Not being able to stir the people against the Allies or against their own Government, the German Press Bureau attempted to revive the language quarrel and to provoke internal dissensions.  It is interesting to notice that the new campaign, whose crowning episode was the opening of the German University at Ghent, in October last, began two months after the surrender of Brussels and did not develop until the spring of 1915, when an important minority of Germans began to realise that it would be impossible to retain Belgium, and when a greater number still only hoped to keep Antwerp and Flanders, thanks to the “social and linguistic affinities of Flemings and Germans.”

That is how Germany, who had never troubled much before about the Flemish movement and Flemish literature, suddenly discovered a great affection for her Flemish brothers who had so long been exposed to “the insults of the Walloons”; how she suddenly espoused their grievances and put into effect, in spite of their strong protests, some reforms inscribed on the programme; how she tried by every means at her disposal to conciliate Flemish sympathies and to stir up antagonism and jealousies by treating Flemings and Walloons differently, whether prisoners in Germany or in occupied Belgium.

The German train of thought is clear enough:  “If we are unable to hold Belgium, any pro-German demonstrations in the Northern provinces may suggest the idea that it is the wish of the Flemings to be bound to the Empire and give a pretext for the annexation of Antwerp and Flanders.  If even that is impossible and if we are obliged to give back his Kingdom to King Albert, we shall have sown so many germs of discontent in the country that it will be impossible for the Government to restore Belgium in her full unity and power.  She will never become against us the strong bulwark of the Allies.”

All this Walloon-Flemish agitation started by Germany belongs to a vast plan of mismanagement.  The day Germany knew that she would not be able to keep her conquest she deliberately set herself to ruin Belgium economically and morally.  She succeeded economically, for nobody could prevent her from requisitioning whatever she wanted.  She failed morally because the people understood her purpose and because the Flemish leaders proudly refused the German gifts.  The reform of Ghent University was made in spite of them.  It was made with the help of a few Germans, German-Dutch and Belgians without any reputation or following.  The professors have been bought and the students (they only number eighty) have been mostly recruited among the Flemish prisoners in Germany and among a few young men threatened with deportation.  They are obliged to wear a special cap and are under the ban of the whole population.  No true “Gantois” passes them in the street without whispering, “Vive l’Armee.”  This is the pitiful medley of cranks, traitors and unwilling students which General von Bissing is pleased to call a “University.”