit of their contribution to the general morality before the world, in a permanent war effort, the small nations have a right to way. Even if they are born or raised as buf• speak. They are the guardians of the princi• fer states, for the sole purpose of avoiding ples which should regulate and determine constant friction between large countries, the world's conduct. When Haile Selassie nobody openly questions their right to exist. addressed the League of Nations for the last When Germany invaded Belgium, it did not time, he was defeated. He was no longer a cynically declare that it wanted Belgium sovereign, he was little more than a cum• and was going to get it. No sooner had it bersome souvenir. It is highly probable that reached its goal than it tried to prove, in his empire democratic principles were through documents allegedly discovered in not enforced with the utmost rigor, but the Brussels and in France, that the Allies had case of his country as such was clear and planned to invade that country. Germany, pure: in stating it he was the embodiment in 1940 as in 1914, merely wanted to "pre• not of selfishness but of eternal principles. vent the Allies from committing a sin against The present day allies closed their ears to international good behavior." This accusa• him, saying like the Athenians to Paul, "We tion, poor excuse as it was, was still an in• will hear you some other day." The other direct homage paid to the sense of moral• day came and brought fire on Paris and ity which should underlie international re• London. lations. Cassandra was a bore, but she was right. When one big country defeats another, It would have been easy for Agamemnon to morality is little involved. For instance, the slap her face and tell her to stop babbling, Russo-Japanese war did not involve the but the benefit of the prophecy would have world in a discussion of right or wrong; here been lost. We need Cassandras and we need was a fight between two apparently equal small nations. and logical adversaries, and no tears were It seems to be the fate of the powerful shed for the loser. But the attack on and that from time to time they become drunk conquest of a small nation has always pro• with power — nations as well as men. He voked a moral reaction. The small countries who has force is tempted to use it most of have no other means of defense but their the time to the disadvantage of a less power• belief in justice, their profound idealism. ful neighbor. The weak are there to remind They are not known to have ever pro• the powerful that there is something besides voked a war, but when attacked, their suf• force. The moral health of the world de• ferings and sacrifices are in general propor• pends on them. tionally greater than those of the big coun• —THE EDITOR.
[323] NEWS FROM BELGIUM OCTOBER 9, 1943
"Tftof Belgium Might Live'
Under the headline "Truly, these died that against the person concerned, he was sent to face Belgium might live," the imderground newspa• the firing squad as a hostage. per La Voix des Beiges pays a tribute to the "Whatever the ground on which they were memory of Belgian patriots who have been shot executed, we bow low before all these heroes, by the Germans. many of whom, indeed the great majority, have As an epigraph, the paper quotes the follow• redeemed and more than redeemed the baseness of a handful of mercenary or irresponsible per• ing observation by the Marquis d'Aytona, Span• sons, and have really shown the enemy that, in ish Governor of the Netherlands, written in the words of ilorillon, Granvelle's friend, 'lib• 1622: erties arc the flesh that clings to the Belgians' "The natural condition of the Country is to fingernails.' Whether hostages or saboteurs, dis• be more inclined to loathe the punishment tributors of pamphlets or radio operators, they than the crime, especially when it is imposed all fell in the same sacred cause, and if Belgium by foreigners and is inflicted on a native." rises again