LIFE IN BRUSSELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15932, 1 June 1915, Page 10

LIFE IN BRUSSELS.

POPULATION CONFIDENT.

"THE ALLIES ARE COMING."

A Frenchwoman, widow of a Belgian soldier killed in the war, has just reached Paris, and gives tome interesting information concerning the situation in Brussels, which she left on March 27. Sno says the population maintains its spirit of confidence. In the silence of the night the muffled roar of guns is distinctly audible, and the people whisper, "The allies are coming!" "The sheets are full of passing troops," she continued; " artillery, commissariat, wounded, recruits. Military automobiles dash about the city ree'ilessly and cause numerous accidents by their drivers' contemptuous disregard of the ordinary rules of the road." The policing of the capital is entrusted to the older men of the Landsturm, who, less brutal than the first reservists, are glad to chat with the inhabitants. Many of them show signs of complete discouragement, and lament, that " Belgium will bo the grave of Germany." In the matter of food, Brussels does not seem to be very badly off, although bread is rationed out: 100 grammes per person. White bread, which could not be had up till February, has now made, its reappeari ance. It costs 60 centimes a kil. Pastry, however, is no longer obtainable. Tho I German officers used to spend so much of their time in the patisseries, and consume , such enormous quantities of tarts and cakes, that tho Governor intervened, with the result that the pastrycooks are now allowed only to open twice a week, and their ovens may bake only between midnight and 6 a.m. Copper Hunting. Copper hunting is still methodically pursued. The police strip all empty houses of even' copper or bronze figure, down to the smallest door knob. Gold is scarce and dear, and at a premium. The Germans have requisitioned all they could find. A French louis (20 francs) is now worth 32 francs, 50 in German or Belgian money. The Bruxellois continue to annoy the German officers with their polite sarcasm, and los,; no opportunity of turning them to derision. Satirical songs are in circulation, labelled, "To be sung in Belgian families after ten o'clock p.m." Sentinels are. placed round the theatres. Two days befoie a recent grand concert given at the Monnaie the Germans barred all the streets- leading to the building, and searched every corner for the much-feared bomb or infernal machine. The entire garrison, and a largo number of German civilians who" Lave come to livo in Brussels since the German occupation, were present, but only 12 Belgians were counted among the audience. Curious Street Scenes. Curious- sights are often witnessed in the streets. Thus, Mine. Devriese relates that a lew Moek.s ago, two companies of infantry from Neuve Chapelle wero paraded through the city. The men were (inarmed, and had their hands tied behind them. Fifty officers, also unarmed, marched at their head, guarded by old men of the Landsturm with fixed bayonets. The two companies had turned tail during the battle of Neuve Chapelle, and were now b ing sent to Prussia as a punishment.

The Germans at present are trying to propitiate the population by their* politeness. It is a common thing to 6fie a German officer give up his seat in a tramcar, for instance, to & lady. On the other , hand, their native brutality cannot be long contained. The other day German officers and soldiers burst into a church where a funeral service was proceeding for a Belgian civil guard, and one of them snatched the Belgian flag from the coffin lying before the altar. The enraged crowd turned upon the military and kicked thorn out of the church. Revolvers were fired, one man being killed and five wounded. From another source it is learned that the Belgian aristocracy in Brussels is particularly hated by the German officers who, it appears, are very disappointed to find that the Brussels drawing-rooms are closed to '-them! The Germans seem incapable of understanding such a natural attitude. The wives of the high German civil and military officials are said to have brought with them to Brussels extensive and magnificent wardrobes with which thev hoped to make an impression at societyfunctions and receptions in the Belgian capital!