A COURAGEOUS EDITOR

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 602, 28 November 1916, Page 9

A COURAGEOUS EDITOR

GETS TEN YEARS' "HARD." A cable from Amsterdam states that the Germans captured one of the editors of 'Libre Belgique ' (of Brussels), and sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment. The Belgian Government authorities here have received information of the continued appearance of patriotic newspapers at Brussels and throughout Belgium, in defiance of the German censorship and despite air the efforts of the German military police. It is one of the mysteries of the German occupation of Belgium how these secret papers can be published, where they engrave their cartoons ridiculing the Germans, and how they set ihe type and circulate the papers. There is a price of 50,000 marks on tbe head of the editor of the ' Free Belgium,' but it keeps on appearing just the same. Several of the supposed editors are said to have been shot. One man was sentenced to 12 years hard labor, others to 3 and 11 yeax-s, and Madame Scheupens to 5 years. But each time that a supposed editor is imprisoned and the German authorities feel the trouble is ended, the paper appears the following day more lusty than eA'er, with a cartoon making fun of the prosecution. A file is kept here of these secret papers, as a matter of curiosity. ' Free Belgium,' I which has given the most trouble, prints ths following notices under its title: — A bulletin of patriotism, submitting to no censorship Avhatever. Pi'ice per copy elastic, from zero to infinity. Business office : Not being handy to have an established address, Ave are installed in a movable automobile cellar. Advertisements .- Business being ml under German domination, we have suppressed our advertising page, and counsel our patrons to keep their money till times get better. Telegraphic address : Care of German Commander at Brussels. — Cartoon by Raemaker. — A recent issue of ' Free Belgium ' gave a cartoon by Raemaker, adapted from Gustave Dore's ' Scenes in Hell," showing women and children in agony as they are trampled doAvn by a soldier in German helmet, the face of the soldier being evidently meant for that of the Kaiser. Another cartoon, entitled ' Love's Chagrin,' shows General Von Bissing, the Military Commander of Brussels, trying to find the editor of ' Free Belgium ' in cellars and attics, Avhile the editorial rooms, business office, etc., are depicted on wheels. A big sun, labelled " Free Belgium,' smiles down derisively at Von Bissing's vain efforts to capture the editors. 'La Patrie ' is another of these secret newspapers. It announces under its title that it is a " non-censored journal, appearing now, Avhere, and when it pleases." Another line states that it is in the second year of its publication. The bitterness of this paper is shown in a standing line carried at the head of its editorials' referring to the Germans as " barbarians and liars always." A recent number showed the Germans "en route for Calais," by way of the Yser River, with the bodies ot German soldiers slaughtered by the Belgians, floating in the river. ' L'Echo,' another of the secret journals, announces that it prints. " Avhat censored journals dare not and cannot say." A recent number gave the speech of Premier Asquith in the House qf Commons, declaring there Avould be no peace until Belgium Avas free. The editoriaj. was headed : " Teuton Pirates and Vandals." — Secret Press- Bureau. — Other hecret newspapers are ' La Verite ' and file ' Flemish Lion.' There is also a ' Weekly Review of the French Press,' giving articles which have been prohibited from being published in Belgium. Illustrated books also continue to appear,, Avith handsome engravings and colored maps, giving the Belgian story as against the German. Even a secret Press bureau has been set up at Brussels, Avhich issues typewritten sheets comparing favorably Avith those from the official Press Bureau at Paris and London. The editing is Avell done, showing that there must be capable men to gather the material and put it into shape. The sheets, mechanically, are even better than those issued at Paris and London, showing there must be a large and first-class duplicating px-ocess beyond the power of the Germans to discover. The Belgian officials themselves do not know hoAv this work is done; and it is simply incomprehensible how all this editing, publishing, printing, circulating, getting the requisite AA-hite paper and ink, draAving cartoons, engraving and lithographing, and all the innumerable details of getting out newspapers, weeklies, books, and a Press service, can be accomplished, in secret with the German police straining every nerve and offering prices on the 1 heads of editors. It takes courage and ingenuity to be an editor jn Belgium under these conditions. *•