ere long, as we are all sure she will, The text of the article is as follows: it is to them in great part that she will owe that "We give below a first list of 144 of our com• new life—to their simple, spontaneous, imcal- patriots who have been shot for carrying or culating sacrifice, offered without any ulterior transporting arms, possessing arms or dynamite, motive of profit or vainglory—and not, we re• stealing or looting to the detriment of the en• peat, needless though it be, to those few imbe• ciles (it is hard to describe them otherwise) emy, setting fire to stocks derived from requi• who, on the vague pretext of a revolution which sitions, or for sabotage of war material, the mur• is nothing but nihilism, have committed the out• der of traitors, informers or war profiteers, or rage of forswearing both themselves and their acts of violence against the German Army; for own country. espionage, sending wireless messages, harboring "Moreover, the grounds on which they were British airmen, or distributing patriotic pamph• put to death matters little if death itself was lets; for Communist activity, or simply for finally accepted by them as the gift of themselves being of Jewish origin, or, more simply still, to the cause for which they had fought with for being denounced as a person opposed to the more or less purpose, more or less good fortune, New Order. In the last-mentioned case, as it and more or less success. was not possible to bring any serious charge "These are their names:
ANCART, Alexandre, Genval. DE GENDT, Edouard, Bazel. FETU, Jose, Brussels. AINDREE, Jules, Gcnval. DEIIAVAY, Albert, Binche. FIRKET, Paul, Liege. BASOCQ, Robert, Rixensart. DE HOUWER, Louis, Deurne. FOGELBAUM, Brussels. BEGUIN, Paul, Brussels. DELBOSSERIE, Lucien, Deurne. FOUCART, Emilc, Brussels. BORDERIEUX, Edmond, Gcnval. DEMARTEAU, Rene, Cugnon. FRANKAR, Michel, Verviers. BRAECKMAN, Rene, Slcendorp. DEMEUSE, Henri, Liege. GADISSEUR, Georges, Verviers. BRAIBANT, Richard, Berchem. DERARD, Gustave, Gilly. GEVE, Verviers. CARDOL, Jules, Liege. DERAVE, Jean, Binche. GUILAIN, Maurice, Verviers. CARDOL, Gerard, Ans. DE RENTY, Jean, Borgerhout. GOBERT, Achillc, Genval. CHARLIER, Leon, Ans. DEREUME, Edmond, Rixensart. GOUVERNEUR, Albert, Rixensart. CHASSEUR, Charles, Monceau-sur-Sambre. DE ROECK, Camille, Brussels. GUILLISSEN, Jean, Verviers. CLEMENT, Ludwig, Monceau-sur-Sambre. DERWAEL, Jean, Jemeppe. GUISLAIN, Verviers. CLEMENT, Marcel, Monceau-sur-Sambre. DESCHAMPS, Joseph, Brussels. HELBO, Andre, Brussels. CLOCKERS, Monceau-sur-Sambre. DETILLONG, Mathieu, Herstal. HELLINCK, Antoinc, Brussels. COLLIN, Alphonse, Rixensart. DE VALIENS, Jose, Brussels. IIERCKENRATH, Ernest, Brussels. COUCHAIRE, Rene, Berchem. DE VLEESCHOUWER, R., Brussels. HERGZAFT, David, Brussels. COUMONT, Rodolphc, Berchem. DOHY, Leon, Florelle. HERMANS, Paul, Brussels. DACHELET, Gilbert, Brussels. DROSSART, Albert, Brussels. HOLFAITE, Brussels. DECEUSTER, Denis, Rixensart. DUBOIS DE FAYT, J., Gilly. HOFKENS, Charles, Brussels. DECKERS, Joseph, Rixensart. DUJARDIN, Jean, Saint-Niklaas. HUYGHEBAERT, Paul, Brussels DE GENDT, Alois, Bazel. DUMONT, Clovis, Mousty. HUYLEBROECK, Victor, Ghent. DE GENDT, Andre, Bazel. DUPREZ, Pierre, Anderlecht. HUYVENEERS, Feruand, Ghent. DE GENDT, Arthur, Bazel. DURAND, Armand, Anderlecht. ISTASSE, Roger, Ransart. DE GENDT, Charles, Bazel. ERNEST, Omer, Jemeppe. JAMAR, Rene, Seraing.
[324] Belgium at War
Underground Worker Executed. ROGER SCHMIT, a young Belgian who died in an attempt to destroy an electric transformer at Latour near Virton, Belgian Luxembourg. The above picture of Schmit, taken several years ago in his Belgian Army uniform, is from the underground news• paper La Libre Belgique, June I, 1943. Graduation of Officer Cadets. Parade of officer cadefs af an O.C.T.U. in southern England, inspected by General Sir Ronald Adams (in Scotch cap). To his left, Lt. General Van Strydonck de Burkel, Inspector General of the Belgian Army.
