THE BELGIAN ARMY: THE CONGO
Though Belgium is a neutral state, living under the protection of the
Great Powers of Europe, the Belgians are afraid that some day, if
these Powers quarrel with each other and begin to fight, armies may
march into their country and turn it once more into a battle-field; or
perhaps one of the Powers may wish to take a part of Belgium, or some
Belgian town, such as Antwerp, and rule over it. So this little
kingdom must have an army to defend itself till some powerful nation
comes to help it.
The Belgian force actually under arms consists of only about 40,000
soldiers, but it can be raised to 200,000, if there is a danger of
war, by calling out the "reserves," or men who have been trained, but
are no longer with their regiments. In order to keep up this force of
40,000 it is necessary to find about 13,000 new men each year. But the
Belgians do not like to be soldiers, and it is very difficult to
persuade them to join the army. Last year only 1,000 would do so,
which seems very few for a country in which there are 7,000,000
people. It has been the same for years. So there is a law called the
Conscription, by which the necessary numbers are forced to serve.
This is how they manage the conscription: in February of each year all
the boys who become nineteen in that year must go and draw lots to
decide which of them are to enter the army.
The drawing generally takes place in the _Hotel de Ville_ of the chief
town in the part of the country to which the boys belong. On the
appointed day all the families in which there are sons liable to serve
flock into the town, and a great crowd gathers outside the building.
The lads who are to draw lots go in, and find some officials waiting
for them. Each boy has to put his hand into the ballot-box and draw
out a paper on which there is a number. Suppose there are 150 boys,
and 50 are wanted for the army, then those who draw the 50 lowest
numbers are those who have to serve. Each boy draws out his paper, and
gives it to an official, who calls out the number. If it is a number
above 50, he is free, and runs out shouting with joy; but if it is one
of the lower numbers, he goes out sadly to tell his family that he has
drawn a "bad" number.
While the drawing goes on, the fathers and mothers, brothers and
sisters, and their friends, wait outside in the greatest anxiety.
There are cheers and joyful greetings when a boy with a "good" number
comes out, and groans of pity for those who have been unlucky. And
when the drawing is done, and everyone knows his fate, they all go off
to the public-houses. Those who have drawn lucky numbers get drunk
from joy, while those who have to serve in the army try to forget
their sorrow in drinking. Very often their families and friends do the
same, and so it comes to pass that every February there are horrible
scenes--men and women, boys and girls, reeling about the streets,
shouting, singing, quarrelling, and behaving in the most disgraceful
way. It is quite different from Germany, where every boy knows he must
be trained to defend his country, and where almost everyone is proud
of being a soldier.
If, however, the father of a boy who has drawn an unlucky number is
rich enough to pay for another to take his place, he may do so. This
system is called the _Remplacement_, and almost every father buys his
son off if he can afford it. Many Belgians think this system unfair,
and the officers of the army do not like it. Perhaps, before very
long, there may be a change, and a new law made by which all boys will
have to serve for a certain time. The Catholics have always been in
favour of the _Remplacement_, while the Liberals have been against it.
But it is said that the King wishes to abolish it, and try some new
plan. So very likely the Catholics will give in, and there will be no
more drawing of lots and buying off, but a system of universal
service, which will be a very good thing for Belgium.
Though the trade of Belgium is very large indeed for the size of the
country, the Belgians have no navy, and not many merchant-ships. But
they have lately plunged into an adventure which may force them to
have merchant-ships and men-of-war to defend them; for this small
country has taken possession of a huge part of Central Africa, ever so
many times bigger than Belgium itself.
About twenty-five years ago Leopold II., the present King of the
Belgians, was made ruler over this part of Africa, which is called the
Congo State, because of a magnificent river, the Congo, which flows
through it. It was the Great Powers of Europe who made him ruler, and
they made him promise that he would abolish slavery, allow all nations
to trade freely there, and do all he could to civilize the natives.
But after some time ugly stories began to reach Europe about what was
being done by King Leopold's servants in that distant part of the
world. The Congo is a country full of rich products, and it was said
that the King was breaking his promises: that he was making heaps of
money by forcing the natives to work as slaves, that all their lands
were taken from them, that people were cruelly tortured, that whole
villages were destroyed, that the soldiers hired by King Leopold were
cannibals, and that he would not allow free trading.
There is no doubt whatever that the King was making a great deal of
money, and that many shameful and wicked things were done in the
Congo. The King never went there himself, but both he and his friends,
who were also making money, said that the English (for it was the
English who found most fault with him) were jealous, and that
everything was going well. Nevertheless bad news kept arriving from
the Congo, and many of the Belgians themselves became as angry as the
English, and said something must be done to stop what was going on. At
last the Belgian Parliament resolved that the only way to save the
Congo was to make it a Belgian colony, and try if they could not
govern it better than King Leopold.
