New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-09
CARDINAL WARNED,
KAISER TELLS POPE
Plea for Vatican Approval
Fails-Belgian Prelate'S
Arrest Denied.
AMSTERDAM INSISTS
HE Is A PRISONER
Specific Instances of Maltreats
ment of Catholic Clergy by
Germans Given Out.
-BI C.bI. to III. Thbun.. J

heh' VI IdtnOIlC CIc1gy by
Germans Given Out.
iBy cable to The Tribune.
Rome. Jan. g. The Kaiser has wired
to the Pope denying the arres, of Car
dinal MERCER. of Belgium, who, he says,
was merely warned TO discontinue his
dnt-German propaganda in Belgium,
which the Kaiser felt sure the Pope
disapprOved The kaiser's telegram,
which is a reply to the Pope's appeal
for the release of the Cardinal. is in
tended to provoke the Pope's condem-
nation of the Belgian prmate, q con-
demnation which would then be used
as justification Cor the restrictive
measures adopted against the Cardinal.
The Pope. however, instead of dis
approving the Cardinals attitude, has
openly announced that the Cardinal, as
Catholic and a Belgian, was IN duty
bound TO strive toward the indopen-
dence of Belgium and that in MS place
the Pope would have done the same.
Unless the Cardinals complete freedom
OF speech and action is guaranteed the
Pope Is determined energetically to in
teryene and not to tolerate the persecu-
ton of the Cardinal in the exercise of
his spiritual ministry. Hence. if neces-
sary, he could summon Cardinal Mer-
cier TO Rome. this being the only
means TO protect his inviolabilty as an
archbishop and prince of the Church.
The German explanation says they
had in mind the fulilment oe the
Christian duty, which must be par
ticularly dear 10 minister CT the
Church, Of avoiding the shedding Of
blood"
Amsterdam via London. Jan. s.
The RoSendaal correspondent of the
newspaper "Tijd" sends a dispatch in
which ne insists that Cardinal MERCER
was arrested and imprisoned in his
palace and that even now he is detained
in Malines. The correspondent says
that the Cardinal soon will declare per
sonally that in his own palace he was
deprived Of his personal freedom, that
he submitted to "a kind of interroga
ton. that his palace was guarded by
military and that he still is forbidden
10 leave Malines.
The Cardinal declined, says the CORE
spondent to go to Brussels on request
of the Germans. and when he learned
that some priests who read his letter in
public had been treated in an unseen
~ manner he accepted full response
bility for what he had done. The
senior cure of Antwerp. after receiving
message from Malines. told the
"Tijd' correspondent to-day with the
greatest emphasis. says the dispatch to
the newspaper. that the Cardinal would
not he allowed to leave Malines until
n. go.l darfeinn rarafNaH from
Berlin.
London. Jan. S.-Reuter's Amster-
dam correspondent sends the follow
ing:
According to telegram from Ber-
lin. to-night's issue Of the 'Nord-
deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung' pub
lished the following inspired communi-
cation:
"'The Archbishop of Malnes. Car
diral MERCER. issued Christmas pas
toral letter, which he directed should
be read from the pulpits of all the
churches in his diocese on January
and the following Sundays. In addi-
ton 10 remarks on religious matters
the letter contains a series Of political
statements which are irreconcilabie
with the present state OF occupation.
The German authorities, therefore,
were obliged TO take measures to pre-
vent further propagation of the letter.
"'When the Governor General drew
the attention of the Cardinal TO the
matter the latter declared verbally
and in writing that his letter was not
in any way meant to be of an melting
nature. On the contrary, he added
that his intention was TO paclfy the
population and endeavor 20 remind
them, without hurting their patriotic
feelings. 20 be submissive. in demeanor
1T least, 20 the existing German author
ity.
However. as the Governor General
was of a different opinion with regard
to the letter and feared 1t would have
an melting effect. Cardinal MERCER did
not insist upon the execution By his
clergy of his directions for continued
reading of the letter from their pulpits.
Before this the Governor General had
prohibited the publication and propa-
cation of the pastoral letter.
"'The incident can now be regarded
as settled.
Catholic Clergy Mistreated.
At the request of the Belgian Lega-
IN in London, the British Press Blu
reau to-day issued detailed allegations
of the maltreatment of Catholic clergy
in Belgium and the destruction OF their
institutions by German troops. This
statement says that churches and re-
iigious houses were destroyed or pro-
famed in almost every village and in
many towns where the German troops
passed. In most cases the edifices were
utilized as stables and prisons, and
when not placed in safe hiding the
sacred vessels were stolen.
The statement makes the declaration
that members of the clergy have been
exposed TO special indignties at the
hands of German soldiers. In the do
ceses of Liege, Namur, Malines and
Client many priests and others con-
nected with the churches were either
shot or hanged Many other priests
were Carried off 10 Germany, where
they appear to have been Subjected to
abominable usage" The following spe-
ciic instances are given IN the state
ment OF the Press Bureau:
August 27-An American and
Spanish priest. among a group Of sew
enty civilians, were dragged about from
place TO place all day and molested, in
suited and threatened with military
execution. They were taken to the
church at Campenhout and shut up for
the night.
August 2l--The priest Of Duechen,
years old, suffering from
disease, was accused by the Germans
of having fired on them. He was ar
rested, hoisted on a cannon, tossed into
a ditch. tortured and shot.
A witness deposes that he saw the
priest Gelrode brought into Aershot
August "A with three wounded men.
The Germans said he was an English