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July 2016
News from Belgium and the Belgian Congo, vol. IV,
no. 32, August 12, 1944
Follow this and additional works at: http://utdr.utoledo.edu/ur-87-68
Recommended Citation
"News from Belgium and the Belgian Congo, vol. IV, no. 32, August 12, 1944" (2016). War Information Center Pamphlets. Book 112.
http://utdr.utoledo.edu/ur-87-68/112
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NEWS
FROM
BELGIUM
AND T H E
B E L G I A N CONGO
BELGIAN INFORMATION
CENTER
6 3 0 F I F T H A V E N U E , N E W Y O R K , N. Y.
CIRCLE
6-2450
All material published in N E W S FROIM B E L G I U M may be reprinted without
permission. Please send copies of material in which quotations are used to this office.
T H E S E PERIODICAL B U L L E T I N S M A Y B E O B T A I N E D F R E E
O N REQUEST.
I Love the Germans
We are glad to reprint the following article, signed "Guermantes,"
which appeared in the monthly publication BELGIUM,
Volume V, No. 6, July 1944
(a magazine published in New York at 247 Park Avenue), and which in a humorous way warns against the danger of German influence in the postwar world.
Should you meet anyone who says " I love the
Germans, they are fine people, more power to
them," do not become excited and do not call
the F.B.I.
Do not call the F . B . I , because there is nothing
the F.B.I, can do about it. Everyone is entitled
to his own opinion and it is a constitutional privilege of everyone i n the United States to love the
Germans or the Japanese, or both—and to say
so. D o not get excited either, because anyone
who is outspoken enough to express i n such a
manner friendship or love for the Germans just
shows he does not mean business.
Of course, it may be that the audience is composed of, let us say, ten people, as follows: two
or three whose father or grandfathers or grandmothers were b o m on the shores of the Rhine,
the M a i n or the Spree; one or two others who
may love either Bach or Beethoven or Bruhms
or perhaps two of them or maybe a l l three—to
say nothing of Wagner; another fellow may use
Bayer A s p i r i n to relieve his headaches; one may
own some German A n i l i u stock. Furthermore,
there may be i n the group one of those Germans
who since 1931 has suddenly been called " J e w , "
and we a l l know how different those Germans
were from the rest of them between 1914 and
1918 . . . F i n a l l y , the two remaining fellows must
certainly be decent church-goers, i n a word,
"Good Christians," and ain't the Germans Christians too? O h sure, they are!
So the whole bunch would rather be willing
to show some understanding for the statement
of friendship toward Germany—insofar as that
statement is made i n a dignified and decent way.
Dignity and decency, that's what they insist
upon, and of course, with dignity and decency,
anything goes. Right?
However, this supposes that the audience is
constituted as stated above, and there is no
guarantee whatsoever that i t w i l l be so. It may
well be that the ten fellows are not at a l l the
ones described above. O n the contrary, those ten
fellows may be: A Belgian musician who adores
Wagner—she really is crazy about him—but lier
brother was shot by the Germans i n 1942; the
NEWS
EROM
A U G U S T 12,
BELGIUM
second may also be a Belgian who is especially
fond of Goethe but his brother was shot by the
Germans i n 1 9 1 4 ; the third is a Belgian Jew
whose young sister was shipped to Germany . . .
then there may be a Czech, a Dutchman, a
Frenchman, a Pole, and a Greek, who just happen to have some knowledge of what is going
on over there . . . and who care. (Imagine, some
people worry about everything!) Then there
may also be two Americans, one whose husband
was k i l l e d i n Normandy while storming the
beaches, and the second whose aunt, a nurse,
was recently k i l l e d i n a Red Cross ward i n A n zio (you know, one of those bombs that go
astray).
So, of course, with such an audience the statement w i l l not be a complete success. Why, I
don't know, but it is a fact. It w i l l not be a complete success.
A n d that is why I tell you that the man who
makes such a statement does not mean business or, rather, does not know his business.
N o one, it is evident, would be so impolite or
so unrealistic or shall I say so unpolitical, as to
insult willfully a group of ten persons when all
ten of them agree on some issue and feel a certain way; no one would hurt other peoples'
feelings i n such a way. That is not fair. Not
only is it not fair but to give vent to such utterances does not pay and it is not apt to bring
results. That is poor showmanship—poor business—as a matter of fact, i t might be considered
a regrettable statement. I even wonder i f the
statement was made as said. Perhaps it was not
said as heard. Anyway, it is "poor taste" and so
"let's forget about i t , " and by the way, d i d the
Giants win and who w i l l run i n the next Kentucky Derby?
