Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-10-19

turn in 1915 and the Germans starved
the little garrison out in the closing
DAYS of the war of 1870, but were OBJ
liged to allow it to march out with
the honors of war.
During nine days bombardment g.
OF its 700 houses were demolished and
hoo were rendered uninha bitable. In
tr,s ee.o case the German commander
consented not to levy a war fine on
the town and dispensed the inhabit-
ants from all requisitions. which was
Gil the same to them since there was
r;othtng left In the place worth hav-
ire.
This time. as has been the case with
rrost of the military operations, no
one but the general staff and the in
faoitants Of the region knew that the
paslon nv French troops was announce
ed.
Characteristic of Campaign.
The circumstances of the entry OF
the Germans are characteristic Of the
present campaign. After an unequal
struggle between a small detachment
or Alpine chasseurs and infantry on
the French side and a strong con-
tlngent Of cavalry, the Germans en-
tered the town August 81, just as the
subprefect left at the other side in an
automobile carrying off the receipts Of
the postofice and the tax department.,
amounting to million and a. half
francs gold and several millions in
bonds payable to bearer.N
The mayor and his substitute we're
both absent. Finding no one at he
Hotel de Vile, Colonel Gotberg. the
German governor. sent for Monsieur
Line, city counsillor, and informed
hlm that 1t would be necessary Cor
n
dozen important citizens who should
answer with their lives for the bene-
VIOLENT behavior Of the citizens toward
the German troops, and that the COM
mission must present itself to the gov
ernor within an hour or Monsieur
Line would be shot.
Demanded Money. 4
From this committee the governor
demanded war contribution of 800
900 francs which must be forthcorn-
ing the following morning. I'VE GER
tainly shall not pay it," replied Mon
sleur Line. because all the money OF
the city and the receipts of the fiscal
cepartment have been transported to
Rouen, and all Of the rich citizens are
at the seashore: all we can do is to
supply your troops with what tney
need while here"
II must have money" persisted tho
governor. eve have no money! per-
sisted Monsieur Line.
You must pay me 5000 francs in
gold this very evening"" said the gov
ernor. and You shall furnish 4OO, 900
francs worth Of supplies; further
more If you've lied to me I'll know
II and I'll have your hide and that
of the cure"
Further Prosecution.
that the requisitions- We're not being
filled with the necessary promptituoe'
the governor inflicted further pun
lshment on the town in the form OF a
permission to the troops of two hours
pillage Of houses whose inha bitants
were out. They were told to COM
mence with the subprefecture to pun
lsh the supbprefect for having gone
away with all the ready money.
everything movable was taken, even
to the bedding. carted to the station
and taken away by train the same
evening.
After the furniture had been re-
moved the soldiers descended to the
cellars and then started an orgie that
ended In the burning Of a dozen Of
the more Important buildings in the
center Of the town.
The citizens committee protested
strongly against these depredations
was not the most likely means of Of re-.
curing the willing cooperation of
those who were able to contribute to
the supplying of the troops. From
that time to the fight of the Germans
before the advancing French the town
was quiet but the abitants saw t11ey
would far prefer that Peronne enjoy
less notoriety In history.