Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/inprisoncitybrus00twelrich Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). IN THE PRISON CITY BRUSSELS, 1914-1918 A Personal Narrative by J. H. TWELLS, JR. Author of “The Higher Law” “Et Tu Segane” etc. [Illustration] London: Andrew Melrose Ltd. 3 York Street, Covent Garden, W.C. 2 1919 TO C. H. M. THE “COMPANION” WHOSE CARE AND SYMPATHY GREATLY LIGHTENED THE DARK YEARS FOR ME, AND COMFORTED THE LIVES OF SO MANY SUFFERERS, THIS VOLUME IS, WITH DEVOTED AFFECTION, GRATEFULLY DEDICATED PREFACE These reminiscences of prison years in Brussels, during the entire German occupation, aim merely at giving an accurate account of the city’s moral atmosphere, and of certain events which came to me first-hand and have not yet been recorded. Only indubitable facts are related, while many of, perhaps, greater and more tragic interest, already made public, or reaching me through roundabout channels, have been omitted. This slight record, which, in great part, lay for many months buried under Belgian soil, to escape German inquisition, may appear an unnecessary addition to the volumes of more important matter already produced by the war. But as the United States, after long-forgiving delay, entered the conflict heart and soul—as England, the land of my forefathers both paternal and maternal, performed very miracles and risked her all for a cause so great—it seems my duty, as that of every eye-witness, to give all positive evidence possible, to those who must bear the consequent taxation, that the cause was worthy of the vast sacrifices it demanded. J. H. T., JR. “See with what heat these dogs of Hell advance To waste and havoc yonder world, which I So fair and good created!” _Paradise Lost._ IN THE PRISON CITY I “Thank Heaven we are in a sane country at last!” was my thought when, after struggling as best we could through terror-stricken France, my companion and I crossed the Belgian frontier early in August 1914.