THE INVASION OP BELGIUM

Evening Star, Issue 15607, 25 September 1914, Page 8

THE INVASION OP BELGIUM

DEMONSTRATIONS OF KING ALBERTS HISTORIC SPEECH. Tn announcing the resistance of Belgium to the violation of IVr territory by Germany. King Albert made' to the Belgian Parliament a speech that will become historic. Hi* Majesty :-.iid : We are determined on rh*- jjw.it«ib rnrrtSccz to defend our beloved country. Dtvvid has faced Goliath. In the last. 24 hours we have blown np and destroyed bridges, tunnels, and private propertv to the value ot £40.000.000 to stop tho advance of the cowardly aggressors who sought to mako re buy peace at the price of our honor. We are doing the duty imposed upon us by international oblicatie/ns. Will England, delay to do hers until Belgium is turned into a. giaantie cemetery, in which -will be buried our dead, and her notional honor; and while 1. through this Chamber, make this sunreme apical to the great British nation and to the. whole of th<» British TTmpire. Liege- and her sieler forts are keeping the flai.* of our national honor flying? Now and in view of every eventuality our valiant, youth is re-vly. In tho name of the nation I adoress to them a. fraternal salutation. But one duty is theirs—an- obstinate resistance. The moment is now for deeds. An indescribable ovation greeted tlvs declaration, which was made in firm and •ieeisj-re tones. The Sceia! : st leaders : joined in th« tempests of applause. i After tho departure of the King a.;ul Queen, the Premier (IV-ron I)e Bi<oc|iie- | viJle) made, the following statement:- I By accepting tho German demands j we would sacrifice the honor of the 1 nation. Germany informed us at 6 j oYTorlr thia morning that she «ees herself j compelled to carry out military pbiis j even -with the use of force. j We can be conquered, but not crushed, nr<l never reduced to submission. F/dVn-rd Grey's statement in the r.iitish Parliament was received with enthusiasm by all classes. ' T.e Penple,' tha organ of the Socialist party, savs : "Why do we, as irreooncil- | able* anti-militarist?, cry 'Bravo'.' from ; the bottom >">r our hearts to all those who , orfer ihomeelvri for the defence of tlie \ country? Because it is not only necessaiy j '■■> prot-e-'.t the hearths and homvs. the J women and the children, hut it is ;nt>~> i t ecessary to protect at th.e pi ice of our | Mood tho herita.ee of our ancient freedom. nn, then, sons of tlie workers, and ic-ciV ter vour names a.-' recruits. We v.-ili rather li? for the idea of progress :n.d .'oHrlarlty of humanity than live under i :-"z''ine whcfie brutal force and siiv.it," 1 vio- !• :ce have wip;d out the right.'' SCENES IS* BRUSSELS. A FINK DESCRIPTIVE XOTE. The 'Daily Telegraph's' special reirespondent in Brussels (T. NayloT) for winded t t.. his papier on August 4 a very fife, description of the attitude of Brussels. He I wrote: — j New?: that the German forces have [ invaded the Belgian border, and are I rapidly concentrating their forces upon , the centre of Belgium, has set the city r flame with excitement. Brussels, the gajeat of Continental cities, presents, a, Strang*- aspect Tho shops are closed, or closing. Hut one or two restaurants are open. Before obtaining food a waiter will demand if the cus- j tom«r has any small change, [f not, no' service will be given- A hundred franc note at present would lie t~erv!ee:i.bJo> to light a cigarette, but useless for making yuithaee*. Kven 2Cfr notes and tho special Iwua of the Bok'hu Government or sfr naper money is exchanged with tho greatest difficulty." There seems to l>e no gold, in the place. —M. Vandeorvelde a.s Minister.— Tlie scaoe in the Houses of Parliament fhis morning waa historic. A tremendous reception waa accorded the Belgian King when he announced the attitude that Belgium would take. The Mats were packed to their ■utmost capacity. No Deputy or Senator was missing from ilia place, whilo crowds thronged the crrridnrs and tho Btreens outside. The moat dramatic incident occurred when tho Prime Minister announced that M. Vandeavelde ]uvd bet-ii appointed ;i. Minister of State. -M. De Broqueviile htwl ( made an appeal for tho assietar-.ee of ;ill riarties in the State, and he hail wound xp this appeal with the gi.aumont that i Jie King had oonfeiTed Mini'sieria.l honors ] M tlie Socialist leader. At once the who!« j >f the members of the Chamber i\«e and ( aianu'eated their feeline with all the ei'raordinraxy outbursts which duiracterise I the exhibition of emotions on the part ■ of the Latin races. .

Men kissed each other; sumo wept, while they shouted furiously. M. Van-J.<-rveldo evidently felt tlift gravity of the • iutiition. "What can I do,"' he said. ' but accept?"

