Belgium's Forbidden Newspaper Flourishes Again

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 121, 24 May 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

Belgium's Forbidden Newspaper Flourishes Again

By Norman Collins

OUT of German-occupied Belgium has filtered the report that "La Libre Belgique," famous underground paper of World War 1., is back in circulation. In the early dawn, stealthy figures crawl through Brussels streets with copies of the forbidden paper tucked away under their clothes. The paper is secreted in shipments of food, concealed in hollow canes and umbrella handles. Priests outwit Gestapo agents by carrying bundles of the precious journal beneath their flowing cassocks. Behind drawn blinds, Belgians eagerly read it. The elusive-, anonymous figures behind this phantom newspaper have an almost impossible job to perform —the task of publishing an uncensored, rebellious journal under the very noses of the Gestapo. Famous Predecessor The jon seemed just as impossible in 1915, when Victor Jourdain and Eugene van Dorcn got out their first crude issue. But for nearly four years, under incredible hardships and difficulties, "La Libre Belgique"— Free Belgium—kept aglow the flame of liberty during the terror-filled years of Imperial Germany's domination. Its editors insolently taunted the conquerors. Regular copies were delivered to the German Governor-General of Belgium. And frequent issues were laid on the irate Kaiser's desk in Berlin. "La Libre Belgique's" conspirators were constantly in danger of their lives, were incessantly hounded. Several times the paper was nearly run to tne ground, but always it sprang up again to flaunt Belgium's spirit before the German masters. The first issue of "La Libre Belgique" appeared February 1, 1915. It was Victor Jourdain who had first presented the idea of an uncensored paper to van Doren. Jourdain had been editor of the "Patriot" before the German invasion. He had closed clown his plant—when the German army marched through Brussels—at the suggestion of Burgomaster Adolphe Max, and had refused to publish a German-controlled organ.

As the weeks rolled on van Doren, a man of delicate features and gentle disposition, improved the methods of concealment and built up an extensive underground organisation. Despite the number of people involved in handling and distributing the thousands of copies of "La Libre Belgique." only a handful knew where it was published and by whom. Van Doren was careful to forge a chain that might break a hundred times, yet not destroy the central organisation. Printers were changed frequently—whenever another was arrested or the job became too hot. Van Doren finally established the printing plant in a secret chamber under a small cardboard plant behind his house in Brussels. From this plant was issued the 30th number of the paper and the first one to carry an illustration. It was a faked photograph of General von Bissing, GovernorGeneral, reading a copy of "La Libre Belgique." General von Bissing, cold, arrogant, cruel, was determined to crush the uncensored paper which took particular delight in jibing him and which referred to him as von Bis-Singc—"double monkey." But despite the damage his agents were able to score against the underground organisation, he died without having suppressed the paper. He found copies of it everywhere —at his breakfast table, in his files, in his grocery orders, on his desk. And as a result of his mounting rage, German police were very nearly successful in stopping the paper after a gigantic round-up on the night of April 13, 1916. He Was Nearly Caught The story of that wild night is recounted vividly in "Underground News" by Oscar Millard. Van Doren's daughter saw German police congregating outside the house late that afternoon, and she ran to warn her father. In a moment he made up his mind to flee, despite the dangers of arrest to his wife and children. dashed to the home of his brother-in-law. The police broke into his own house and arrested Madame van Doren. In the course of their search they found the secret chamber and

the printing equipment. Madame van Doren was taken to prison, where she spent two and a half months. Van Doren, though, after arriving at his brother-in-law's house, urged his relative to inform some of the other conspirators. The man arrived at the first house and blurted out van Doren's hiding place to the civilian who answered the door before he realised he was addressing a member of the German secret police. The brother-in-law was arrested at once, and plans to capture van Doren were swiftly laid. Unaware or the slip-up, van Doren waited with increasing nervousness for his brother-in-law to return. It was late at night when a firm rap sounded at the door and he stiffened with apprehension. The

maid, not knowing van Doren was in the house, providentially stalled the German police long enough for the fugitive to make his way to the servants' quarters in the attic. He silenced the frightened cook as he dashed through her room and lifted himself through a skylight on to the tiled roof. The roof was wet and he slipped painfully down the sloping sides, groping wildly for something to cling to before he went off into space. Finally his hands clutched the gutter and, mustering all his strength, he lay still, spread-eagled on the roof. The Germans were now searching the entire house and grounds. Flashlight beams cutting through the darkness came perilously near. With an effort he clung to the roof while voices came up to him from below.

The Germans had found the door to the garage slightly ajar and they discovered a rear entrance through which it was possible, they reasoned, van Doren might have escaped. It was not until 5 in the morning he was able to leave the roof with safety. Then he made his way to the home of a friend who directed him to the house of a man who could safely harbour him. By this time posters offering a reward for van Doren had been issued and his services in connection with "La Libre Belgique" were necessarily ended. He was unable to leave his hiding place until the Armistice was signed. But "La Libre Belgique" was not dead. Many of its adherents feared it was, because the raids on the night of April 13 had been widespread and it seemed as if everyone associated with the paper had been arrested. The German authorities thought so, too, and were openly jubilant. During the mass trial of the defendants, an orderly approached the chief of the secret service arm that had brought about the raids, and handed him a sealed envelope. The chief tore open the envelope and pulled out the current copy of "La Libre Belgique." The indomitable spirit of the conspirators again illustrated when von Bissing's successor, General von Falkenhausen, held a celebration in his Brussels headquarters on the night of February 1, 1918, to mark the "complete" suppression of the paper in raids two days before. It was von Falkenhausen's birthday, and merriment among the officers was at its peak when a military attache saluted the GovernorGeneral and handed him an envelope. Gift to German General The envelope contained the third anniversary number of "La Libre Belgique," wit'n von Falkenhausen's picture on the front page,, and a faked message of congratulations to the outlawed paper inscribed over the general's signature. On November 12, 1918, the 171 st issue of "La Libre Belgique" appeared. It was the first to be dis tributed openly, and 200,000 copies were circulated. With the Allies completely victorious and the Ger man occupants fleeing for the nearesl borders, the work of "La Libre Belgique" was done. Its editors jubilantly proclaimed the edition to be the last. They were too hopeful. They could not foresee that only a little more than 20 year:later, history would repeat itself ant the gallant paper they nursed through four bitter years would have a new mission to fulfil.