5
DEVILISH LOOTING
SEEN III LOW!
Christmas Gifts For Men
Naturally, you want
to buy them at a man's
store, one that caters ex
clusively to men and,
therefore, has the thing's
men like.
There are scores of
Orunken Soldiers, Led by Of
ficer, Murder, Burn and
t. Rob in Belgian City.
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 16, 1917
9
Josef
Hofmann
and the
Welte-Mignon
1 W s
HUN BUTCHERS KEPT BUSY
Hugh Gibson Tie counts Terrible
Sights "Witnessed While Vlsit
' ing in Captured Town Which
Is Systematically Razed.
BT HUGH GIBSON.
Secretary of the American Legation in Brus
sels at the Outbreak of the war. Copy
right. 1917, Doubleday. Page & Co., by
Otis F. Wood.
(COKTIXTJED.)
The drunken soldiers told us we
could leave the motor at headquarters
and learn how far we could safely go.
This crowd varied the wording; a little
by saying that the Belgians were all
dogs and that these particular dogs
were being; driven, out, as they should
be, that all that part of town was being:
cleared of people, ordered to leave their
homes and go to Brussels or some other
town, so that the destruction of Lou
vain could proceed systematically. We
thought at the time that they were
exaggerating- what was being; done, but
were enlightened before we had gone
much farther.
"We continued down the boulevard
for a quarter of a mile .- so till we
came to the station. Sentries came
out and looked through our passes
again. We parked the motor with a
number of German military cars in
the square and set off on foot down
the Rue de la Station, which we had
admired so much when we had driven
down its length, just ten days before.
Looting; I Seen.
The houses on both sides were either
partially destroyed or smouldering.
Soldiers were systematically removing
what was to be found in the way of
valuables, food, and wine, and then
setting fire to the furniture and hang
ings. It was all most businesslike. The
bouses are substantial stone buildings,
and fire will not spread from one to
another. Therefore the procedure was
to batter down the door of each
house, clean out what was to be saved,
then pile furniture and hangings in
the middle of the room, set them afire,
and move on to the next house.
It was pretty hot, but we made our
way down the street, showing our
passes every hundred feet or so to
soldiers installed in comfortable arm
chairs, which they had dragged into
the gutter from looted houses,, till we
came to a little crossing about half
way to the Hotel de Ville. Here we
were stopped by a small detachment
of soldiers, who told us that we could
go no farther; that they were clearing
civilians out of some houses a little
farther down the street, and that there
was likely to be firing at any time.
Officer Directs Destruction.
The officer in command spoke to us
civilly and told us to stick close to him
so that we could know just what we
ought to do at any time. He was in
charge of the destruction of this part
of the -town and had things moving
along smartly. His men were firing
some houses near by and he stood out
side smoking a rank cigar and looking
on gloomily.
We exchanged remarks with him in
German for a few minutes, I limping
along behind the more fluent Pousette
and Bulle. Then I said something in
an aside to Blount, and the officer
broke into the conversation in per
fectly good English. He turned out to
te a volunteer officer from Hamburgr,
who had spent some 30 years in Eng
land and was completely at home in
the language.
We then accomplished the formal in
troductions which are . so necessary to
Germans even at a time like this, and
when we came to Bulle the officer
burst into a rapid fire of questions,
which ended in his proclaiming in
rapture:
"Why, I knew your father in Ham
burg and went to school with your
Uncle So-and-So!"
Cathedral Is Om Fire.
Reminiscence went on as though we
were about a dining table at home;
minute inquiry was made into the wel
fare and- activities of the Bulle family
from the cradle to the grave. On the
strength of the respectability of Bulle's
relatives we were then taken under the
officer's wing and piloted by him
through the rest of our visit.
From where we stood we could see
down the street through the smoke,
as far as the Hotel de Ville. It was
still standing, but the Cathedral across
the street was badly damaged and
smoke was rising in clouds from its
roof. The business houses beyond were
not to be' seen; the smoke was too
dense to tell how many of them were
gone.
Machine guns were at work near-by,
and occasionally there was a loud ex
plosion when the destructive work was
helped with dynamite.
