the German headquarters issued an order prohibiting the
bringing of newspapers to Brussels from the outside world, and
announcing that any one who brings newspapers here or is found with
papers in his possession will be severely punished. Two German papers
will be distributed by the authorities, and everything else is taboo.
They evidently intend that their own version of passing events shall be
the only one to get out here.

* * * * *

_Brussels, September 13, 1914._--Ever since the 9th I have been off on
my little jaunt to Antwerp, and have not been able to get a line on
paper.

I was not at all sure that I was going to get away at all, until I got
down to the Legation on Wednesday morning and found my _laisser-passer_,
signed by von der Goltz, waiting for me--another to add to my already
large and interesting collection. With it was a letter from my friend
and well-wisher, Baron von der Lancken, who said that an officer would
be assigned to accompany us as far as the German outposts. He suggested
that I take along a large white flag to be hoisted over the motor for
the run between the lines. The note and _laisser-passer_ had arrived at
the Legation about one o'clock in the morning, and had looked so
important that the slaves waked the Minister from a deep sleep to
receive them.

[Illustration: Pass issued by Field-Marshal von der Goltz to enable Mr.
Gibson to pass through the German lines to Antwerp.

Passierschein
=============

fuer den ersten Sekretaer der Gesandtschaft der Vereinigten Staaten
von Amerika zu Bruessel

herrn Hugh Gibson

und den Koeniglich Belgischen Staatsminister

herrn Woeste,

die sich nach Antwerpen begeben, von wo sie am 10. September d. J.
nach Bruessel zurueckzukehren beabsichtigen.

Bei der Rueckreise von Antwerpen nach Bruessel werden die
vorbezeichneten herren begleitet sein von dem ersten Sekretaer der
hiesigen Spanischen Gesandtschaft,

Marquis de Faura

und einem oder zwei weiteren belgischen Herren, deren Namen noch
nicht angegeben werden kuennen.

Die herren sind frei und ungehindert passieren und repassieren zu
lassen. Jeder Beistand ist ihnen zu gewahren.

Bruessel, den 9. September 1914

Der Generalgouverneur i