The above is meant to prove that really smart
people have got to control themselves a little
bit and that they have to look out for the way
they present their ideas. The thing to do is to
put some gravy on the dish and also some parsley
so as to make it look nice.
For instance, occasionally, when through with
the crossword puzzle i n the Sunday paper you
may, like anyone else, want to play a new and
fashionable game. Y o u know the game I mean;
it's a riot from coast to coast and it sells for
nothing. Anybody can play, children, and elderly gentlemen, and pretty blondes as well as
anyone else. It's called, " W h a t to do with Germ a n y ? " W e l l , i f you ever happen to play the
1944
game, take my advice: Never answer the question bluntly or use a sentence without nuance.
For instance, it would show a complete lack of
education, if not of intelligence, to say: " I am
i n favor of destroying the power of Germany,"
or, "Let's k i l l the bloody so-and-so's." The thing
to say, I mean the decent and dignified thing to
say is this—and I only submit here a limited
choice among the many possibilities:
" T h e bad nazis should be eliminated." (It
would be particularly elegant when giving that
answer to place the accent on bad and not on
nazis.)
" T h e military caste should eventually be deprived of part of its influence."
" T h e Germans should never be allowed to be
driven into a new and improvoked war."
" T h e poor German people should be saved
from the yoke of the nazis, they really should."
" T h e Gestapo organization is really something
out of this world, isn't i t ? "
Now, whatever your plan for the future of
Germany—whether you want to save Hitler and
Goering or perhaps only Goering, or whether
you want to save the German people as well, I
w i l l direct your attention to a very important
point which shouldn't be missed. A t the beginning and at the end of your statement concerning the future of Germany, you should always
be sure to add a little sentence which may not
look like anything but which is extremely i m portant as i t is at the same time a justification
and a warning. It is the finishing touch for every
plan for the future of Germany. Here is that
sentence: " I f we do not act this way (meaning
the way you advocate) the third W o r l d W a r is
positively inevitable. I'm telling you."
W i t h that sentence you can do with Germany
what you w i l l . Y o u can loan her §10,000,000,0 0 0 or send her bread and butter, and also some
preserves; )ou can even keep von Papen i n
power, as the case may be . . . Shame to whoever
would object—it certainly would be a warmonger, an un-American, an im-Christian, and what
not!
If someone has happened to use the sentence
before you i n order to advocate the loan of
$10,000,000,000 and you would rather see the
loan increased to $ 1 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , I would suggest that you use the following seutence: " I n
order to maintain a just and lasting peace." That
w i l l do the trick, and there is not a soul who
would object to the $ 1 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 loan. (If
[254]
NEWS
FROM
A U G U S T 12,
BELGIUM
you are a Democrat you w i l l put the accent on
just: if you are a Republican you will accent
lasting; if neither, on the word peace.)
Some people with distorte<l minds or without
imagination just buy bonds, work with the Red
Cross or the U.S.O., or give their time or money
to groups whose purposes are to send relief to
flooded areas i n Arkansas or to the Norwegians
i n Norway or to the Greeks in Greece or to the
Belgians wherever they may be. W e l l , that is
rather dull and uninteresting, isn't it? So my
advice to people with energy and brains would
be that they devote their time and effort to new
organizations with new and exciting purposes,
as, for instance, " T h e Friends of German Democracy" or " T h e Friends of German Freedom,"
or others i n the same category.
Y o u cannot go to the blood bank a l l the time
and give your blood day and night, can you?
No one asks you to devote a l l your spare time
to American democracy or to the Freedom of
France or to the Yugoslav rehabilitation or to
the feeding of starving children here and there.
