The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-22
IN BELGIUM
DEFY GERMAN MASTERS
Commands and Promises Both Fail-Starvation Threat
ened if Men Hold Out-Crowd, Refusing to Work,
Cheers for Country and It's Soldiers.

LONDON. Aug. 5.-A thrilling story OF
the stand made by Belgian workinen
against German threats OF deportation
unless they aided the invaders of their
country Is told in an official communi-
cation from the Belgian Legation in
London. In spite of persistent COM
mands the Belgian mechanics have
steadfastly refused to perform war WORK
for the German army.
Article 90 OF the Regulations Con-
corning the Laws and Customs OF War
by Land which are annexed to the
Fourth Hague Convention, forblds an
occupying force to exact from the dis
tricts of an occupied country, or their
inhabitants, acquisitions or forced labor
Of a sort which obliges the population
to take part in acts OF war against their
own country.
At present. says the communicate. the
chief constraint Is being exercised upon
railway servants. If these men could
Germans to the equivalent of a whole
army corps would be set free. The
movement and transport OF troops would
also be much facilitated. for numerous
accidents have happened owing TO the
ineXperience OF the German stan.
Won't Help Germans.
Belgian railway servants. compre-
hending the sort of service that is re-
quired from them. have steadfastly re-
fused for eleven months to lend their
aid to the German authorities, notwith-
standing the poverty TO which they are
educed Not only have they resisted
most tempting offers in the way of
salary-at Liege the engine drivers ac-
customed to work on the steep gradient
OF Grand PFn Warp nffarnl ay.n an
francs a day-but they nave been en-
during most odiou prosecutions for
their refusal 10 serve-even indirectly
against the interests OF their native
country. Herr Hulzebusch. the "Secre-
tary-General for Imperial German Rail
ways" at Brussels, is reported to have
said that he will achieve his purpose
by means of famine; he will drive back
the railway men to their lines and their
workshops by preventing the relief COM
mittees from helping them.
Detailed information concerning GER
tain recent incidents at Luttre and
Malines has come to hand AT Luttre
the German authorities assembled about
thirty mechanics belonging to the Cen
trail Railway workshops, and requested
them to resume their vocations, promis-
ing a rise in their wages. The mechan
les returned a decided negative. They
were tntItupol SMUT up III runway car
riages and told that they would only
be let out when they consented to work.
The threat was useless.
"Vive La BeIgiIue!"
After several days they were told that
they would be sent off to Germany, and
there set to forced and unpaid labor.
At the same time their families were
warne of the threat, in the hope that
they would induce them TO yield. ON the
following day as the train steamed off
the imprisoned mechanics and the people
who had crowded down to the APP
proaches to the station Joined In hearty
cheers of "Vive Ia Belgi1ue - The train
went no further than Namur, where the
workmen were turned loose.
A few days later a second attempt
was made, The Germans assembled by
compulsion abou 100 workmen in the
dining hall of the Central WORKS. where
an officer them, mt first In
polite terms. to resume work. When
they kept silence he threatened to send
them off to Germany. He added you
need have no fears for the future the
'Kommandatur' will give YOU certificates
stating that YOU only resumed work un-
der ~compulsion. Let those who consent
make two steps to the front" The whole
body OF workmeu made a step 10 the
rear and shouted "Nive In Belgique.
yivent nos soldats ~
In consequence ~ these incidents NJ
Kesseler. the manage II the 'entral
Railway works Al l.u,tre, was arreste,
at Brussels on May 10. lie WAS moved
to the Jail ~ Chartered, where he had
! 10 sleep on straw. and ON wednesday,