Evening star., 1915-07-16

dented agitation Of a press which dis
seminates lies and fosters hatred. Mos
OF the excesses to which thousands Of
innocent and defenseless people have
fallen victims are the direct outcome
of that agitation.
THE collection OF evidence, as now
published for general information. can
not convey even a faint idea of the de.
law have undergone, and which, in the
course of a few months, have DESTROYED
many a hope: 1t may, however. furnish
some facts for the reflection of those
whose Judgment has remained un.
biased as to who is responsible for the
collapse of the law Of nations, and o1
the sense of morality in a war brought
on by our enemies for the purpose OF
crushing nations engaged in the peace
full pursuit of the blessing of civiliza-
tion. and as to who has the right te
claim that he is fighting this hotly con-
tested struggle for the sake of liberty
and humanity.
Witnesses Names Withheld.
The Austro- Hungarian ministry OF
foreign affairs has received. since the
printing of this collection was COM
pleted. a number of further reports OF
violations OF international law COM
mitted by hostile governments, and
among them the reports Of the consular
officials recently released from Russia.
These and similar revelations which
may come to hand at a future date
will be published in the form Of sup
plements to the present collection.
The names Of a number Of witnesses
have been withheld at their own spe-
cial request; they have reasons to fear
that the publication of their names
would tend. as long as the passions
aroused by the war last, to subject
4 h o. o1e hue 10
either their interests or those OF other
persons In hostile countries. The iden-
tity OF all the witnesses has, however.
been carefully established by respon-
sible government officials: the names
which have, for the time being, been
suppressed win be available when their
publication will not be liable to entail
harm to them or other sufferers by the
war"
A typical example" Of the treatment
of Austrians in Belgium is described in
letter from an Austrian merchant in
the perfumery business who has lived
for fifteen years In Paris and was
forced to leave within twenty-four
hours
Chi1d's Hand Struck OF.
The hostility and brutality of the
population of Brussels toward Germans
and Austrians." he writes concerning
his Journey through Belgium. was be-
yond description. From Brussels we
proceeded to Antwerp. where we were
arrested by the garde civiaue on the
station platform. My poor
wife was hurried on with the butt ends
of the guards rifles. AS she took no
heed of this she was struck across
both legs with a rife and was in
jured. We witnessed most pitiable
scenes. A child. nine years. was so
frightened that 1t refused to follow
the others and chung with both hands
to the ratings at the exit; a garde
civiaue hit 1t with his sabre and cut
its left. hand Off
An Austrian couple who had owned
a restaurant at Antwerp for the last
sixteen years. were terribly ill treated
by the mob. The poor woman had one
Of her eyes pierced with fork. while
her husband had two fingers cut off.
Another Austrian woman was ex-
PEELED from q maternity home with her
baby. which was only five days old
She had neither dress nor shirt on her
body. which was only covered with a
dirty bed sheet. 1t was a heartrend-
ing scene yet 1t did not prevent a
garde civique from making fun of her
In q shameless manner: II was such a
comedy very amusing. indeed"
1000 Prisoners Suffer Terribly.
With reference to the treatment Of
Hungarian nationals in France.
the chief complaint was against the
imposed upon innocent wom-