Soldiers Found Drank.
A number of the men about us were
drunk and evidently had been in that
state ror some time. Our ofricer com
plained that they had had very little
to eat for several days, but added glum
ly that there was plenty to drink.
A cart, heaped high with loot, driven
by a fat Landsturmer and pulled by
a tiny donkey, came creaking cast us.
One of our party pulled his kodak from
his pocket and inquired of our guardian
In English: "May I take a picture?"
His intent evidently escaped the Ger
man, who answered cordially:
"Certainly; go ahead. You will find
some beautiful things over there on
the corner in the house they are getting
ready to burn.
We kept our faces under control and
he was too much occupied with hi
other troubles to notice that we did
not avail of his kind permission to join
in the pillage.
Belgians Are Called Dogs.
He was rabid against the Belgians
and had an endless series of stories of
atrocities they had committed though
he admitted that he had none of them
at first hand. He took it as gospel
however, that they had fired upon the
German troops in Louvain and laid
themselves open to reprisals. To his
thinking there is nothing bad enough
for them and his chief satisfaction
seemed to consist in repeating to us
over ' and over that he was going the
limit. Orders had been issued to raze
the town "till not one stone was Jeft
on another.' as he said."
Just to see what would happen I in
quired about the provision of The
Hague conventions, prescribing that no
collective penalty can be imposed for
lawless acts of individuals. He dis
missed that to his own satisfaction by
remarking that:
"All Belgians are dogs and all would
do these things unless they are taught
What will happen to them.
Convincing logic!
With a hard glint in his eye he told
os the purpose of his work; he came
back to it over and over, but the
vjjr xja ' guts nere mat wm
please men and a va
riety so pleasing that, to appreciate it, you must come to the store
and see. '
Men's haberdashery and furnishings are shown conveniently
on the main floor.
Men's Fine Neckwear silks, 50c to $4; knits, 75c to
$3.50.
House Coats beautiful patterns in all sizes, $6 to $20.
Lounge Robes Warm, comfortable garments for
home evening wear, $4 to $15.
Silk Shirts Handsome new patterns, $5 to $12.50.
Gloves Suedes, mochas, capes, and bucks; fur, wool, and silk
lined, $2 to $10.
Pajamas Large assortments in all sizes, $1.50 to $7.50.
.Handkerchiefs .Linen, plain or initialed; 25c, or 6
for $1.40 ; 35c, or 3 for $1 ; 50c, or 6 for $2.75.
Suitcases and Traveling Bags A well-selected stock,
$7 to $30. -
Umbrellas In silk and gloria, $1.50 to $10.
Mufflers and Knits $1.50 to $7.50.
Collar Bags $1 to $4.
Silk Hosiery 50c to $1.50.
Glove and Merchandise Orders' in
Any Sum Desired.
burden of what he had to say was
something like this:
"We shall make this place a desert.
We shall wipe it out so that it will be
hard to find where Louvain used to
stand. For generations people will
come here to see what we have done
and it will teach them to respect Ger
many and to think twice before they
resist her. Not one stone on another, I
tell you kein Stein auf einander!"
I agreed with him when he re
marked that people i.ould come here
for generations to see what Germany
had done but be did not seem to fol
low my line of thought.
While we were talking about these
things and the business of burning and
looting was pursuing its orderly course.
a rifle shot rang out near by. In-1
stantly every soldier seized his rifle
and stood waiting for an indication as
to what would happen next. In a few
seconds a group of soldiers rushed
into a house about 100 feet away.
There was a sound of blows, as though
a door was being beaten in; then a
few shots and the soldiers came out
wiping the perspiration from- their
faces.
"Snipers!" said our guide, snaking
his fist at the house. ' "We have gone
through that sort of thing for three
days and it is enough to drive us mad;
fighting is easy in comparison, for then
you know what you are doing." And
then almost tearruiiy: "iere we are
so helpless!" .
Bulle Beats Retreat.
While he was talking another shot
rang out and then there was a regular
fusillade, which lasted lor 15 seconds
or so: then an explosion.
Bulle stood not upon the order of his
going, but ran for the station, calling
back:
'Tve had enough of this. Let s get
out and gd home."