So it is just too, too natural that you w i l l work
for the poor bombed out people of Hamburg or
Bremen—because don't forget, those people are
victims of a military caste. They are casualties
of war. Tomorrow, they w i l l vote. So we had
better be sure that they w i l l vote for democracy
and not again for Friedrich or for W i l h e l m or
for A d o l f who, if elected, might just turn loose
against the poor, so poor, so very poor, German
people (not to mention the neighbors of Germany. But that is something different.) So let us
feed the poor German people, let us feed them,
let us educate them, let us coddle them a bit i f
necessary and, sure as hell, they w i l l vote a l l
right. But to achieve this purpose we should
first educate ourselves, and that is when and why
it is so important that the Americans realize
how truly democratic the Germans could be if
they only would be free. W h e n we say free we
mean free from the Czechs and the Poles and
from the Russians, of course. A n d that is why
it is so important that we work i n those organizations I have just referred to. A n d by the way,
if you think that the "Friends of German Freed o m " do not work along the lines you wish
they would, I may point out for your benefit (and
also for the benefit of whomever it may concern) that there are, or w i l l be pretty soon,
other organizations i n the United States and
elsewhere whose purposes may be more accord-
1944
ing to your wishes. Just to mention a few, I
w i l l say:
" T h e Legion of Former Officers of the German A r m y , "
" T h e Christian German Victims of H i t l e r , "
" T h e Victims of Stalingrad and Cherbourg,"
" T h e German Generals who Escaped Nazi
Persecution,"
" T h e League of Former Gestapo Agents Refugees from H i m m l e r . "
If you w i l l just enlist i n one of these nonpolitical, non-sectarian, and 100% humanitarian
organizations, you w i l l be entitled to participate i n the daily prayer for the arrival i n London of the White Robot Plane.
Now, this is not any wishful thinking.
The While Robot Plane, a l l shining under
the moon, is a peaceful symbol of mercy. W h e n
it lands on England, four palm bearers w i l l
emerge from it a l l dressed i n white or pink
(shocking pink, perhaps). Those four gentlemen represent:
1. The most Reverend Cardinal Faulhaber (a
Christian, that is enough, isn't i t ) ,
2. Pastor Niemoeller (former Captain of a
humanitarian U-boat),
3. D r . Schacht (a mere technician with no relation whatever to international cartels), and
last but not least,
4. M r . von Papen (who has doublecrossed
Hitler, you know).
F r o m there on it w i l l be up to everybody to
accept the conditions of the unconditional surrender.
A n d then we w i l l have the blessings of peace
again. For that time there are a few basic ideas
that I wish you would keep i n mind for the
period that w i l l follow. Here are these ideas:
Basic idea No. 1—First and foremost: There
w i l l never, never be another war. The Germans
are so disgusted with it (and besides they never
really wanted w a r ) , that they w i l l never, never,
but never try it again. That is good as gold and
brings you SI i n any good quiz program. The
consequences of this Basic Idea No. 1 are easy
to determine: N o use bothering about drastic
measures against anybody. Let's go home and
drink and be merry for yesterday we died. Let
us work together, let us play together, let ua
rebuild together another world, and when we
say together, that means together, a l l of us. Yon
and me and Augustine (ach! du lieber Augiut i n ) , and Fritz and Hermann and Herr Doctor
[255]
NEWS
FROM
BELGIUM
AUGUST 12,
and Herr Professor and Fraulein. . . . A c h , d u !
Basic idea No. 2—Let us not fall i n line with
nazism and its barbarous philosophy. The world
keeps an eye on us. We have to prove to the
world and ourselves that we w i l l never sink as
lo%v as a nazi. Phooey!
So, if we have time we w i l l look for the criminals who have stolen the boots of the Colonel
i n that little village somewhere i n Algeria, but
let us not start to pimish a l l the so-called German criminals just because the Poles, the
Czechs, the Russians and the Belgians and a l l
the others from Europe say the Germans misbehaved. They misbehaved? Is that so? W e l l ,
let us assume they d i d — i f we now start to punish them do you realize what w i l l happen? W e l l ,
my dear old chap, we w i l l sow i n their hearts
the seeds of revenge. Now, how do you like
that? That's not the thing to do, is it? A l l that
punishing business is just out of order. What
we should be is humane. That is the word, humane. Humane, like a victorious knight. There
is so much grandeur i n forgiveness (and so
much beauty i n leather, as any copywriter for
an advertising agency w i l l say). We should
forgive. We should especially forgive the crimes
they have committed against the other fellow.
That won't cost you a penny if you just forgive
the rape of Mary and the murder of George.
They did not rape you, did they, they didn't
k i l l your mother, did they, and so what; take
it easy, relax and let us not spoil the victory by
"purge" and the like. Let us kiss each other.
For God's sake, let us kiss. N o objections? A l l
right, so let us have a beer or something—or
rather " W o l l e n sie ein B i e r oder ein Glass
Wein?"
