The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-10
GERMANS TAKING
BELGIUM MEN TO
POINTS UNKNOWN
They Are Being Sent From
Their Homes South and
East, But to Where?

Havre, November s.--Charges that
the German government is sending to
unknown destinations practically all
the able bodied men in occupied Bel
GUM are made by Baron Beyens, Bel
gian foreign minister, in a statement
issued today.
Baron Beyens says:
THE German government is rounding
up in large numbers in the towns and
villages of occupied Belgium such as
Alost, Client, Bruges, Courtrai and
Mons-to name only the first to be
victims of the measure-all<men fit to
bear arms, rich and poor, Irrespective
Of class, whether employed or unem-
ployed. Hunchbacks, cripples and one
armed men alone are excepted. These
men are torn in thousands from their
families d6.00o from Flanders alone are
sent. God knows whereof, while whole
trainloads are seen going east and
south.
1.-THE German authorities keep these
deportations going by pretending 1t is
the duty of the occupying power to
make, In accordance with The Hague
convention, the necessary regulations
to establish public order and public
life. They affirm that the unemployed
must not fall a charge upon public
charities and that work whereupon
they are employed, has nothing to do
with the war.
THOSE RESPONSIBLE
Those who are really responsible for
the stagnation and decay Of Belgian in
dustry are, according to the Germans,
workmen who prefer to 1.-Two on charity
rather than on the proceeds of their
labor, and England, which prohibited
the importation of raw materials into
Belgium.
lis 1T necessary to answer that there
would be no lack of work in Belgium
If the Germans had not Wade clean
sweep Of raw materials, copper and oil
in the factories-as they will perhaps
make clean sweep tomorrow Of all
leather betting which must now be de-
c1ared in detail-if they had note req
uisitioned in mass and machinery,
If finally they had not placed prohib-
tive duties on metal goods exported
to Holland in order to keep them out
of the market-the only one remaining
open as competitor for German in
dustry? Is it necessary to add that in
dustries cited by the Germans as hav-
ing no connection with the war, such
as quarries and lime kilns, furnish
the German army with materials for
concrete wherewith to fortify and con-
solidate trenches?
REAL PURPOSE CLAIMED
IF they desire to use the arms of
our workmen to repair and maintain
roads, would it be necessary to deport
them like cattle instead OF employing
them in the neighborhood of their
homes and families? The truth is that
Germany, by these corrallings Of Bel
gians, intends to liberate an equal num-
Der of German workmen to fill the
gaps in the regiments of their armies.
THE Belgian government denounces
to civilized nations among whom the
American people has made itself con-
spicuous by it's love of right and con-
science, it's horror of oppression and
its eagerness to help the unfortunate
victims of war, violations of the laws
of nations, and the rules of The Hague
convention. 1t protests with all it's pow
er against the slave trade organized
in Belgium in contempt Of the prin-
ciples of humanity and international
conventions"