Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-19
ALSACE SUFFERS
REIGN OF TERROR,
IS BASEL REPORT
Prussia S Iron Hand Felt by
Natives, Though Proved
Innocent of Wrongdoing,
Correspondent Charges.
BY JOHN CAMERON
BASEL, SWitzerland, Sep

BASEL switzerland, sept. -.
News from Alsace filters slowly
through. whatever the turn of events.
The impression here is that this stricken
province, the population OF which has
suffered In full the miseries of war there
has been no. lighting of moment. although
the sound OF artillery dues near Null
hausen for the last week has been easily
heard In Basel.
1t appears now clear that after a
brilliant action on September 9 the
French did not enter the town of Muel-
hausen. but contented themselves by oc-
cupying strategicaI positions in the
vicinity.
The retirement ot the French after
their initial occupation OF Muelhausen at
the opening of the war was followed
By reign of terror which constitutes
ono OF the blackest chapters of the war
Always suspicious OF the attitude of the
people Of the conquered provinces, the
Germans needed only an excuse to wreak
vengeance and terrorIze the population.
Scores OF the wealthiest citizens o,
Upper Alsace have either been put in
prison or have suffered grave punishment
HarbOring of French soldiers is consider
ed sufficient justification for bloody ro-
prisals, the strange theory of the Ger
mans being apparently that the man
whose house is invaded by troops. who
fire from the windows, Is responsible for
were consentiRg parties. but many We're
helpless.
An Inquiry instituted at Rurzweiler,
near Muelhausen. where the village was
burned, showed that five Inhabitants We're
executed on a charge of harboriug
Franctireurs, although that there We're
none Of them with the French army has
heen proved. The inquiry failed utterly
10 establish the charges and proved EN-
phatiCally the innocence Of the victims.
All the wounds with which the German
soldiers afterwards were inflicted from the
houses were certified by the doctors 10
hav-. been caused by proiscties used only
by the German army.
II is now understood that the alarm anu
the subsequent rusIllade by which Ger
man soldiers were Killed by German fire
was caused BY Uhlans shooting a
wounded charger behind brick kiln on
the outskirts of the town,
The priest OF village not far from
the Rhine told me the following instance:
A shot was heard one night in his viz
lage. It was hred from the inn, Troops
surrounded the building and ridiled it
with bullets. Finally, they took IL by as
sault, when its garrison was found to
consist of two Bsyarian soldiers who,
panic-strickeu at the sound of a shot
fired IN the night, fred their rifles imag-
ming themselves besieged by the French.
They we're dragged from the room in
which they were hiding and even their
own cIrcumstAntial story failed to sat
lsty the officers. who proceeded 10 shoot
all male inmates OF the inn. The cause
OF the panic was discovered in a soldier
sleeping In a neighboring loft who had
accidentally dred his rihe
These are a few Instances OF incidents
Of daily occurrence which have caused a
deep impression on the people OF the
city OF Basel II. In 43 years OF peace,
the Germans have failed TO win the al
fection of the Alsatians. the last feW
weeks must kaYa had the effect of re-
moving furtita tSsn ever the possibilities
Il ever ioing 90.