Arizona republican., 1915-01-11
Belgian Commission of In quiry Reports Belgian Civilians Have Been Wan tonly Shot and Towns Ruthlessly Destroyed
FINDINGS SENT
 TO MIR. BRYAN
Report Reproduces Text of
 a Number of German
 PrOclamatiOns Issued ill Belgium by High Ger man Officers
Especial to The Republican, )

I l.) WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 10.- That Belgian civilians have been wantonly shot and Belgian towns ruthlessly destroyed systematically and by order of German commanding officers, is asserted by the Belgian commission of inquiry which has been Investigating the alleged violation of the usages of war by the German army
 The most recent finding of the Bel gian commission of inquiry have just been sent to the United States and have been presented to Secretary Bryan by the Belgian minister at Washington, Emmanuel Havenith. This most recent report of the com mission reproduces the text of number of German proclamations is sued in Belgium and signed by high officers such as General von Bulow, General von Emmich and General von der Goltz
 One of the proclamations issued in Liege, on August 22, by General von Bulow reads as follows:
 The inhabitants of the town of Andenne, after having declared their peaceful intentions, have made sur prise attack on our troops
 Tt is with my consent that the commander in- chief has ordered the whole town to be burned and that about one hundred people have been shot.
 T bring this fact to the knowledge of the city of Liege so that the citi- | zens may realize the fate with which they are menaced if they adopt a similar attitude"
 The same general, in a proclamation issued August 18th. orders the citi- Zens of Namur to turn over to him as prisoners, all French and Belgian soldiers, and adds: "CitiZens who do not obey will be condemned to en- forced labor for life in Germany. A rigorous inspection of houses will be- gin at o'clock. Every soldier found will be immediately shot"
 Another portion of the same proc lamation says: Each street will be occupied by a German guard who will take ten hostages in each street whom they will keep in custody. If any out rage is committed in the street, the ten hostages will be shot"
 A letter sent to the burgomaster of the town of Wavre by Lieutenant General Von Nieber on August 27th reminds the burgomaster that a fine i of 3,000,000 francs (about s600,0O0) has been laid upon Wavre, on account of alleged attack upon the German i troops, and demand that thirds of the amount be sent him by the 1 bearer of the letter, the remainder to be paid by Septembert 1st. The let ter adds: "The city of Wavre will be burned and destroyed if the levy l is not paid in due time, without re-
 gard for anyone; the innocent will suffer with the guilty"
 An order issued at Grivegnee by the German Major Dieckmann, commands the citizens to turn over all arms at a designated time and place: Those
 who do not obey will render them
 selves liable to the death penalty. They will be shot on the spot or given military execution unless they call prove llltlI IuuuNtiCt lhO oeiiiS order provides for taking hostages from among the priests and civic Of ficials who should serve as hostages
 in twenty-four hour shifts and then
 be relieved by their substitutes. If the substitutes do not arrive in time.
 the hostages will remain another twenty four hours. After this second
 period of twenty-four hours. the
 hostages incur the penalty of deatl if
 the substitution is not made" Major
 Dieckmanns order is long and com
 prehensive. It provides for failure to salute a German officer and also for
 failure to report any known store or 1 (Cnntinned on Paga Threel