Our friend, the officer, said Bulle was
right and that it would be the part of
wisdom for us all to fall back to the
station, where we would be near the
car in case anything happened. He
started off at a good pace and as we
were in no mood to argue we went
meekly along in his wake. We over
took Bulle engaged in an altercation
with a very drunken ' soldier, who
wanted to see his papers and was in
sulting about it. Instead of taking
the easy course and showing his papers
Bulle was opening a debate on the
subject, when we arrived and took a
hand. Our officer waded Into the sol
dier In a way that would have cansed
a mutiny in any other army and the
soldier, very drunk and sullen, re
treated, muttering, to his armchair on
the curb. We then moved ' on to the
station.
Station Sights Pitiful.
Outside the station was a crowd of
several hundred people, mostly women
and children, being herded on 'to trains
by soldiers, to be run out of the town.
They seemed to be decently treated but
were naturally In a pitiable state of
terror. Just inside the gates of the
freight yard were a couple of women
telling their troubles to a group of
officers and soldiers. They had both
lost their husbands in the street-fight
ing and were in a terrible state. The
officers and men were gathered about
them, evidently distressed by their
trouble and trying to comfort them.
They had put the older woman in an
armchair and were, giving her a little
brandy in a tea cup. ' And the same
men may have been the ones who killed
the husbands..
We went on into the freight yards
and were greeted by a number of
officers with hopeful talk about a train
coming from Brussels with food. We
were given chairs and an orderly was
despatched for a bottle of wine so that
a drink could be given to Bulle, who
said that after what he had been
through he would appreciate a glass
of something comforting.
We settled down and listened to the
stories of the past few days. It was a
story of clearing out civilians from a
large part of the town; a systematic
routing out of men from cellars, whole
sale shootings, generous use of machine
guns, free application of the torch
the whole enough to make one see red.
For our guidance we were told this
would make people "respect" Germany
and think twice about resisting her.
(To be Continued Tomorrow.)
BIG GUNS TAKE III
General Crozier, Chief of Ord
nance, Tells of War Delay.
CONGRESS NOT TO BLAME
Senator Chamberlain Says Situation
Better Than Expected and That
United States Is Profiting by
Experience of Allies.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15. The Senate
war inquiry committee resumed its
session today, with. General Crozier,
chief of ordnance, on the stand. After
General Crozier had explained that the
greatest existing difficulty is in large
caliber weapons, oecause of the time
needed to manufacture them. Senator
Chamberlain- said: "The situation is
really better than I had expectec," and
added the expression that he believed
we are profiting by the experience
of the allies."
General Crozier told the committee
that, while Congress had been gen
erous with funds, the appropriations
recommended by the Army General
Staff and the ordnance chief in varia
bly were reduced by civilian execu
tive superiors. Resulting reduction in
ordnance production, he said, was
chargeable, therefore, to executive ac
tion and not to the ordnance . bureau.
Committee members were said to have
agreed with this contention.
Chairman Chamberlain and other
The National Grange has petitioned
Food Commissioner Hoover to estab
lish a liquorless day.
members said that, while Congress sel
dom was supplied with the original
recommendations of the General Staff
or bureau chiefs, the appropriations
made generally were larger than- those
requested by the Secretary of War.
General' Crozier, in dealing with
present ordnance supplies of the
Army, assured the committee that the
American forc.es overseas have an
ample supply of artillery and that
there would be adequate ordnance
equipment for all troops sent to
France.
General Crozier will be recalled
Monday. ...
APPRAISERS FINISH WORK
Determination of Valuation, of Ore
gon Roads Completed.
EUGENE, Or.. Dec. 15. (Special.)
The work of determining physical valu
ations of all steam railroads in the
state of Oregon has been completed,
and the force of engineers of the Inter
state Commerce Commission which has
been making its headquarters in this
city, working under the direction of
W. H. Brenton, will be transferred to
the South for the Winter. The engi
neers will have two weeks' vacation
before starting the work of appraising
railroads in New Mexico and Texas..
The United States has been divided
into five districts in connection with
the appraisement project, which will
include every railroad in the country.
