New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-20
Tie Them in Streets of
Towns to Check Fire
from Hiding Places.
MEN SHOT FOR LEAST
INFRACTION OF RULES
Copy of General Knoerzer's
Proclamation to People of St.
Die Example of Rigor Used.
r, c. INMAN BARNARD.

Pagny-sur-Meuse, Dec. ia refu-
Gee from ST. Die has just handed me
5 copy Of the proclamation issued to
the population Of that town by General
Knoerzer. in command of the German
troops which captured that town. II is
typical specimen of the truculent
tone which the invaders adopt toward
civil population. 1t begins with a
little lesson in history as seen or i'm
scined by the German mind.
"The government of the French Re
public." he says. "hss caused its troops
n cross the German frontier in order
IN help Russia. ! know how unpopular
This war is in France, war which has
leen forced on you by your govern
nent against the deliberately expressed
will Of the country. European civili-
alton is defended by Germany and
Austria against the Servians and Rus
sians. protectors Of political assassina-
ton This and the we'll known Germsn
discipline are guarantees that armed
action will only be taken against milf
tary forces.
The proclamation then goes or to
say that no lawabiding civilian need
fear for his life or property.
Acts That Meant Death.
But" he adds, though we will re-
spect the liberty of non-combatants, we
arc decided 10 repress with the utmost
energy and without pity any act Of
hostility against the German troops.
These will be Immediately shot:
"First-Every person guilty OF any
act Of hostility against a member OF
the German army.
second All inhabitants or owners
Of houses who shelter Frenchmen be-
longing TO the army or persons who
NAV have fired on our troops, unless
the presence of such persons is at once
denounced TO the German commandant
Of the town as soon as our troops
enter
"Third-Any person who seeks TO
aid or who has aided the enemy's army,
or who seeks to harm or who has
harmed our army in any way, espe-
cially by cutting telegraph or telephone
wires.
"Fourth-Any person who tears down
this proclamation will be held respon-
sible: also the priest, the mayor. dep
NV MAYOR and schoolmasters for any
set of hostility on the part of the popu-
lation. Houses will be burned from
which acts Of hostility shall have been
committed. In case these acts are re-
heated the whole town Will be de-
stroyed or burned
General Knoerzer then goes on TO
warn the inhabitants that they must
hand over guns. revolvers, sabres or
w apons of any kind. Any one found in
the streets between s o'clock at night
and 6 in the morning will be shot by
sentries without challenge. Any groups
OF more than three persons are forbid
den Priests are forbidden TO rig
church bells. as they might thereby
communicate with the French. 1t is
further forbidden 10 approach, on any
excuse whatever. the German sick or
wounded or German dead bodies or any
French prisoners.
Men Tied in Street.
L. will be seen that General knoer-
zer's PROSE is terse and to the point
and leaves little to the Imagination Of
the unfortunate inhabitants of st. Die,
but. unfortunately, though his excel
lency faithfully carried out the pro-
gramme Of shooting inhabitants, the
first part Of the proclamation, regard
ing the protection of the lives and
property Of harmless civilians, was less
carefully carried out. In order to pro-
tect his men from the fire of the
French troops several civilians we're
Put in front of the Germans, so that
the French were unable 70 fire without
hitting their fellow countrymen. In a
number Of the Munich newspaper
"Junchcner Neuste Nachrichten."'
which reached here via Switzerland,
I.rs; Lieutenant Eberlein, of one OF
the Bayarlan regiments in occupation
Of St. Die, gives the following account
Of his exploit:
81 had an excellent idea. ] had'three
civilians arrested and mad them placed
in chairs in the middle of the street.
They objected, but / replied TO their
applications with a groan, but ] admit
L vss not amusing for them; but the
Ifea was Of admirable efficacy. The fire
s'rected on our men at once dimln- |
llhed, and my men were thus masters
Il the principal street. Every one who !
now shows himself in the street is at
once shot. The artillery was also put
vigorously to work, and by Z O'Clock IN !
the evening order reigned in st. Die. !
"As ] learned later, reserve regl- |
ment which was more TO the north of /
the town made a similar experiment 10
mine. -Four civilians who were placed /
IN chairs in the middle of the street 1
there were killed by French bullets. |
saw them myself lying in the middle of /
the street near hospital"