The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-06-23
POPE BENEDICT ILL-TREATgo
Partisans In War Make impossible
Demands.

Benedict signed by Louis Latapie. a
prominent member of the staff who
was sent to Rome to ascertain the
Pontiff's views on the various aspects
of the war Pope Benedict is quoted
as expressing horror at some of the
developments of the war. but in the
main his words have to do with
| peace.
The interview began with an allus-
ion by the Pontiff to what the Holy
See had done in respect to the war.
! The Pope said he had addressed a
letter in favor of peace to the Catho-
| lie world, and had proposed truce
| to the belligerents for the Christmas
| tide He had also endeavored to OBJ
| tain an exchange of prisoners unfit
ted for military service, and had the
| good fortune to obtain in this respect
an appreciable result.
| His Holiness referred to the letter
| he had written to Cardinals Lucon
| and Annette OF Rheims and Paris. re-
| spectively, and to his consistorial add
dress on jan %.
Mr.. Latapie quotes the Pope as say
ing: You desire that | should con-
denim every crime specifically, but
| each OF your accusations is accom-
panied by a reply on the part of the
Germans, and | am not able 10 insti
tute here a continuous discussion,
nor can make Investigations at this
moment"
is it necessary to inquire as to
whether the neutrality of Belgium
has been violated?" asked the cores
pondent. s.
"'That was under the pontifcate
of Plus X.,''' the Pope replied
is it not known by all that many
priests have been taken as hostages
in Belgium and i'll France, and shot p
the Pontiff was asked.
81 have received from Austrian
Bishops the assurance that the Rus
sian Army has also taken hostages
from among the Catholic priests he
said, land that the Russians on one
occasion pushed before them 1900
Jews, so that they could advance be-
hind this living barrier thus exposed
to the bullets of the enemy. The Bis
hop Of Cremona has informed me
that the Italians have already taken
eighteen Austrian priests as hos
tages.
There are so many excuses that
have issued an admonition in my
encyclical reclaring: 1t is permit
ted to no person, for whatever motive
to violate Justice"
THE Germans said Mr. Latapie,
have committed other Violations
To this the Pope replied: THE
CardinalSecretary of State has re.
ceived the representatives of seven
Belgian congregations. They have
declared that they are not able to
cite a single case in their congrega-
tion protected especially by the Vir-
gin or by some Saint. We continue
to be imperfectIy informed upon this
subject" -uet
'As to the burning of Louvain and
the bombardment OF churches" the
correspondent suggested.
THE Germans reply that their
troops have been fired upon" said
the Pope. They have declared that
there was an observatory in the tow
er Of the Cathedral at Rheims. With
reference to Louvain, have already
given orders concerning it. We shall
assist in restoring the cathedrals
Is there need to say that we condemn
with all such things? Every shot
fired upon the Cathedral of Rheims
was felt in my heart"
The Pope struck his breast and add
ed: But the hour has not yet come
contradictory asserting which sur
round it, The Vatican is not court
We do not give judgment. The Judge
is on high"
'At least one can protest against
the arrest OLA Prince of the Church"
ventured the correspondent.
Z II shall surprise you; Cardinal
MERCER archbishop of Malines) has
never been arrested" replied the
Pope. HE can go about his diocese
as he pleases. have received from
General Won Bissing the Governor of
Belgium, letter assuring me that he
would repress hereafter with the ut
most energy all acts of violence
against churches and against minist-
ers of God"
The Pope then referred to the sink
ing of the Lusitania, and is quoted by
the correspondent as saying: 81 do
not know of more frightful transac-
ton. What grief to see in our gener-
alton such horrors. | have the heart
of a father, and this heart has been
torn. But what do you think of the
blockade which constructs two en-
pires, which condemns to famine mil !
lions of innocents? Is that inspired
also by feelings entirely humane?"
gerents. Then one viii find without
that after the war | will not proclaim
a syllabus, recalling and summing
up the doctrines of the Church on
this subject and regulating for the
future the rights and duties of belli-
geernts. Then one will find without
doubt the formal condemnation OF
4. -.