There were no Germans nearer than Liege.

And, besides, should the Germans come, the civil guard would meet them.
But, better informed than they, that morning the American minister, Brand Whitlock, and the Marquis Villalobar, the Spanish minister, had called upon the burgomaster and advised him not to defend the city.
As Whitlock pointed out, with the force at his command, which was the citizen soldiery, he could delay the entrance of the Germans by only an hour, and in that hour many innocent lives would be wasted and monuments of great beauty, works of art that belong not alone to Brussels but to the world, would be destroyed.

Burgomaster Max, who is a splendid and worthy representative of a long line of burgomasters, placing his hand upon his heart, said: "Honor requires it." To show that in the protection of the Belgian Government he had full confidence, Mr.Whitlock had not as yet shown his colors.

But that morning when he left the Hotel de Ville he hung the American flag over his legation and over that of the British.

Those of us who had elected to remain in Brussels moved our belongings to a hotel across the street from the legation.