It is expected that the work will be
completed in 1919.
Pasco Population Grows Fast.
PASCO, Wash., Dec. 15. (Special.)
Pasco is enjoying a steady and health
ful growth and the population is in
creasing at a rate which makes the
housing of newcomers a -problem. Al
though more residences were built dur
the last year than any year since the
boom days, there is not a vacant house
in town. Numbers of men are work
ing here who have not yet brought
their families from their former homes
because they are unable to find houses
THERE'S a first-class
motion picture serial
. in town. Kathleen Clif
ford is the star. Anna
Katharine Green wrote
the story. Paramount
produced it.
See This Serial at the
GLOBE THEATER,
Eleventh and Washington
Streets, on Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays
Each Week.
VHD 15 UUMBER ONE?
ft JA
WELTE The name of a skilled inventor.
"MIGNON" Means fine, trim, dainty, "a darling," "that
which is much loved."
The words WELTE-MIGNON have come to mean the best,
noblest, most perfect reproducing piano in the world.
WORLD FAMOUS MUSICIAN indorse the Welte-Mignon.
Josef Hofmann says "Incomparable."
Felix Weingartner says, "Entirely surpasses anything of
its kind."
Richard Strauss remarks, "The only one that is genuinely
artistic in its rendering."
The final and convincing evidence of the supreme merit of
the Welte-Mignon is the fact that it is the instrument chosen
by the most eminent pianists to perpetuate their art. Pad
erewski, Hofmann, Carreno, Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler, Busoni,
De Pachmann, Camille Saint-Saens are some of the cele
brated artists who have indorsed in the fullest manner this
great instrument.
In a word, the Welte-Mignon reproduces the performances
of these gifted pianists with a fidelity that surprises and
delights.
Leoncavallo says, "When I heard a reproduction of a selec
tion by my friend Grunfeld, I had a feeling that he really
sat before me." ' -
(jr0 ffi. . Johnson Piano Co.
147-149 Sixth St., Portland
Mehlin, Packard, Bond, Lindeman Pianos
Victrolas and Records
mv sj,iisir"-"as-i"ia iitiiifii iTiii'iiir 1 1
for rent. Several new houses have
been occupied before they were com
pleted and others which have only been
started have been spoken for in advance.
Drunkenness Drops Off.
NORTH TAKIMA. Wash., Dec. 15.
during the first half of December. The
record is attributed to the fact that
drug stores on December 1 ceased in
discriminate sale of Jamaica ginger
and other alcoholic mixtures.
Irrigation Bonds Voted Down.
NORTH -YAKIMA, Wash., Dec. 15.-
(Snecial.) Only four arrests for i (Special.) By a vote of 144 to 103,
drunkenness were made in this city I water users of the Selah-Naches irriga-
tion district have rejected a proposition
to issue bonds to the amount. of $585,
000 to reconstruct their canal system
with concrete.
One of New Tori's newest laws in
the interests of pure food insists that
every egg placed in cold storage shall
be dated. This date must be stamped
upon the Shell in clear figures.
food control by self control
a pleasant christmas surprise for him
is a useful gift from this store of superior service and absolutely
exclusive merchandise, the same careful attention that distin
guishes this store throughout the year.
if you appreciate real men's wear you will find it a pleasurr
to make your selection here.
imported neckwear 50c, 60c, 75c, $1, $1.50 to $5
specialists in irish and french silk and linen handkerchiefs
' 25c to $2 each
wonderful smoke coats and lounging robes $6 to $40
a most complete line of silk shirts $4 to $12.50
men's serviceable silk hose 55c, 65c, $1 to $3
all standard makes of gloves $2 to $6
golf coats and knit vests $5 to $9 '
english kit bags and grips $5 to $25
umbrellas and canes $1 to $15
one of the most acceptable christmas presents is a merchandise
order from this store
hat orders, glove orders and orders for neckwear are always
greatly appreciated
these gift certificates issued in denominations of from $1 to $50
mail orders solicited, telephone main 1810
open evenings until christmas
knox hat agent x SSI e Siclicl
" , men's furnisher and hatter
331 Washington st., near broadway
knox coat agent