At this there ■was another furious outburst, which was renewed when M. Yan- ■ h-rvekle roae to spea.';. Be admitted that. he and hia party -were- aavii-mUitarisrt. FTej admitted that they had hoen fight-nip: against war and th'> preparation for war t<>r years past. But now the country was in danger, and ever. Lah>r man and Socialist would fight for it to the la*t dr-ip if blood. The Labor party would vote the credit* asked for by the Government. —Rich Ladiee as Xurscs.—

This memorable scene showed that, the, whole country is as ow in fighting againstthe aggression of the War Lord of Europe. All cTraana, aJI conditions of people uro united in one mmiwn purpose, and that, is to defend their liberties and th-;>ir homes against a piratical attack by a Power hitherto regarded a.-j friendly. You get evidences of that everywhere This morning ladka -were drivng tip in their motors to the department for vha succor of the wounded, and www offering their service* aa tvursee.

The Boy Soout.-t, of w'uieh there is a strong force in. Brussels, have been lilaced at the disposal of Uie authorities, a.nd thoy make a verv efficient corps of messengers. They mav ""be seen everywhere with the fetters ''S.M.," which denote that they »ra in tTie "Service Milibuire."

It ia curious to notice tltat the Union Jack is •cominpt more and more into favor. At first it was all the French flajr. and the ' Mcuveill&iso,' but now it is the flag of Britain. "When are the Britinh «>minff?" is asked on every hand. Food prices have not gone up to the extent that was once expected. 'f!he Municipal Ocmnoil has bought- "P all ">-e suppbes, and is to xe\l them to the prior at coai price. The Ukunhera have agreed to etipport the wives and families of all the Reservi»ta who have been called' out for a-oiire service. —Offers by Veteran*. Ther were great scenes when the King of the BeJgiajia opened the Belgian. Parliament this morning. Both in solusr from and coming to the Palace Ilia Majesty passed ihraagh dheerintf crowds, who wore almost delirioaa in their enthusiasm. His Speech from the Thrcme was calm and dignified appeal to the liyilsedt vmild lioaating or btfsggiug about it. It was a dignified appeal to the civilsed world against an unprovoked attack on a. small people, wiiose interests conflicted wikJi none. There have been jfreat scenes round all the barracks, where volunteer* in thousands have been pressing forward to serve themselves. All the old soldiexs have rejoined the ranks—even some whose age would seem to excuse them. The fate of the country is on the knees of the gods. Flying rumor from hour to hour brings its stories from all quarters. Crowd* of white-faced women hang round the newspaper office*, some in tears, waiting lor news of ttheir dear ones. It ia. war, with aU ite horrors, and war on a ljttle people who have made a. name for them■elves far inc|ra*fcry and -pworass. Shall they n» msdefended in their fight for their hewthe JBxLhoxaasJ

—Protecting the Germans.— This afternoon the enthusiasm of the people was raised to a pitch by a grand march through tho streets of the Civil Guard, numbering some 6,000 men. They proceeded four abreast in six battalions, accompanied by a cheering crowd. Their destination, it was learned, was the stations, where they lined up six deep to protect the Germans who -were leaving Brussels from the fury of the mob.

Several German restaurants were attacked this afternoon, with serious damage to the premises. In each case the Civil Guard which is similar in composition to our Territorials, was hurried to the scene. In one case a largo mob captured tho proprietor and were chasing him through the streets with cries of "Lynch him, lynch him!" His life was saved by tho I police. The last boat train from Antwerp, the G.E.R. officials assure me, leaves to-night. After that communication from this city to England would appear to he entirely cut off. Extraordinary scenes were witnessed this afternoon at the offices of the Great Eastern Railwav. Numbers of English people were making frantic inquiries regarding their relatives and friends in various parts of the Continent. They were one and all informed that the only train leaving this city was the boat train special for Antwerp. At the Gare du N'md piles of luggage are left in the middle of the station. abandoned to their fate. The post office has lingo stacks of telegrams awaiting transmission, while the same story is told at Antwerp. At this city a telegraph clerk informed me this morning that he had 800 telegrams in haiul. ' M KSSAGE TO THE ARM V. I A STIRRING CALL. Tn assuming command of his army in | the field. King Albert issued the following i manifesto : Soldiers! Without the slightest provocation from us a neighbor, haughty in its strength, has torn up the treaty bearing its signature. It has violated the territory of our fathers. Because we have been worthy tif ourselves, because we have refused to forfeit our honor, it has attacked us. But the whole world marvels at our loyal attitude, which its respect and esteem strengthen in these supreme moments. Seeing its independence threatened, the nation trembled, and its children sprang to the frontier. Valiant soldiers of a sacred cause. I have confidence in your tenacious yourage. I greet you in the name .of Belgium. Your fellow-citizens are proud of you. and you will triumph, for you are the force serving in the interests of right. Cirsar .said of your ancestors: "Of all the peoples of Gaul, the Belgians are the most brave." Glory to yon, army of the Belgian people ' Remember in the face of the enemy that you are fighting for the Fatherland and for your menaced homes. Remember, men of Flanders, the Battle of the Golden Spurs ! And von. Walloons of Liege, who are at the place of honor at present, remember the six hundred men of Franchimont ! Soldiers! I am leaving for Brussels to place myself at your head. The allusion to the Battle of the Golden Spurs is to tlie fight fit Courtrai, on duly 11. 1302, when Robert Count of Artois. who had defeated the Flemings in 1297, was defeated and slain' by them. The conflict was called the Battle of the Golden Spurs owing to the number of gilt spurs collected.