HERO OF BRUSSELS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 10 December 1914, Page 5

HERO OF BRUSSELS.

One of the popular heroes in Brus^ sels is M.. Max, the burgomaster. Erfcr since he first came into contact with the Germans as the representative of the capital city of Belgium his courage*' ■- and dignity hare evoked the admiration of his own people and equally that of the invading forces. Many stories of his coolness in negotiating with th» foe are current in Brussels, and, true or false, are fondly believed in by the Bruxellois. Two of these stories were* related to a. London News Agency rep-' resentative by Mr A. L. Maylam, who recently returned to England after an exciting escape from Brussels. "When M. Max went to meet the>* German commander," Mr Maylam said, •''the latter ostentatiously laid his revolver on the table across which they" were to confer.. Without a momenta* hesitation, the burgomaster, equally os- " tentatiousiy, it is said, took his fountain pen from his pocket, and, with ai humorously emphatic gesture, bangeci it down on the table opposite-the revolver." • Another story which the Bruxelloiß are never th*ed of repeating to one aa- ' other, Mr Maylam said, is to the effect that at the close of the interview the> German commander congratulated M. Max on his conduct of the negotiations, and offered to shake hands with him. This genial act of condescension M. Max refused with the words: "Pardonnez mais nous sommes ennemis."