Daily British Whig (1850), 9 Jan 1919, p. 9

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12 PAGES Che Daily British PAGES 9-12 mmm p-- YEAR 86. NO, 7 4 on. Henri §. Boland, MD, MP. ahaha «My Three Years in a German Prison" PP RRR v WRI C | Copight 1919 AAaharth Adhrhhiharrhurie CHAPTER VIIL F The Germans Are Here, On the morning of October 10, at bout nine o'clock, a messenger alled at our house and, on behalf of a group of citizens, invited me to the City Hall. I gat a loss to know why my Ppreskgcee was wanted there, and decided ©)' go at once. The City Hall was no more than one Hail. gud on ™v way I¥ kilometre distant, had to cross thie unending Trocession of refugees slowly wending their toilsome way in the direction of HoMand. At the City Hall I was met by a number of representative citizens of Capellen, They asked me to join them in receiving the German offi- cers 'who were then due to arrive at any moment. I could realize how hatred was acoumulating in the German heant against Great Britain, for was Britain not the prime cause of their present check---the 'actual obstacle of the military promenade which the Genmans had for forty years dreamed of making from the German frontier' to Paris? The ini tial plan of the German high com- mand had been frustrated, and this disastrous failure they would hold that the English were naturally and justly responsible. I. therefore, suggested to my fellow-citizens that in my quality as a British subject 1 was more likely to be a hindrance than a help to them. They insisted, bhowever--and with some plausibil- ity perhaps--that the German offi- cers would not know to which na- tionality I belonged, and that it was of immediate importance to make as 'good a showing as possible in num- bers--there were - not more than five of us all told, the others hav- ing crossed the fromtfer into Hol- land. Under, 'the circumstances, I accepted their proposal and agreed to stay with them and meet the in- coming Germans. At ten o'clock. an individual burst into the room in Which 'we were assembled and made the simple an- nouncement: 'Gentlemen, a German officer is here." Before the fall of Antwerp I had a close inspection of a number of Genm@gn, prisoners of war as they marched in file and under Belgian escort along the streets of the city,' but I had never yet seen either near, or at 4 distance, a real Prussian of- ficer, and I mast confess that my curiosity was greatly aroused by the' announcement of the Mmininent ar- rival. 'Bre we had time to advance to meet him, there he stood in the' doorway, dressed in the uniform of a captain of German artillery and wearing thé pointed helmet. He gave us the military salute, turned to Mr. Spaet and, speaking in Ger- man, sil that in civilian life he was a lawyer and practised his pro- « fession at Dortmund. He looked at each and every one of us several times as thoughzeearching our souls to discover what were our inmost feelings. and sentiments, . He was manifestly susprised by the fact that Mr. Spaet, a Belgian, could speak su¢h a perfect German, and inquired of him bow he had acquir- ed his knowledfie/ of his own lan: guage. Mr. Spaet replied frankly and honestly, and then asked: "Whaat must we do?" . "Nothing, SA einien we uerman officer. "However, you will not have' to deal' With me; I am only a scout. It Is With Major X----, who will be here shortly, that you will have to make arrangements." y With" these 'words, he took his leave, and 'a few minutes afterwards an automobile, containing. the real negotiator, a Prussian major, . who was accompanied by a very 'elegant Ee - of inh ath of a few spoonfuls of - Grape: Nutsjto, the ~~ menu daily. \ The sum total Lis an 8 ot hosp 1a ALAN nd Vn "No 'Canada food Board Sicense No2026 for | Feaith, oT . ball. This major {jipified the Prus- siap officer my imagination had pic- tured. Resplendent in uniform and glittering helmet, wiih blonde mous- tache trained a ia Kaiser, he stood erect as a letter I, and stiff as an iron rod. At the time there was, teding days, a large crowd -in the public square fronting thes Town It. was the direct route from Antwenp to Holland, and there were now accumulated here refugees from the four corners of the forti- fied position. Seemingly \ annoyed by such a gathering, the Prussian major demanded an explanation, which Mr. Spaet gave without hesi- tation. : "Whither are these ing?" he inquired. | "To Holland," him { "Why?" | "Because they seek 'refuge from German fire," answered Mr. "Spaet. | "But since' Antwerp has fallen, there is no further danger," stated the major. "Tell these people to return to their homes. They will not he molested.' Naturally we fearsd many re- quisitions 'would be made upon us. The major informed us that only horses would be taken. 