A Popular History of The Great War/Volume 1/Page 169

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BRUSSELS ENTERED


It is hardly necessary for me to remind my fellow-citizens oftheirdutytowardstheircountry. Thelawsofwarfarefor- bid the enemy to use force to obtain from the population information concerning the national army and its means of defence. TheinhabitantsofBrusselsshouldknowthatthey are within their rights in refusing to furnish any information Vv^hatesoevertotheinvader. Noneofyoumustthinkofacting as guides to the foe. This refusal is indispensable in the interests of the country. Every one should be on his guard against spies and foreign agents who should attempt to obtain information or provoke anyformofmanifestation. Theenemycannotlegallyattack either the honour of families or the life of citizens, or private property, or religious or philosophical convictions ; nor cg.n they interfere with the freedom of public* worship.* Any abuse committed by the invader should be immediately notifiedtome. SolongasIaminpossessionoflifeandliberty I will protect, with all my might, tlie rights and the dignity of iny fellow-citizens. I implore th*e population to assist me in my task by abstaining from any hostile act, ally use of arms, and any participation in fights or discussions. Fellow-citizens, whatever may happen, listen to the voice ofyour*burgomasterandcontinuetotrustinhim. Hewillnot betray you. Long live Belgium, free and independent. Long live Brussels. ADOPLH MAX.

It cannot be w'Oiidered that the Germans decided to make the entry into the Belgian capital as impressive as possible. From purely a military point of view, they could have saved time by pushingonwardwithoutrest,andignoringBrussels. Butmorale counts for much in war, and the German General Staff had rightly gauged the moral ellect of a triumphant entry, not only on their own people, but on the world at large. It was decided not to make the entry into the capital with the regiments that had bornethebruntofthefighting. Theirstrickenranksandwearied gaitmighthavegivenBrusselssomeencouragement. Anentirely fresh army corps was brought up, and at two o’clock on tlie afternoon of August 20 it began its triumphant march towards the Place de la Gare, the heart of Brussels. German troops took possession of the railway station, the tele graph and telephone offices, and the central points commanding thecity. ThetelephonebureauwasquicklyattachedtotheGer- manheadquartersfarthersouth. Almostautomatically,German

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