So in the year 1908, after long debates and much curious bargaining
between the King and his people, the Congo State became a Belgian
colony. It remains to be seen whether they can govern it wisely, for
as yet they have no experience in such matters. Few Belgians like to
speak about the Congo. They shake their heads, and say it will cost a
great deal of money, and bring danger to their country.
The scene when a ship sails from Antwerp for the Congo is unlike
anything you will see at home. When a ship leaves an English port for
India or the Colonies, the travellers go on board without any fuss,
with perhaps a few private friends to see them off. But when a liner
starts for the Congo, there is much excitement. A crowd assembles;
flags fly; a band plays the Belgian National Anthem; hawkers go about
selling photographs of _le départ pour le Congo_; and a steam-tug,
decorated with flags, and with a band of music playing, accompanies
the liner some distance down the Scheldt. The Belgians, you see, are
so fond of hoisting flags and hearing bands of music on every possible
occasion that they can't help doing it even when there is really
nothing to get excited about.
And now, having taken this peep at Belgium, we shall leave these
adventurers sailing away to their Congo, and, hoping they will find
wisdom to steer wisely (in more ways than one) and so avoid shipwreck,
wish them _bon voyage_.
* * * * *
LIST OF VOLUMES IN THE PEEPS AT MANY LANDS SERIES
EACH CONTAINING 12 FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR
BELGIUM INDIA
BURMA IRELAND
CANADA ITALY
CHINA JAMAICA
CORSICA JAPAN
EGYPT MOROCCO
ENGLAND NEW ZEALAND
FINLAND NORWAY
FRANCE SCOTLAND
GERMANY SIAM
GREECE SOUTH AFRICA
HOLLAND SOUTH SEAS
HOLY LAND SWITZERLAND
ICELAND WALES
* * * * *
A LARGER VOLUME IN THE SAME STYLE
THE WORLD
Containing 37 full-page illustrations in colour
* * * * *
PUBLISHED BY ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK
SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.
* * * * *
AGENTS
AMERICA THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
64 & 66 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK
AUSTRALASIA OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
205 FLINDERS LANE, MELBOURNE
CANADA THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD.
27 RICHMOND STREET WEST, TORONTO
INDIA MACMILLAN & COMPANY, LTD.
MACMILLAN BUILDING, BOMBAY
309 BOW BAZAAR STREET, CALCUTTA
* * * * *
OTHER BOOKS
FOR
BOYS & GIRLS
ILLUSTRATED IN COLOUR LIKE THE
PEEPS AT MANY LANDS
* * * * *
PRICE 3/6 EACH
ALL WITH FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR
_Large crown 8vo., cloth_
* * * * *
By JOHN FINNEMORE
THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRY MEN
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by ALLAN STEWART
* * * * *
By ASCOTT R. HOPE
BEASTS OF BUSINESS
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by G. VERNON STOKES and ALAN WRIGHT
* * * * *
By FREDERIC W. FARRAR
ERIC;
or, Little by Little
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by G. D. ROWLANDSON,
and 78 in Black and White by GORDON BROWNE
* * * * *
ST. WINIFRED'S;
or, The World of School
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by DUDLEY TENNANT,
and 152 in Black and White by GORDON BROWNE
* * * * *
JULIAN HOME
A Tale of College Life
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by PATTEN WILSON
* * * * *
By Lieut. Col. A. F. MOCKLER-FERRYMAN
THE GOLDEN GIRDLE
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by ALLAN STEWART
* * * * *
By JOHN FINNEMORE
THE WOLF PATROL
A Story of Baden-Powell's Boy Scouts
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by H. M. PAGET
* * * * *
JACK HAYDON'S QUEST
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by J. JELLICOE
* * * * *
By STANLEY WATERLOO
A TALE OF THE TIME OF THE CAVE MEN
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by SIMON HARMON VEDDER
* * * * *
By DANIEL DEFOE
ROBINSON CRUSOE
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by JOHN WILLIAMSON
* * * * *
By ANDREW HOME
BY A SCHOOLBOY'S HAND
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by STRICKLAND BROWN
* * * * *
FROM FAG TO MONITOR
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by JOHN WILLIAMSON
* * * * *
By CAPTAIN COOK
VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by JOHN WILLIAMSON
* * * * *
By MUNGO PARK
TRAVELS IN AFRICA
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by JOHN WILLIAMSON
* * * * *
By HUME NISBET
THE DIVERS
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by the Author
* * * * *
By the DUCHESS OF BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS
WILLY WIND, AND JOCK AND THE CHEESES
57 Illustrations by J. S. ELAND (9 full-page in Colour)
* * * * *
By ASCOTT R. HOPE
STORIES
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by DOROTHY FURNISS
* * * * *
By ANDREW HOME
EXILED FROM SCHOOL
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by JOHN WILLIAMSON
* * * * *
By the Rev. R. C. GILLIE
THE KINSFOLK AND FRIENDS OF JESUS
16 full-page Illustrations in Colour and Sepia
* * * * *
PRICE 6/= EACH
ALL WITH FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR
Large square crown 8vo., cloth
* * * * *
By G. E. MITTON
THE BOOK OF THE RAILWAY
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by ALLAN STEWART
* * * * *
By Mrs. ALFRED SIDGWICK and Mrs. PAYNTER
THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF GARDENING
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by Mrs. CAYLEY-ROBINSON
* * * * *
By Miss CONWAY and Sir MARTIN CONWAY
THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF ART
16 full-page Illustrations in Colour from Public and Private Galleries
* * * * *
By ELIZABETH GRIERSON
CHILDREN'S TALES OF ENGLISH MINSTERS
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by various Artists
* * * * *
By ASCOTT R. HOPE
ADVENTURERS IN AMERICA
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by HENRY SANDHAM, R.C.A.
