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Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16363, 7 November 1918, Page 6

It was reported a few days ago from Amsterdam, according to a cable m an Australian paper, that M. Adolphe Max, the famous patriot-Burgomaster of Brussels, had been released by the Germans, and had arriyed in Brussels. Max was undoubtedly one of the groat figures of Belgium in the early months of the war. Brave, resolute, and resourceful, ho was the embodiment of that old-time city pride which still survives strongly on the Continent. , When the Germans were advancing on his beloved Brussels it was with difficulty that he was dissuaded from defending it. The American Minister, Mr "Whitlock, pointed out that Brussels, as an open city, was protected by the rules of war from assault or bombardmont, but that that immunity would be lost if a single shot were fired in its defence. Max, who proposed to put the handful of Gardes Civiques against the German hordes, simply ancwored these arguments with "It ia a question of honour." • Mr Whiilock then tried another line of argument. Brussels, he said, was not Max's city alone, it belonged to the civilised world. The whole human raco was concerned for the safety of the historical city and its treasures of art. Was Max prepared to sacrifice this for a point of honour? This appeal went home, and Max eventually decided not to oppose the German entrance. On several occasions after the German occupation he hurt the invaders' feelings. They placarded the walls with announcements that the French Government had refused to come to the assistance' of Belgium— Max promptly, posted another placard at the fopt of the German "proclamation declaring the latter to be false. He placarded the streets with appeals to the citizens to make one more sacrifice, to take down their Belgian flags "'and await the hour of reparation,"' and for this he was arrested. He told the Military Governor that he had done his' duty. "I know," he said, "the temper of my people better than you do, and if I had not inteiposed myself between you and the people of Brussels wo should have had bloodshed hero. I am glad that top to this time, when my authoritv ends, we have had peace here. Now you have made me a prisoner, I find a certain relief in the fact that I shall not bo responsible for what occurs hereafter." That feature of the affair had not occurred to the Germans, and in a quarter of an hour Max was free. ♦ But by this the great Burgomaster became too popular. The citizens of Brussels idolised him too openly, and when ho wrote to the IHrector-of the Deutsche Bank in Brussels that the certificates of indebtedness (for the indemnity) which the city had given to the Germans would not be paid on the due date, he was arrested again. This time he did not escape. Mr Whitlock and the Spanish Ambassador did all they could to induce von Luttwitz, the Military Governor, to Set him at liberty, but he refused. 'One or the other must rule here," ho declared; "he or I, and lam put here to rule." Mhx was first sent to a fortress at Namur, and kept in "honourable confinement," and later on was transferred to Germany . He has *6pent more than four years in prisons for his city and his country, and is now released to find the German tide ebbing fast, and Belgium gradually being restored to her own people.