Eight Officer Candidates Receive Commission. Inspector General of the Belgian Army Van Strydonck de Burkel talking to Belgian officer candidates who have just received their com• missions at a training school in southern England. The Fortress of Huy. Hostages and political prisoners in the courtyard of the Citadel which has been made into a concentration camp by the Germans. Built high above the town of Huy and commanding a view of the Meuse and its valley, the Citadel is one of Hitler's most impregnable fortresses.
Bells of St. Joseph's to be Melted Down. Lying on the street ready to be carted away and melt• ed into guns by the Germans are the giant bells of St. Joseph's Church in Liege, shown here in a photo smuggled out of Belgium. Protests by the Pope and Cardinal Van Roey were in vain. International News Photo 1940 Disaster. Four days after the invasion of Belgium, on May 14. 1940, the Belgian transat• lantic steamship, the Ville de Bruges, was torpedoed en route from Antwerp to Southhampton, England. The last lifeboat to leave the burning ship is in the foreground, loaded with refugees. NEWS FROM BELGIUM OCTOBER 9, 1943
JOEGHMANS, Romain, Seraing. MELOTTE, Francois, Brussels. RONCHAUD, Georges, Genval. KEMEL, Julien, Laeken. MOGENET, CanuUe, Melreux. SEYMUS, Edmond, Louvain. KEPPENS, Camille, Ans. MOUTON, Alfred, Florennes. STAINER, Albert, Louvain. KOEKELBERG, CuiUaume, De Panne. NICOLET, Charles, Genval. SUY, Joseph, Hoboken. KOEKELBER(;, Joseph, De Panne. NIIIOUL, Ilerve, Iluyssingen. TILQUIN, Marcel, Rixensart. LADRIERE, Marcel, Genval. NIJSEN, Francois, Louvain. THOMME, Eniile, Grand-IIalleux. LAMBERT, Francois, Chatelet. NIKEES, Chretien, Brugge. VAN DE KERKIIOVE, Fr. Anderlecht. LARSEN, Andre, Evere. NISENBAUM, Gilles, Brussels. VAN DEN EYNDE, Emile, Anderlecht. LEBLOND, Edgard, Brussels. NOTTE, Gaston, Brussels. VAN DEN NOUVEL, Edm., Jette. LECONTE, Alexandre, Seraing. PAIUS, Paul, Charleroi. VANDERMAELEN, Vincent, Jette. LEFEVER, Edgard, Zaventem. PAULUS, Leon, Wavre. VANDERSANDE, Jules, Jette. LEISENllOFF, Meier, Zaventem. PEBDROM, Eugene, Anderlecht. VANDEUREN, Omer, Etterbeek. LEJEUNE, Zaventem. PIIILLIPPET, Jean, Anderlecht. VANDEVELDE, Sylvain, Etterbeek. LEMEUR, Francois, Liege. PIERROT, Joseph, Chatelet. VAN DE WALLE, Jul., Hoboken. LEMMENS, Victor, Liege. PILAET, Pierre, Merksem. VANDIEST, Maurice, Genval. LENAERTS, Louis, Liege. PLUMUS, Nicolas, Andrimont. VAN GEEL, Antoine, Genval. LETORT, Robert, Wasmes. POIIL, Henri, Brussels. VAN GEEL, GenvaL LIEBENS, Maurice, Grivegnee. PONET, Joseph, Brussels. VAN IIELLEPUTTE, Norb., Gilly. LOOSENS, Joseph, Jette. RAKOWER, Mossek, Brussels. VAN IIERBRUGGEN, Ed., Uccle. LOSA, Albert, Lodelinsart. RENARD, Eniile, Chenee. VAN TILBORG, Arthur, Brussels. LOUIS, Andre, Brussels. RENSON, Rene, Liege. VERCELLINO, Brussels. ! MALEVEZ, Yvon, Brussels. ROBION, Gaston, Liege. VERSTRAETEN, Aloys, Jette. MAQUINAY, Leon, Beyne-Heusay. ROLAND, Dieudonne, Andrimont WYERS, Henri, Charleroi. MATHIJS, Marcel, Brussels. ROLAND, Joseph, Dison. WYNSBERGHE, Theo, Brussels. "William James," the tribute continues, "said clerks, two municipal employees, a commercial something to the effect that those who die nobly clerk and an industrial clerk; a tinsmith, a ga• may be allowed a few faults—their death ef• rage proprietor and a waiter; a printer, an in• faces all. Had he lived in our day, the Ameri• dustrialist, three engineers and a school teacher; can philosopher would not have stopped there. an Air Force lieutenant; a coal merchant, an He would have added another and infinitely engineer, a motor mechanic, two doctors and a higher significance to death bravely met—the metallurgist; a tradesman, two workmen and a significance which makes Christians say that, factory hand; two police oflicer cadets, a police among all their saints, they place the martyrs superintendent and two inspectors; two house painters, a press photographer, a plumber and first. a priest; a locksmith, a tailor, a wireless tech• "These are very humble 'martyrs,' these to nician and a commercial traveller. whom