'We must have horses," he added But it was explained the only horses in Capellen belonged to the (farmers, and these animals were absolutely needed if the crops were to be garnered. "Well," - said after furthér explanations, "only one infantry company will be sent to Capellen, and you must see that the officers are well treated. As to the soldiers, well, you may billet them anywhere you like--in the ochooj-house, for example." y The German officer demanded to | know in which condition were the forts around Capellen. We told him our present impression was that they had all been destroyed by 'the garrisons immediately before stheir evacuation. He took two of our party with him in his automo- bile and; made a tour of the ffrts of Capellen, Erbrand, and Stabroek. He brought us back to the Towa Hall and then departed. I never saw him again. in' the afternoon [October 10, .a company..of. infantey- men arrived in front of the Town Hall. At the. word 'of command, two soldiers left the ranks and en- tered the building. A Tew minutes afterwands the crowd witnessed the | humiliating and "supremely painful ceremony of the lowering of the Bel- lgian flag, which had flown from that flag-staff for nearly one hun- dred. years, and in its place was hoistéd the German standard. Ca- pellen then was definitely subject- ed to enemy occupation. As .Cap- péllen is situated at the, extreme north of the fortified position of Antwerp, consequently the German flag floated as the breeze blew from the frontier of France to the fron- tier, of Holland. And mourning home, as in pre- people -go- Mr. Spaet told the major finally, of Saturday, entered every (To be Continued.y . The death occurrea at Brockville on Tuesday of a popular resident of Elizabethtown in the person of How- ard Weatherhead, son of Mr. and Mrs. Myles Weatherhead, aged twen- ty-two years. The deceased, who was ill only a few days, was born and always resided in-Elizabethtown. ment for $232.50 and costs against Eliza Poole for the recavery of com-7 mission upon the sale of a farm in offteer, stopped in: front of the towathe township of South.Croshy. _-- e ition W. B, Cross in court secured judg-| . KINGSTON, PRIORITY REQUESTS ARE FROWNED urow, Militia Department Points to! Troubles Which Will Arise If Plans Changed. Ottawa, Jan. 9 -- The militia de partment desires it to be known that | an-excegsive numbédrrof requests for priority! of return of soldiers from overseds is heing received hoth at militia headquarters, Ottawa, and at the overseas ministry, London, Eng- land These requests cannot be ae- ceded to, nor man considéraiion be given 'to theém unless they are -based upon compassionate grounds and are forwarded and recommended through | the various military districts in the | usual way It is pointed out that demobiliza tion must be carried on in a system atic way If the door is opened to réturn those for whom application is made by friends in Canada in pri-| ority to. others, the inevitable result will he + widespread dissatisfaction and complaint of favoritism on the part of the less fartunate soldiers, with perhaps prior Tins and longer service If is not unnatural that re quests should he made for the return | of men to resume their civil avons | tiogs! ,and it is .recognized that it is] in the public interest that men for whom civil employment is waiting | should not be held overseas longer than isghbsolutely necessary On} the other hand, men are being re- | turned in accordance with a settled | policy at the rate of many thousands | per month, namely, 20,000 permonth | during Decomber-and January, and | 30,000 per month thereafter | The regu ations governing demobi- | lization were settled only after pros | longed and careful! consideration, and it is neither practicable nor de sirable, viewing the situation as a whole, to deviate from the principle laid down, in favor of those who pre fer requests for immediate return on account of private or business inter- | ests. TO PEOPLE OF CANADA TO GIVE $1,000,000, Soldiers Returuig from: Overseas Will Need Helping Hand of This Efficient Social Service Organiza- tion, Though the Salvation Army has been, since the commencement of the war, one of the most active agencies dealing ' with the comforts and wel- fare of the men who have been fight- ing the mation's battles, it has not made a general appeal to the Canad- ian puplic. The war work of the Army has Peen supported largely by al pg and: {rom self- deniat funds; but the problems of re- construction are so great, and the Army's programme to help the men get back to civil life is so extensive, that it is compelled to appeal to the generosity of the Canadian people for financial assistance, SALVATION ARMY APPEAL ONTA RIO, THU RSDAY. - Article No. 1 Cut out for Reference. J ANU ARY 9, SECOND SECTION a Announcement. ye by the &G] Government every Canadian wants to know, and made 3 Dominica feels that 1s entitled. now 'because if to know, just what plans it has made to meet the problems that