* * * * *
By S. R. CROCKETT
RED CAP ADVENTURES
Being the Second Series of Red Cap Tales Stolen from the Treasure-Chest
of the Wizard of the North
16 full-page Illustrations by ALLAN STEWART and others
* * * * *
By S. R. CROCKETT
RED CAP TALES
Stolen from the Treasure-Chest of the Wizard of the North
16 full-page Illustrations in Colour by SIMON HARMON VEDDER
* * * * *
Translated and Abridged by DOMINICK DALY
THE ADVENTURES OF DON QUIXOTE
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by STEPHEN BAGHOT DE LA BERE
* * * * *
GULLIVER'S TRAVELS
16 full-page Illustrations in Colour by STEPHEN BAGHOT DE LA BERE
* * * * *
By ASCOTT R. HOPE
THE ADVENTURES OF PUNCH
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by STEPHEN BAGHOT DE LA BERE
* * * * *
By DUDLEY KIDD
THE BULL OF THE KRAAL
A Tale of Black Children
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by A. M. GOODALL
* * * * *
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WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN
16 full-page Illustrations in Colour by PHILIP DADD
* * * * *
By JOHN BUNYAN
THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour by GERTRUDE DEMAIN HAMMOND, R.I.
* * * * *
By G. E. MITTON
THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF STARS
Preface by Sir DAVID GILL, K.C.B.
16 full-page Illustrations (11 in Colour) and 8 smaller figures in the text
* * * * *
By G. E. MITTON
THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF LONDON
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by JOHN WILLIAMSON
* * * * *
By ELIZABETH W. GRIERSON
THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF CELTIC STORIES
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by ALLAN STEWART
* * * * *
PRICE 6/= EACH
ALL WITH FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR
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* * * * *
By ELIZABETH W. GRIERSON
THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF EDINBURGH
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by ALLAN STEWART
* * * * *
Edited by G. E. MITTON
SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by HARRY ROUNTREE
* * * * *
By ELIZABETH W. GRIERSON
CHILDREN'S TALES FROM SCOTTISH BALLADS
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by ALLAN STEWART
* * * * *
By HARRIET BEECHER STOWE
UNCLE TOM'S CABIN
8 full-page Illustrations in Colour and many others in the text
* * * * *
ANIMAL AUTOBIOGRAPHIES
Edited by G. E. MITTON
Each volume deals entirely with the life story of some one animal, and
is not merely a collection of animal stories. It is necessary to
emphasize this, as the idea of the series has sometimes been
misunderstood. Children who have outgrown fairy-tales undoubtedly
prefer this form of story to any other, and a more wholesome way of
stimulating their interest in the living things around them could
hardly be found.
Though the books are designed for children of all ages, many adults
have been attracted by their freshness, and have found in them much
that they did not know before.
The autobiographical form was chosen after careful consideration in
preference to the newer method of regarding an animal through the eyes
of a human being, because it is the first aim of the series to depict
the world as animals see it, and it is not possible to do this
realistically unless the animal himself tells the story.
* * * * *
THE LIFE STORY OF A DOG
By G. E. MITTON
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by JOHN WILLIAMSON
* * * * *
THE LIFE STORY OF A FOX
By J. C. TREGARTHEN
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by COUNTESS HELENA GLEICHEN
* * * * *
THE LIFE STORY OF A FOWL
By J. W. HURST
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by ALLAN STEWART and MAUDE SCRIVENER
* * * * *
THE LIFE STORY OF A BLACK BEAR
By H. PERRY ROBINSON
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by J. VAN OORT
* * * * *
THE LIFE STORY OF A RAT
By G. M. A. HEWETT
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by STEPHEN BAGHOT DE LA BERE
* * * * *
THE LIFE STORY OF A CAT
By VIOLET HUNT
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by ADOLPH BIRKENRUTH
* * * * *
THE LIFE STORY OF A SQUIRREL
By T. C. BRIDGES
12 full-page Illustrations in Colour by ALLAN STEWART
* * * * *
PUBLISHED BY A. AND C. BLACK, SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.
* * * * *
End of Project Gutenberg's Peeps At Many Lands: Belgium, by George W. T. Omond