we pay honor, yet they are more worthy "Whenever possible we have given, besides of our respect for the very reason that most of the surname and, when known, the Christian them come from the masses, and not from the name, also the place of birth or residence, so ranks of a so-called elite which at present, so far that, if need be, the victim may be identified. as one can see, does not seem to be fulfilling its We have endeavored not only to draw up a list duty to the same extent as the lowly, the modest of martyrs, but also to collect as much authentic and those without rank are fulfilling theirs. information as possible about each of them— "Thus in this first list—and we earnestly re• their activities, their last letters, the addresses quest your assistance in compiling others and so of their families, etc. The addresses are passed gradually establishing the martyrs' roll of the on discreetly to our friends whose task it is to years 1940-1943—we have been able to record help the victims, direct or indirect, of the occu• the names of a chauffeur, two hairdressers, a pier, and from the letters we derive lessons shopkeeper, an accountant, a shoemaker and a which may serve as examples to all noble-hearted cook, a furniture mover, an electrician, five men."
"somewhere in a safe place." He was deported 1. Belgium to Germany and then was sent back to Belgium, with other Jewish deportees to build defense A. The War works on the Belgian coast for the German Todt Engineering Organization. Here is the rest of Belgian Escapee Tells Story of Labor his story in his ovm words: Camp — A Belgian Jew, arrested by the Na• "We arrived about 8 p. m. at D. . . ., not zis, recently managed to escape and is now far from the North Sea coast. Our identity and
[325} NEWS FROM BELGIUM OCTOBER 9, 1943
ration cards had been taken away from us. I took a chance and jumped from the train, "As soon as we arrived, we were beaten off falling into a ditch not too badly injured. I the train with rifle butts and started on our crept into a little grove of trees where I spent hour's walk to the camp where we were to be the night. The next day I did some exploring quartered. We were given no time to breathe and was glad to find that, by a lucky chance, and those who stumbled or fell were kicked to I was near familiar territory, where I was given their feet again. As soon as we reached the camp all the help I needed to escape from our en• we were lined up in threes, asked insulting ques• emies." tions which we refused to answer and then told that if any of us tried to escape 50 others of Belgian Workers in Germany — A B e 1 - us would be hanged. There were 275 of us, any• giau who managed to escape from a Ehincland where from 15 to 55 years of age, and at night concentration camp reports that the prisoners we were packed together into a tent like sardines there are so badly fed that they have resorted in a can. There was not room, of course, to lie to eating grass and potato peelings. As punish• down and sleep. ment for the slightest offense, the guards make "The next morning we were taken to the drill- them take off their shoes and beat them with grounds where for two hours we had to fall on sticks on the soles of their feet our stomachs, get up again, march smartly, run, Some of the prisoners are forced to stand at lie down again, crawl for 100 yards on our el• attention for 3G hours, with no rest or food of bows, jump with feet close together and carry any kind, after which they are given a bowl of out all these commands with military prompti• soup and are put on fatigue work. Many of the tude and all together. Of course we made a mess prisoners in this camp are reported ill. of the whole thing, and got our reward in kicks Reports from German bombarded cities say and blows. that Belgian workers are not allowed to write "After this drilling we dragged ourselves back letters of more than one page home. Any il• to the tent for baggage inspection. We looked legible letter is destroyed by the censor. An• on helplessly while our meager belongings