Basic Idea No. 3—"It is with people like you
1944
that a new war w i l l start." That is a fact. H o n est to God, that is a fact. Because there is no
doubt that all men are alike. We are a l l brethren, brother. Because you have a disgusting attitude—and so have a l l your fellow thinkers—
we might have another war. There is no doubt
about that. If we have another war you w i l l be
responsible for it. Y o u see, p a l , a German is
just a fellow like any chap i n Wisconsin or
Massachusetts. H e drinks, plays, marries, has
children, and so where is the difference? There
are no bad people as such. A t least the Germans
are not bad people. It is the Europeans with
their bad habits of hate who spoil everything.
Hate? What is hate? Who hates whom? Do
we hate the Japs? W e l l , that is different. The
Japs are yellow rats, you see, that is different.
They have executed five American fliers, you
see. W e l l , that is not fair, is it? Now, i f it were
my son they executed, what would you say?
Perhaps the Japs are good people? W e l l you
better not tell that to me . . . Now, don't explain
to me that the Germans have executed 500,000
or 5,000,000 people, because that does not mean
anything. W i t h the Germans it is different. It
is Hitler, you see. He is no good. But the rest
of them are very fine people, a nice outfit for
bure.
So ladies and gentlemen, please keep these
elementary facts and these basic ideas i n m i n d
and enlist without delay i n one of the new organizations "Friends of German Freedom" or
"Friends of Jap Independence."
P.S. If you have a son and you do not want
him to be killed by the very good people of
(Jermany or Japan, i n 1965, you better think
twice before enlisting i n the above mentioned
organizations. B u t , of course, it is up to you.
Belgian Settlers in Pennsylvania
I n the AUoona Tribune, of Pennsylvania, M r .
H e n r y W . Shoemaker tells the following story
of Belgian settlers in old-time P e r r y County:
" U p around the head of l u d i a n valley, where
Indian J o h n , the last Indian in P e r r y County,
long had his bark-roofed cabin, near the little
Indian ponds, where the cranes and "wasserbuhls" still come, and an occasional pair of
wood ducks nest i n the trees, a lot of romance
still clusters. It was there a small Belgian colony
was located of sturdy denizens of the then wolfinfested Ardennes. Among them was ' P a p p y '
Grentshler, a patternmaker who had worked at
plucky Liege, and his son-in-law, P i e r r e Peckavio. They had both served in old K i n g Leopold's
army and were expert marksmen. They called
their tiny hamlet 'Nova Belgiea' or N e w B e l gium. W e l l situated, well watered, Nova B e l giea promised to become one of the most i n dustrious of P e r r y County communities. New
[256]
Ke^iiMieu w i i n p e i m i ^ s i o n f r o m ipotngnis
on t h e 6 f a r s , a p u b l i c a t i o n o f The M e t r o p o l i t a n O p e r a o u i i O , I n c .
R e n e M a i s o n . A Belgian singer a t t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n O p e r a . The p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n O p e r a G u i l d ,
Inc., " S p o t l i g h t s on t h e S t a r s " , says: " I n s p i t e of t h e most c o m p l i c a t e d and c o n t r a s t i n g assignments w h i c h f a l l
t o t h e lot of any h e r o i c t e n o r , Rene M a i s o n remains one o f t h e simplest, almost boyish of m e n . The t a l l Belgian
can t u r n f r o m t h e palsied n e u r o t i c i s m of H e r o d t o t h e u n s h a t t e r e d f a i t h o f Samson, assume at will t h e g l e a m ing s a n c t i t y of L o h e n g r i n or t h e d e s p e r a t e f e v e r o f Don Jose a n d preserve i n v i o l a t e t h e remoteness. Innoc e n c e , and seriousness o f his personal d e m e a n o r . "
H e m a d e his d e b u t In G e n e v a , S w i t z e r l a n d , and
came
to the
Metropolitan
in
1926.
Reprinted witii permission from Spotlights on the Stars, a publication of Tiie Metropolitan Opera Ouiia, Inc.
