New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-18
Only Public Opinion
Can Save Them, Is
View in London
10000 DEPORTED;
1000 GO EACH DAY
Tournai Fined $4,000 for
Protesting-"O -"Obey Mill
tary," Is Warning
BY ARTHUR s. DRAPER.

lBy Cable 10 The rriounel
London, Nov. 17.-Public opinion
alone can prevent the enslavement Of
100000 Belgians. Germany has or
dered the enrolment of all males over
seventeen for deportation. To-day
Germany has 10000 of these con-
quered people to do her bidding, and
the number is swelling at the rate Of
1000 daily. And on September 2,
1914, the German Governor General
Of Belgium said: 81 am not asking
any one to renounce his patriotic
feelings"
Belgium Is a bothersome problem
for the Germans. They have got the
country and want to keep it, but not
as an enemy camp. The heaviest
fines and the most brutal punishment
have failed to crush the Belgians'
spirit and patriotism. Terrorism
continues as the first and last word
of the German code.
Campaign OF Terrorism
If Germany could get Belgium TO
conclude a separate peace her prob
lem would be infinitely less compli-
Gated. Germany hoped TO spread
terror in England by the raids Of
Zeppelins. The damage the airships
have inflicted on their military OBJ
iectives has been only incidental and
has not by any means disheartened
the British.
Substitute slave drives for Zeppe-
lin raids, and you have the Belgian
situation, with the same result. Ger
many needs labor, but the Belgians
who are now being treated as slaves
are merely paying the price Of pa
triotism. To find parallel TO the
present deportations one must return
TO the times when conquering armies
captured savage tribes and forced
the men to accompany them as
slaves.
Journal Fined sso.ooo
The Board Of Aldermen Of the town
of Tournai, which had calmly lived Tor
more than two years under German oc-
cupation, never showing sign OF nos
tilitv. adopted a resolution that
strong natural law forbade fathers and
brothers from furnishing weapons
arainst their children. 1t was mild'
temperate resolution, free from
bravado.
The Tournai aldermen mildly pro-
tested against slavery. Couched In true
Prussian militaristic language came
the immediate reply from Major Gen.
eral HOPPER, the commandant OF ths
district: "The military authority COM
mands, the municipality must obey
Then he slapped a fine OF 100000
marks (s5O.OOO) on the town for It's
"act Of arrogance without precedent
Journals Appeal Falls
The resolution Of the Municipal
Council at Tournai concerning the re-
quest by the German authorities for .
list Of workmen says:
"Thc City Of Tournai Is prepared 10
submit without resistance to all the
exigencies authorized by tho laws and
customs Of war. Its sincerity cannot
be doubted, as it has shown perfect
composure, and has avoided any active
hostility during the period Of over two
years that it has had to endure the
present occupation, TO billet the troops
and live them. The city has thus
clearly shown that IL is not animated
by an undue spirit of bravado.
"But at the same time the Municipal
Council could not furnish weapons
against their own children, fully con-
scious that natural law and interna-
tional law, which is derived from il.
forbids them 10 90 SO.
Hope for Kaiser's Aid
an his proclamation OF September 2.
1914, the Governor General OF Begun
made this statement: 4 an not asking
any one to renounce his patriotic feel
ing The City Of Journal remains con-
fident in this statement which must be
considered as expressing the feeling OF
bis imperial majesty, the German En-.
peror, in whose name the Governor
General was speaking.
consequently. in following the call
Of honor and patriotism. the city re-
mains faithful to a primary duty OF
which a higher German officer cannot
fail to realize the nobleness.
"The members OF the Municipal
Council are confident that the loyalty
and frankness OF this attitude will help
TO avoid all Misunderstanding between
themselves and the German army
City "Must Obey" Command
The above resolution was dated Ccto-
her 20 last. Under date OF October -
Major General HOPPER and Comman.
dant Etapcn replied as follows:
"The fact that the municipality al
lows itself by the decision OF the Town
Council 70 oppose tho orders of the
military authorities intoceupiedt eoun-