were other report tells of rioting in Cologne after plundered. Not a single unworn article was left an RAF raid. The Gestapo finally restored or• us. Our money was also taken, the amount be• der by machinegunning the crowds in the streets. ing recorded in a notebook by a Gestapo agent Other aspects of life in German' camps are for form's sake. It would have been useless to so unbearable that a young Belgian girl is re• try to hide anything since we were thoroughly ported to have written home to her mother in searclied all over. Belgium: "If I may give you a word of advice, "Finally we were each assigned a job, and rather than let my sisters (!ome here, kill them." every morning at 6 a. m. we went off to our work, escorted by S.S. men. Since some of us didn't understand German, orders were carried B. The Occupation out wrongly and we were beaten by our guards and by Todt Organization soldiers. Administration "A particularly gruelling punishment was Last Rites Denied Ghent Prisoners—Con• meted out for the least offense. We had to do a demned prisoners in Ghent are no longer allow• sort of 'steeplechase' in a network of trenches ed the ministrations of a chaplain. On the day with a sack of sand on our backs weighing at they are to be shot, the Nazis put them in a truck least 80 lbs. If we fell, a bucketful of cold with the coffins they are to be buried in and water was thrown over us. One young medical drive them to Riem where they are executed. student who stole a piece of bread was beaten A Belgian underground newspaper, I'lnsournis, unmercifully and given no soup or bread for answers this treatment with: "Our reprisals will be terrible; our martyrs will be avenged." three days although he continued to work. "After several months, we were packed into a train again for some unknown destination. Deserters Arrested for Robbery — German During the journey I suddenly recognized a deserters are being more and more frequently village we were passing through and realized arrested for attempted robberies of banks, post we were heading for Brussels. During the night offices and farms.
[326] NEWS FROM BELGIUM OCTOBER 9, 1943
Economic and Social Life do it himself. An explosive blew up in his hand, T. B. Increase — The Bulletin of Statistics, fatally wounding him. published in Brussels, states that the deaths Six locomotives were completely destroyed caused by tuberculosis in 1942 increased by and several others put out of use. about 25 per cent over the prewar years. Other railroad sabotage during the week in• cluded two troop trains derailed, one at Aulnoy 1,000 Arrested for Work in Germany — where 40 German soldiers were killed and about When their train stopped for a few minutes in 100 wounded, and the other between Thulin the Ghent station, 1,000 Ostend and Ypres and Boussu, with 30 German soldiers killed or workers being deported to Germany made a seriously wounded. Near 'Mous a locomotive and great hue and cry, shouting insults at their 17 freight cars were derailed and in West Flan• Nazi guards who had gotten off the train and ders, at Iseghem, three freight cars loaded with were standing on the platform to prevent any four and a half tons of fiax were set on fire by escapes. Two deportees had managed to escape saboteurs. Tracks at Thulin, llasnuy-St. Jean between Brugge and Ghent by jumping out of and Uccle were blown up and an electric signal a window of the moving train. The 1,000 men box on the Brussels-Luxemburg railway line was had been arrested that same morning while they set on fire causing damage estimated at $05,000. were at work. They were immediately put on a train for Germany without time to take with Partisans Rescue Jews on Way to Poland them food, money or luggage. —Another dramatic exploit took place when Belgian partisans, armed with revolvers and Young Girls Deported to Reich — Ever machine guns, stopped a train from ^[echlin since the end of June, the Germans have been which was carrying 1,500 Jews toward Poland. requisitioning anew 18-and 21-year-old girls While German soldiers guarding the train