L i l y D j a n e l . A Belgian sinr;er a t t h e M o t r o p o l i t a n O p e r a . In t h e same p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n
O p e r a G u i l d , Inc., this Belgian artist Is a p t l y d e s c r i b e d as f o l l o w s : " A n e l e c t r i c t e m p e r a m e n t , swift and f i n e l y
w h i t t l e d I n t e l l i g e n c e , handsome p r o f i l e , svelte f i g u r e and a childish halo o f b l o n d e hair c h a r a c t e r i z e Lily D j a n e l . "
She m a d e her d e b u t a t Brussels a n d was s i g n e d u p a t t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n In 1940, w h e r e she enjoys t h e
enthusiasm o f a host o f a d m i r e r s who c a n n o t f o r g e t her m a g n e t i c i m p e r s o n a t i o n s a n d especially her f a v o r i t e
r o l e : Salome.
Courtesy, Museum of Fine A r t s , Boston
Philippe de Champaigne (1602-1674). Portrait of Arnauld d'Andilly. De C h a m p a i g n e was
born in Brussels. H e spent most o f his life in France where he became one of t h e c o u r t painters. " H e w o r k e d f i r s t w i t h Poussin, assimilating much of the cold p e r f e c t i o n of t h e a c a d e m i c
style w h i c h ruled in France a t t h a t t i m e . H i s p o r t r a i t s were i n f i n i t e l y more o r i g i n a l and true
t h a n his numerous a l t a r p i e c e s . " ( M . Rooses)
NEWS
FROM
BELGILM
AuGfST
12,
10
y
ground was being made ready for 'ble noir' as
the Belgians called buckwheat. The smoke of
'burning bees,' that is firing piles of huge logs,
looked from the valleys like an incessant forest
fire.
Grentshler and Peckario were grubbing roots
one thawing day i n their new ground when
the old bulldog began to snort. Looking up,
the Belgians beheld a huge doe heavy with
fawn emerging from the forest, her tongue hanging out, almost spent from a long chase. The dog
rook after her when she started to lie down, so
she got up and, despite her condition, cleared
tlie barnyard fence and lay down among the
cattle. Seeing the deer, Madame Grentshler
picked up the flintlock to make ready a venison
'dejeuner,' when out of the woods emerged the
daddy of all bears, old brindled 'three paws.'
'Arretez, ma cherie', shouted Grentshler. 'Give
me that gun,' and Madame hastened to present'
it to her lord and master for a greater killing.
J u s t then the savage bulldog made a rush at the
bear which swatted it with his long forepaw,
crushing its hard skull by the savage impact.
This enraged Grentshler to lose the canine pet
and guardian he had fetched from Belgium, and
raising the giui, he aimed and fired, wounding
the colossal bear, which staggered out of the new
ground and down Indian R u n hollow. The bear
turned off up Little McCabe's R u n . Next morning Grentshler and Peckario found Little M c Cabe's R u n f u l l of blood and the giant bear
lay dead across the stream. The stream has
since been known as Bloody R u n . "
1. Belgium
B. The
A. The
Occupation
Economic and Social Life
War
Jittery Jerries — I n T-iege Province and the
Belgian Ardennes, German patrols fire at c i v i l ians without warning as soon as they believe
themselves to be in danger.
Several Belgians have been killed or wounded
on this account i n recent weeks.
The Germans announce that they have arrested 17 patriots who had taken to the maquis
in the Stavelot district, Liege Province.
Nazi Deserters Turn Bandits — Some German army deserters i n occupied B e l g i u m have
turned to banditry. A t K o r t r i j k , i n West F l a n d ers, four men plundered a jewelry shop; three
of them were deserters from the German Todt
organization.
Belgian Ace — The Belgian F l i g l i t - L i e u tenant V . L . . . , who recently received a bar
to his D . F . C. for destroying ten f l y i n g bombs
and 12 locomotives, has also on his score-card six
enemy aircraft shot down and several barges
sunk.
The prowess of this pilot has earned h i m , i n
addition to his B r i t i s h decorations, the Belgian
Croix de Guerre and five palms.
Evacues Receive Land — I n the French
speaking provinces of Belgium, land has been
placed at the disposal of Flemish farmers evacuated from districts flooded by the Germans.
No More Ship Engines — Volk en Stoat
(an Antwerp Nazi-controlled newspaper), reports: " U p o n the order of the occupying authority and u n t i l further notice, no more issues
of engines for ships w i l l be authorized. This
applies both to new engines and to replacements and even to ships which are due to receive new engines to replace others damaged as
a result of the war. It is useless therefore to
apply to the competent services for these engines
for the present."
