FINE CAREER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 263, 7 November 1939, Page 7

FINE CAREER.

BURGOMASTER MAX.

Man The Germans Could Not

Frighten.

dies aged seventy

Initeil Press .Association.—Copyright.

(Received 10,.i0 a.m.)

Hl!t. SSLLS, November 6.

1 he ilratli has occurred of Burgomaster .Max, ;iged 70.

'''"ecu Llisa bet h. the Queen Mother, xi~it <■( 1 M. Max while lie was

'I lie. Mini,lor of tlx- Interior, M Neve/e. will ii 11 end the lyiiiK-in-atfite.

I In* 1111n'l ii I has lieen fixed for Tillirs<l".v. Iml M. Mux's will desired that there "' "" ollicial honours. ceremonial speeches or elaborate procession.

I lie evening newspapers express regret ■'! 'I ll ' death of Burgomaster Max foliowln" attack ot bronchial pneumonia. »a\s a British official wireless message. "i- a licoiis services to his own count ry in the last war are recalled in 'Jic.it detail.

M. Max ■.cut the following telegram I" 1 1"' Lord Mayor <il London at. the I11111i11 ol Septetnher:— "When tlreat Britain. tii il h till to its promise. cotirape-cu-l\ t,i res ihe trinU .if war. L express lo yoi . tn the members of the corporation ol yonr eiry. and to the |iopnlatinii ot London, my teclin<:s of most enthiisi asl ie comradeship." Adolphe Max. the heroic ei ol 11r11-~el~. was horn there in December I *»!'■!•. ami ~t mlieu law aI. the tin i \er-it y lII' piaiti-ed as a lawyer anil aNo die join nali-t ie work. At an earlv aj;i he was his first important, post. and in Deceinlier. l'.MKt. he \va> made liin umna-t er of HrnsseN. in whicl capacity lie pro\ed a skilful aclm inistra

In Augn-t. inn. when the Germans were approaching the city, he displayed the greatest calmness, ain 1 did everything in his power to allay the fears of the inhabitants. He met the Herman forces out-ifle Brussels on Augu-t. 20. protested again-t the terms imposed on the city, and finally got them to waive their demaiMl that, the Burgomaster and 1(M» citizens should be given up as hostages. Bold Announcements. He declined to sign an agreement to act only under the authority of the German" Military Governor of Brussels and reserved his freedom of action. He I also urged the inhabitants to display the. Belgian tlag. Wlc'ii a German general began an interview with him by ostentatiously placing a. revolver on the table, the Burgomaster replied by putting his fountain pen in a similar position. M. Max i-siied many bold and spirited announcements to the citizens, a notable one being connected with the (<erinan demand that the Belgian flags should bo removed from the houses. This led to his arrest, but he was soon released, only, however, to be arrested again in consequence of a dispute as to the vvai fine to be paid by Brussels which lie brought in requisition notes of the German Army. "Do you dare to mock me?" shouted Field Marshal von der Goltz. "Nour officers," retorted M. Max. "assured me that these notes were as good as bullion. 1 return you your gold."

M Max was taken first to Naimir, then to Cologne and various other t owns, and finally in October, 1»1«, to Berlin, where he was imprisoned. On October 30. MIIK. he was interned at Goslar in the Har/„ but managed to escape just after the Armistice. Posts After the War. Brussels welcomed him back with tremendous enthusiasm. He was appointed a Minister of State portfolio, named in the Order ° f J « ..ml made a member ot the Belgian art »< S, ."'T'r r to ''lbfXmbep. In IMS Brazil fur Ihe Centenary "£ »"ver jubilee of Lis bu rgo in aster ship.