for forced labor. According to a recent report exchanged shots with the patriots, a few of the from Brussels, girls from the wealthiest districts latter opened the cattle cars in which the Jews of the capital were taken first. Some have been had been locked. The Germans used machine sent to factories around Verviers, near the Ger• guns on the Jews who fled while the patriots man border; others were deported to Germany. distributed money and ration tickets to them as At the beginning of this year the Germans stated best they could. Twenty fugitives were killed that they did not intend to deport young girls and 40 injured, but several hundred deportees and that they would limit themselves to a few managed to escape. hundred hotel employees. At Ilerbesthal, not far from Verviers, women German Newspapers Boycotted — Beports are being requisitioned for work in the North from Belgium state that the population observed of France. a call, broadcast from London by the Belgian Government, to boycott newspapers published Resistance to Nazi Occupation under German control on Belgian Independence Daring Sabotage Wrecks Station, Destroys Day, July 21. Locomotives — News of the most daring ex• The boycott was particularly widespread in ploit carried out by Belgian patriots so far has Brussels, Antwerp, Liege and in industrial just reached here. centers. At Charleroi Bexists (Walloon Fas• Forty patriots surrounded Tournai station cists) tried to cover up by buying up hundreds and ordered the Belgian staff to leave the pre• of unsold copies left In the hands of news ven• mises. For half an hour they piled up explo• dors. Incidents occurred at some of the news• sives in the station and at 9:10 p. m. touched stands where groups of patriots reviled purchas• the first lot off'. From then until 1:30 a. m. an ers. Germans then posted sentries before the explosion occurred every half hour. stands in question. Within a few minutes of the first explosion, German police were on the spot and a German Attacks on Quislings Continue — Belgian noncommissioned officer ordered a Belgian work• patriots are refusing to give any quarter to their man to remove some of the explosive. The Bel• quisling compatriots, and their blacklists fear• gian refused, whereupon the German tried to lessly keep pace with arrests of hostages made
[327] NEWS FIIOM BELGIUM OcTOBEn n, 1043 by the Germans. Within one week at least six the Nazis was reproached for this treachery by traitors were shot and killed and probably many a former friend, lie immediately shot his ex- more unreported deaths occurred. A Belgian friend dead. member of the Gestapo was shot four times as A dramatic occurence took place recently at he was leaving his house in Brussels, and a non• Tongeren in Limburg Province. After one of commissioned officer of the Rcxist Legion was their own comrades had been arrested, a gi"oup shot a day later in the same part of the city. A of patriots kidnapped and held as hostage the police officer in the service of the New Order son of Mr. Leyssen, the new governor of the was shot down at Uccle, suburb of Brussels, and pi evince. This son was a lawyer and had de• at Schooten, near Antwerp, a Belgian section nounced the arrested man. leader of the SS M-as assassinated by patriots. The governor was sent a letter telling him Two Bexists were killed—one at Montigny-sur- that his son would have his head cut off if the Sainbre and the other at Iloudeng-Goegnies, least harm came to the prisoner who, wounded Hainaut Province. A cafe, known to be patron• while he was being arrested, was being treated ized by collaborators, was bombed at Liege and at the Tongeren hospital. in the same city a Belgian night watchman at A few days after the kidnapping of the law• the National Arms Factory, which has been yer, a patriot entered the hospital and shot at taken over by the German Army, was shot by the two Belgian quislings in Nazi uniform who patriots. guarded the wounded man. The attempt to lib• In Brussels, a Belgian now in the service of erate his comrade was unsuccessful.
