The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-01-09


At the request of the Belgian Iega-
| ton in London, the British press bu-
reau today issued detailed allegations
Of the mediterranean OF Catholic cler-
gy in Belgium and the destruction of
their institutions by German troops.
The statement says churches and re-
ligious houses were destroyed or pro-
famed in almost every village and in
many towns where the German troops
passed. In most cases the edifces
were utilized as stables and prisons.
and when not placed in safe hiding,
the sacred vessels were stolen.
The statement declares members of
the clergy have been exposed to special
indignities at the hands OF German
soldiers. In the diocese of Liege, Ma
muir, Malines and Client, many priests
and others connected with the
churches were either shot or hanged
Many other priests were carried off to
Germany, where they appear to have
been subjected to abominable usage"
The following specific instances are
given in the statement Of the press bu-
reau:
August 27---An American and a
Spanish priest, among group of sew
enty civilians were dragged about from
place to place all day and molested.
insulted and threatened with military
execution. They were taken to the
church at Campenhout and shut UP
for the night.
August 21--The priest of Duechen,
an invalid, 81 years old, suffering from
disease, was accused by the Germans
Of having fired on them. He was ar
rested, hoisted on cannon, tossed
into ditch, tortured and shot.
"A witness deposes that he saw
the Priest Gelrode brought into Aers-
chot August "a with three wounded
men, The Germans said he was an
English spy and took him to the town
hall. The. following day they beat
him with FNfie butts and then on the
Demer bridge they shot him and cast
his body into the river
A priest makes the following de-
position: August rs, German sol
diers swarmed into the village Of
Schaffen and began to burn and pill
lage on the pretense that shots had
been fired on them. One hundred and
seventy houses were burned and
twenty-seven civilians were murdered.
The Germans maltrated me In every
way. They erected gallows on which
they said they proposed to hang me.
They thrust me into house which
was on fire. but dragged me out again.
They sent me of, and at a distance OF
200 yards they began shooting at me.
fell and pretended to be dead and
so I escaped"
Continuing the statement says the
commission Of inquiry collected EVIL
dence that in the diocese of Malines
alone, 90 priests were killed without
cause. Similar atrocities occurred in
other dioceses. In the Liege diocese
ten priests were shot and In the Ma
muir diocese, twenty priests were
killed. The priest of Spontin was first
hung up by the feet then by the hands
and pierced with bayonets. In the do
cese OF Journal, q bishop, ~ years
struck by a soldier. Three ecclesiasts
were shot in this diocese.
The statement concludes with these
words:
Nothing can demonstrate more
clearly the tendencies Of the Germans
in dealing with members OF the cleri-
cal body than the words Of procIa-
nation posted by the German author
tiles at Grizegnee, September 8. which
says: When hostages are taken the
priests, burgomasters and members of
the community administration are to
be put at the head of the list"