face the country. Only now has it been pos- sible to finish the many plans and policies necessitated. From day' to day the Government will use this space to explain what it 1s doing to bring back our soldiers, to ensure the. comfort of their"dependents, to keep the whole nation busy and prosperous. The problem is to take back our soldiers and war-workers into our social and bushes, life under prafer working and living conditions. has four phases:- 1. "2. To bring the soldiers h ful employment. -- It ome. To fit those who have suffered overseas for usc- To have ready for every soldier and war worker an opportunity for employment. To assure for them proper living and working conditions. The plans of the Govelnment are such as will help solve these prob- lems: announcements. supplies for it is doing The Salvation Army evernp Kind of social need; a wonderful work in providing homes for fallen women, in rescuing "the drunkard, and in caring for the fath- erless and neglected children, and it now 'proposes to very extensively in- | crease the scope of its operations in Canada to make it easy for the re- turned soldier to begin the new life, An elaborate programme for the réconstruction campaign is contem- plated by the Salvation Army, W hile } rr ~~ The Repatriation Committee What those plans are will be reported to you in this series of (Signed) _ 1. A. CALDER, OTTAWA population, these are not numerous enough to satisfy all the needs iu that direction, so it iz 'fotended to take over large buildings convenient for the purpose and establish more | hostels in large distributing centres from coast to coast. That is the {the prominent political cliiefs of the 4 orf the general committee are: Hon. I. {| Montreal. tive of Brockville, first object of the campaigh to raise one million dollars. The second object is to provide em- ergency receiving and materrity homes for soldiers' wives, widows and dependent children in need. Still an- other object is to continue during demobilization, both in England and France, the accommodations and the equipment that have made the Sal- vation Army huts the popular insti- tutions that they are among the sol- dier boys. It is felt that the Salvation Army is n'a position, with its war experience and its peace-time work, ta render valuable 'aid tothe official Govern- ment bodiés that are tackling the néw peace problems. For this reason country have endorsed the campaign, and have consented 'to act on the general committee. Si¥ Edmund Walker is the honorary treasurer, and among the prominent members B. Lucas, Hon. H. J, Cody, Hon. R. F. Preston, Hon. G. H. Ferguson, Hon, T. W. McGarry, Hon. W. D. MePherson, Bishop - O'Leary, many others, ¢ Ae o---------- i "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Winship, New York, announce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Grace Norton Winship, to mard A. Johnston, The marriage took place 'on 'Dec. 28th. The groom is a na- and 1 of War Baker has ordered an investi- Collections For Busi iness Houses The satisfactory service which The Merchan ts Bank renders to Business Houses, n the matter of collecting Notes, Drafts ot other financial aper, is due to the numberandstrategic location of its branches throughout Canada, and the efficient system in force. Special attention is given to collections : returns are promptly Made and credited ; losses are often prevented by the care an thoroughnsas with which we do this part of our work. THE MERCHANTS BANK Head Office: Montreal. OF CANADA. Established 1864, : KINGSTON BRANCH, H. A. TOFIELD, CUBA MOURNS COLONEL win Erect Memorial 1 To Ex-President [Roesevelt. Havana, Jan, 9.--Congress unani- mously adopted a resolution, declar- ing Wednesday a day of national mourning in honor of the death of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. It was also 'decided to have inscribed on a bronze tablet a copy of the former President's letter to President T. Es- trada Palma, written on the occasion of 'the "institution" of the republic of Cuba. The tablet 'will be placed in the new capitol building. A monument to cost $175,000 is to be erected to Colonel Roosevelt. Sculptors.in all parts of the world will be #@sked to send Wesigns for the memigrial, 'afi award being given to the person whose design is accept- ed, * om i. vist CHARGES Washington," Jan. gation of the various charges, com- plaints and insinuations tht have been made respecting the work of the Y.M.C.A. in France in connec- tion with its efforts to serve the sol- diers and marines in the A. E¥. These Somplainm have been made ted by returning soldiers ¥ and John R. Mott, gen- eral secretary of the / of the Y.M.C.A. 'has asked DARDANBLLES WAS ABANDONED By the Allies, three years today, January 9, 1916, "» alt} Wind a Turk 3 X YESTERDAY'S ANSWER Upside town in water, Sah AS at ht i

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