NOTICE Red Crosa messages from Belgium are being held at the offices of the Belgian Consulate General, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, for tlie following persons, who will please apply in person:
ADLER, William DELORGE, Gustave LEMPEREUR, Alfred n. UTENS, Raymond AELTERMAN, Charles DE WILDE, Jan LEY, Jolian VAN AEL, Louis ALZADO, Gonnnaire DlERCKX,Picter LEYS, Benoit VAN CROMBRUCGE, ANSIAUX, Albert DOM, Frans LOISELET, Mile S. Mollie ANTHEUNISSEN, Alfons DUA, Gustave Timmer- PETERS LOYENS, VAN DAMME, Lulia AYAD-DE-GRAEVE, man Dr. J. T. VAN DEN EYNDEN, Mme Maria EL BACA, Mohamed LUYTEN, Charles Alphonse BARTEELS, Eugene ERZEGOVICII, Pierre MATTHYS, Eniile VANDEVELDE, (3eme- BELLEC, Pierre FONTYN, Marcel MENDELSOHN, Celia canicien) BERNAERTS, Auguste FRANCKX, Joseph MOHN, Capt. Chas. VANDIEVOET, Paul BETZ, Antoine FROST, David MYCKE, Adrien VAN GANSEN, Frans BIGGS, Ilelene FURSTENBERG, Emily NAGELS, Jacques VAN GILSON, Jolin BLONDE, Jerome GABRIEL, Marcel Geor- NAZARENKO, Peter VANHACKE, Manrice BOOGAERTS, Emile ges NEEL, Gustave Ant. VAN IIOLDERBEKE, Paul GALATIS, Josephine OLSEN, Ilarald A. Daniel BOUMANS, Francois GILLE, Gustave PEQUOT, Albert VAN LAER, Alois CARETTE, Felix CYSBRECHTS, Joseph PEETERS, Emile VAN LOOT, Rene CAUTER, William GYSSE^, Frans PEETERS, Maurice VAN KOTEN, Joannes CELTS, Felix HARMENS, Anthony PEETERS, Rene VAN SCHOENBERG, CEUSTERS, Rene HENDERSON, Mme L PETS, Gustave Capt. Eng. CLAESSEN, Matthew HEYMANS, Mme Isidore RENARD, Rene VAN TILBURG, Theo• COHEN, Mayer HOLICKY, Joseph RENIERS, Leopold dore COLLI, Joseph HUYBRECHTS, Frans RICH, Mme M. VAN YPER, Arsene CONINCK WESTEN- HUYCHE, Laurent M. SALMINEN,Karel VERAERT, Leopold BERC, Geo. JACQUY, Roger SART, Eniile VERGUCHT, Joseph CRAPS, Francois JANSEN, Karl L. SCHOOLS, Jean Baptiste VEKHAEGEN, Louis DAMIEN,Jose JANUSSON, Efi SCHOTTE, Raymond Francois DAVIS, Lee Jr. JEAUFFREDT,J. SCIIRICKX, Gustave VERIIAS, Francois DEBRIGODE, Paul JOOSEN, Cornelius SCOTT, Mme Anita VERHOEVEN, Edouard DECLEIR,J. JORDI, Frans SELS, John VERSCHUEREN, Jan DECOMBE, Gerard Chas. LAGAE, Lucien SILVER- VOLKE, Mme Victor DECOMBEL, Jan-Bapti- LALANDE, Constant SIMONS, Harry WATJOU, Jcan-Baptiste ste LAUREYS, Frans SNYDERS,J. WENS, Karl Ludwig DEELEN, Albert LAUREYSSEN, Carlos STAAS, Frans WESTEIM, G. & L DEGELDER- LAUWEREINS, A. S. THEUNISSEN, Alfred WITVRAUWEN, Joseph DE GREEF, Jan LAUWEREINS, Ferdi• TIHELENS, Arthur WOUTERS, Edouard DEGREEF, Pierre nand TOPS, Leopold WYNANT.Jos. DE JONG, Gerard J. LEFEVRE, Louis TROOK, Victor
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