Less and Less — It is announced i n occupied Belgium that the composition of flour w i l l
be modified shortly because of transport difliculties. The new type of flour w i l l contain a
high percentage of rye.
The sale of textile products has been suspended. The ration coupons have become useless.
Newspapers Late — O w i n g to the disorganization of transportation in occupied Belgium,
the German-controlled newspapers are published
with many hours' delay or have to print their
[257]
NEWS
FEOM
A U G U S T 12,
BELGIUM
issues long before their sale on the streets. I n
most cases, the proofreaders have no time to
correct the issues.
Electric Current Curtailed — To save electric current, the Germans i n occupied Belgium
have ordered that movie-houses i n which the programs have been continuous hitherto shall i n f u ture be limited to three shows a day, and shall
be closed entirely on Tuesdays and F r i d a y s .
I n Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp and Liege suburban movie theatres are to be allowed to give three
shows only on Saturdays and Sundays, w i l l be
closed on Tuesdays and F r i d a y s , and may give
one show on the other days.
Boycott of German Goods — The German
propaganda services announce that the German
Chamber of Commerce i n Brussels is about to
celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its foundation. They take the opportunity to recall that
German trade was boycotted i n Belgium for
many years after the first world war.
Cattle Disease Spreads — The existence of
many centers of foot and mouth disease along
the Dutch frontier of Belgium is reported from
the latter country. To prevent the epidemic
from spreading, the sale, purchase and exchange
of ruminants and pigs have been forbidden.
T h i s embargo applies w i t h i n a "protective
zone" which includes tlie area of the city of
Antwerp and the part of Antwerp Province on
the right bank of the Scheldt; the north of the
Albert Canal as far as Herenthals; the north
of the Scheldt-Meuse Junction Canal, and a l l
that part of the province of L i m b u r g that lies
north and east of the last-named canal, as far
as the fork towards M a a s t r i c h t
Cultural Life
Closer Intellectual Relations Between
Great Britain and Belgium — M . J . Hoste,
Belgian Under-Secretary of State for E d u c a tion, contributes to N o . 8 of the " B u l l e t i n " of
the Association of Belgian Students i n Great
B r i t a i n , which has just been issued, an article
entitled: " A link for world peace—The U n i t e d
Nations Organization for Educational and C u l tural Eeconstruction." The article deals with
the measures agreed upon between the A l l i e d
governments exiled i n Great B r i t a i n and the
B r i t i s h government wdth the object of promot-
1944
ing better intellectual understanding among the
United Nations after the war.
This issue of the " B u l l e t i n " also contains l i t erary and scientific articles by professors and
students.
Resistance to Nazi Occupation
Post Offices Raided — Itaids on isolated
post oifices are becoming so frequent i n occupied
Belgium that some of the offices have been transferred to neighboring towns. The post office at
Luingne, West Flanders, which was attacked
almost every week by armed bands, has been
transferred to Mouscron, a larger community.
Underground Resistance — I n the course
of the month of February, 232 acts of sabotage
were carried out by the Belgian underground.
These acts can be divided up as follows: 58 cutting of railway tracks; 26 locomotives destroyed ; 14 cars destroyed; 3 pumping stations destroyed ; 4 railway signal cabins destroyed; 1 locomotive depot destroyed, leading to the immobilization or destruction of 18 locomotives; 2 dams
destroyed; 6 electric stations destroyed; 43
electric pylons or cables destroyed; 24 explosions i n German-occupied buildings; 47 executions of German criminals or traitors; several
miscellaneous acts of sabotage.
D u r i n g the month of June, there have been
173 acts of sabotage, including 59 executions
of German war criminals and traitors.
Police Commissioner Killed — " B a n d i t s "
driving a car and armed with tommy-guns have
killed J . Clipont, police commissioner of B r a i n e le-Comte, on the main road of the hamlet of L a
Genette. H e received a volley of bullets i n his
head and chest.
Farmers Warned — The Belgian National
Radio i n London has warned farmers i n the
occupied country against requisitions and purchases made i n the name of the Horticultural
Produce Board, which was set up under the
German occupation, for control and distribution
of farm produce.
The radio states that, i n 1943, 1,300 tons of
potatoes requisitioned i n occupied B e l g i u m were
sent to Germany.
Stock of Morphia Stolen — The entire
reserve of morphia stored at one of the largest
[258]
NEWS
FROM
A U G U S T 12,
BELGIUM
harmaceutical depots i n B e l g i u m , at Sehaereek, Brussels, has disappeared after a robbery.
