are nevertheless smuggled in, and that copies of The London
Times fetch as high as 200 francs, reading circles being often formed at
20 francs per head.

But there are no hopeful signs here of a German retreat. Brussels has
not been "practically evacuated." On the contrary, one gets
overwhelmingly the impression that the Germans expect to stay forever.
No cannon are posted on commanding avenues or squares. There are no
serious measures for the defense of the capital. The military and civil
Governments occupy the principal public buildings, and seem to be
working with typical German thoroughness. The Government offices begin
to assume an air of permanence.

As conquerors go, the invaders seem to be bearing themselves well. There
is apparently no desire to "rub it in," the military Government
seemingly pursuing the wise policy of trying to spare the feelings of
the natives as much as possible, perhaps in the impossible hope of
ultimately conciliating them. German flags are flown sparingly. Only
small squads of Landsturm are now occasionally seen marching through the
streets. Even from the bitterest Belgians one hears no stories of
"insult, shame, or wrong."

At the same time, swift and harsh punishment is meted out to any one
whose actions are thought to tend to impair German military authority or
dignity. Thus placards posted on many street corners day before
yesterday informed the people that a Belgian city policeman had been
sentenced to five years' imprisonment for "interfering with a German
official in the discharge of his duty, assaulting a soldier, and
attempting to free a prisoner." For this, also, a fine of 5,000,000
france ($1,000,000) was imposed on the City of Brussels. Another
policeman was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for alleged similar
offenses.

An interesting history of the German occupation can be reconstructed
from these same placards pasted on buildings. Here is one, dating from
the early days, forbidding bicycle riding in the country and announcing
that civilian cyclists will be shot at sight. If you look long enough
you can also find a mutilated specimen of ex-Burgomaster Max's famous
"dementi," in which he virtually calls the German Military Governor of
Liege and, by implication, the German Government, "liar." The Bruxellois
must be fickle and quick to forget, for I did not hear the picturesque
Max's name mentioned once.

The realities of the military occupation are brought home to