Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

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around the clock and access to it limited to residents. 37 He was especially anxious about a
series of houses actually built on the border, where the front door opened into the
Netherlands and the back door into Belgium. These buildings needed to be carefully
guarded to prevent possible abuses of neutrality. 38
The government agreed, placing municipalities on or near the southern frontier in a
staat van beleg on 29 August. 39 Neutrality rather than defence was a major justification for
the decision. Commanders responsible for military authority in the south now had decisive
powers to regulate the movement of people, as well as to monitor any "unneutral" activity.
They ordered civilians to hand in their pistols and hunting rifles, censored newspapers,
restricted access to the border area, and monitored the movement of goods, livestock and
foodstuffs. In Putte, the military commander designed specific rules, limiting entry to the
road marking the boundary between the Dutch and Belgian parts of the town; and closing
and locking all doors, windows and shutters facing southwards along the road at night.
Above all, no objects could be thrown across the street. Soldiers, police and customs
officers policed the regulations constantly.40
For many troops and civilians, the "state of war" and "siege" declarations were
confusing. Undoubtedly, they added to prevailing apprehension, by indicating that although
Gennany had not invaded, the threat of war still remained. Many people were unsure
exactly how the War Law applied to them. After the decrees of 5 and 10 August 1914, one
newspaper assured its readers that they need not worry, that the "state of war" applied only
to municipalities in fortified positions and the southern provinces, not, as many believed, to
the entire country.41 Growing uncertainty also reflected ignorance of the War Law's
content. To help clarify the legislation and to infonn citizens of their obligations, every
municipality in a "state of war" or "siege" pasted posters in prominent places, outlining the
37 Commander of the Cavalry Brigade to Commander of the Field Army, 25 August 1914; Commander of the Field
Army to the Commander-in-Chief, 25 August 1914, both in ARA, "Achief van het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry
no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 148.
38 Commander-in-Chiefto Minister President, 27 August 1914, in ARA, "Archieven van de Genera1e Staf' entry no.
2.13.70, inventory no. 95.
39 For an outline of "state of war" and "siege" declarations, see: Appendix 9, p. 461.
40 Commander of "Division-Group Brabant", "Militair Gezag" [Military authority] poster, 14 September 1915, in
SMG/DC, "Handschrift nr: 39" [Manuscript no. 39] 93/1.
41 Ochtendblad. 14 August 1914, in "Overzicht van de voornaamste gebeurtenissen in Nederland vanaf 30 Juli 1914.
dl I" in SMG/DC, "Handschrift m. 135 (11 delen)" 143.