of the citizens, nor their private property, nor their philosophic
or religious convictions, nor interfere with their religious
services.

Any abuse committed by the invader must be immediately reported to
me.

As long as I have life and liberty, I shall protect with all my
might the dignity and rights of my fellow-citizens. I beg the
inhabitants to facilitate my task by abstaining from all acts of
hostility, all employment of arms, and by refraining from
intervention in battles or encounters.

Citizens, whatever happens, listen to the voice of your Burgomaster
and maintain your confidence in him; he will not betray it.

Long live Belgium free and independent!

Long live Brussels!

ADOLPHE MAX.

All that night refugees from Louvain and Termonde poured in a steady
stream into Brussels, seeking safety. I have never seen a more pitiful
sight. Little groups of terror-stricken peasants fleeing from their
homes, some on foot, some more fortunate ones with their bits of
furniture in a rough cart drawn by a skeleton horse or a large dog. All
had babies, aged parents, or invalids with them. I realized then for the
first time what war meant. We do not know in England. God grant we never
may. It was not merely rival armies fighting battles, it was