I t was valued at about 2,000,000 francs ($64,000).
Former Minister Hiernaux Assassinated
— M r . Jules H i e r n a u x , one of Belgium's foremost industrialists and president of the C h a r l eroi Labor University, has been murdered recently i n Belgium. M r . H i e r n a u x was i n charge
1944
to death by the German court-martial at Mona
for possession of arms, and on charges of sabotage and " b a n d i t r y . " The two men have been
executed.
F o u r Belgians charged with complicity i n
an attack on a Food Coupon Office were sentenced to death by the German court-martial at
Charleroi, and executed.
Charged with attacking a post office i n occupied Belgium, a Belgian national named A c h i l l a
Lescaux, of Dampremy, H a i n a u t Province, has
been condemned to death by a German courtmartial at Charleroi, and executed.
The German court-martial at H u y , Belgium^
has sentenced to death three Belgians — Robert, Bolkaerts, Camille L o u w e t , and Guillaume
Jansen, all of Vechmaal, Belgian L i m b u r g —
who were accused of attacking the post office
at Momalle, Liege Province. The judgment
has been carried out.
Three Belgian patriots charged with committing acts of sabotage against the railways i n
occupied B e l g i u m have been sentenced to death
by the Germans. They were executed the same
day.
S i x Belgian patriots charged with committing sabotage i n the German defense zone facing the N o r t h Sea have been sentenced to death
and shot by the Germans at Brugge.
2. Belgian Congo
of the Department of Education i n the Theunis
cabinet i n 1934-1935. H e was killed at the age
of 63 at Mont-sur-Marchienne. H i s death is due
to an act of terrorism by Quislings i n reprisal
for the 305 executions of Quislings effected by
the Belgian imderground i n 1943.
Saboteurs Executed — The German courtmartial at Mons has sentenced to death a forester named Roland Procus, of Moustier, I l a i uaut. Roland Procus was charged with having
joined a secret association of patriots with the
object of blowing up railway installations.
The sentence has been carried out.
Two Belgians — Albert R i s s e l i n , aged 23,
born at Auvers-sur-Oise, France, and domiciled
at Deux-Acren, H a i n a u t ; and Omer F o r t , 22,
of Flobecq, H a i n a u t — have been sentenced
Belgians Remember the Conquest of Saw
— The anniversary of the capture of Saio by
the troops of the Belgian Congo A r m y , during
the Abyssinian campaign of 1941, was marked
by special m i l i t a r y parades at Watsa and I r u m u ,
Stanleyville Province, i n the presence of the
authorities, European colonists, and a large attendance of natives.
Belgian Training Center in Congo — The
Belgians who succeed i n escaping from the occupied territory to join the Belgian forces do
not all come to England. Some of them make
their way to the Belgian Congo, where a m i l i tary training center has been established at
Luluabourg, i n the province of Lusambo.
According to an account recently broadcast
from the Belgian N a t i o n a l station at Leopoldville by a young Belgian who had just completed his training, the recruits find it a wellchosen spot. The climate, he said, is quite bear-
[259}
NEWS
FEOM
BELGIDM
AUGUST 12,
able, and there is au abundance of fresh food.
The camp is conveniently situated in a district
well adapted for m i l i t a r y manoeuvres. The i n struction given includes training i n the new
tactics adopted by the A l l i e d General Staffs.
Success i n the examination at the end of the
course qualifies a candidate for admission to
the rank of adjutant (warrant officer), appointments being made according to requirements.
Congo Undertakes Production
of Sulphate — The Societe Colohuile of Mwene D i t u ,
i n the Belgian Congo, has undertaken the manufacture of sodium sulphate. The output already amounts to two tons a month, and it is
planned to raise it to 100 tons a year, which
would be sufficient to cover the whole of the colony's requirements of this chemical.
Penicillin Production Intensified — The
Astrida laboratory of the Belgian Congo medical service is now producing regular supplies of
penicillin. T h i s valuable curative is already
1944
in use in the hospitals of Kuanda for the treatment of sores and ulcers.
Major-General V a n Hoof, head of the colonial medical services, has stated that the b r i l l iant success obtained at Astrida i n the manufacture of penicillin was only one example of
the work carried out by Belgian colonial doctors
in spite of all the difficidties caused by the war.
The Congo health services have also recorded
successes i n the prevention and treatment of
sleeping sickness and the fight against tropical
diseases generally.
Oil Production Increased. — The annual
production of palm oil i n the Belgian Congo,
reached 100,000 tons i n 1943.
The Belgian Congo radio, in making this
unnoimcement, added that Congolese palm oil
is being used by the explosives factories of the
United Nations, and also i n the manufacture
of margarine and soap.
A f t e r the war, vegetable oil from the Congo
w i l l be extremely useful in the liberated countries, which are i n want of fats.
NOTICE
Red Cross messages or letters from the Red Cross are being held at the Belgian Consulate
General, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20, N. Y., for the following persons, who may apply
in person, or in writing with proper identification:
ADE.VRANCKX,Erwin
A S S E L B E R G S , Leon
AYAD-DE GRAEVE,
Maria
B A R R A S , Louis
B A R T E E L S , Eugene
B E R N A E T S , Augusta
B E R X , Paul
B I E R S E T , Andre
B T L L I A U , Raymond J .
B L O E B A U M , Jules
B O E L , Jan
C A R N E S , Guillaume
G A B O N , Joseph
CELIS, Felix
C L A E Y S , Frederic
C O L L I G N O N . Edniond
C O N I N C K , George
CONINCK,WESTENB E R G , G.
C O N T E N T , Maurice
C O O L S , Carolus L .
C O O M A N S , Diana
D A W S O N , Evy
D E B E U L E , Cesar
D E B L E N D E , Eugene
D E B L E N D E , Hendrik L .
D E C E U S T E R S , Henri
DECOMBEL,JanBaptiste
D E L O R G E , Gustaf
D E S N E U X , Felix
D E V I S S C H E R , Jacques
D E WIT, Frans
D I E R C K X , Pieter
D I E R I C K X , Henri G.
D I E R I C K X , Henri Willy
DISBROW.Jorin
E A R L E , Frances
E U Z E G O V I C H , Pierre
F E Y E N , Edouard
F O B E L E T S , Fr. Carolus
FRANCKX,Jo8.
F R A N S Q U E T , Hubert
G E E R S , Albert
GILLISSEN, Pieter
G Y S S E N , Frans
H A R M E N S , Anthony
H I L L , Patricia L .
HOENIGSBERG-NAVIR,
Liliane
J A N S E N , Rene
JANSSENS, George Alb.
J A N U S S O N , Efi
J U N G , Robert A . L .
K E S T E M O N T , Jean
L A G O Y A N I E , Peter
L A U W E R E I N S , Ferdinand
L E F E V R E , Louis
L E M P E R E U R , Alfred
Henri
L E N S , Frans
LEY,Johan
L U Y T E N , Charles
MALUJENKO.Timothcc
M I L A N S , Henri
MILLS, H. E.
MINTIENS, N .
N A Z A R E N K O , Pierre
NILSSON, Sven
P E E T E R S , Rene
PETERS-LOYENS,
Adrienne
P E T E R S , Dr. J . T h .
P E T R E , Jules
P I R O T T E , Georges V .
RENIERS, Leopold
R O B E R T , Ernest Louis
Jos.
R O E F , Rene
ROSS, Max
R Y D E , Marie
S C H E P P E R S , Harry
S M A G G E , Edmond
S M E T , Charles
STAAS, Frans
STINDERS, Auguste
S T O C K M A N S , Igna<e
STREBELLE,Jean
[260]
T A B A R Y , Albert
T H E U N I S S E N , Alfred
T I M M E R M A N S , Cornelis
T R O O K , Victor
V A N B A R E L , Leopold
V A N D A E L , Pierre
V A N D E BOSSCHE,
Jos.
VANDENEYNDEN,
Alphonse
VANDER BEKEN,
Gilbert
V A N G Y S E L , Pieter
VAN LAARHOVEN.
Guillaume J . A .
VANLAERHOVEN,
Arsene
VAN LEUVENHAGE,
Joseph
V A N O V E R F E L T , Henri
V A N P A S S E L , Hubert
V E R B O V E N , Victor
V E R E E C K E , Cyrille
V E R H O E V E N , Edouard
V E R H O E V E N , Rene
VERKOUILLE
V E R K O U I L L E , Os. ar
V L E M I N C K X , Rrn.y
V R A N C K X , Erin Ade