New-York tribune., 1916-07-30
Protests Against Germans
Treatment of People in
Invaded Territory.
YOUNG GIRLS SENT
TO WORK IN FIELDS
Mayor of One Town Suspended
from Tree by Rope,
Says Note.


an official note to the neutral powers
protesting against the action OF the
German authorities toward the popu-
lation in the French departments occu-
pied by Teuton forces
Premier BRAND addressed TO j. j..
Jusserand. French Ambassador at
Washington, and to the other French
representatives in neutral countries
a communication directing them to pre-
sent to the government to which they
are respectively accredited note
reading as follows:
81 ask you to call the attertion OF
the government to which you are ac-
credited to the treatment to which the
populations of Lille. Roubaix and Tour
Going have been subjected by the Ger
man authorities.
"The French government in the pres
ence of revealed facts invokes the ap-
plication of Article III of The Hague
convention concerning laws and Gus
t.ms of conducting land warfare, to the
Snd that Germany be held responsible
for violations Of these rules by its
armed forces.
Sole Means of Address.
Until a decision by arms has per
mitted the reconquering OF THESE occu-
pied regions the sole means OF making
this effort is by pressing an appear 10
the sentiments of justice and humanity
of neutral powers and the public opin-
ion Of all nations.
81 therefore ask you, in presenting
this note to ask the government to give
il the most serious attention, as II con-
stitutes the protest of the French gov
ernmen against the conditions which II
brings TO the attention of the civilized
world. supported by testimony from
many sources"
After reciting the efforts made by
the government, through the Spamsh
government TO stop the German prac-
tices in invaded regions, the document
adds:
To-day, all our protests having been
in vain. we place the evidence before
the ewes of neutral powers, assured OF
the Judgment that universal conscience
will pass upon such conditions and tnat
il will be incumbent on the German
government. in case 1t undertakes 10
question this evidence, TO permit an
impartial inquiry. To this END the
German government must authorize the
neutral powers to conduct an inVestigS-
ton, notably of the events occurring st
Lille, Roubsix and Turcoing ana sur
rounding communes from the 22d TO
the 29th of April, 1916. If they refuse
10 authorize an inquiry 1t Will be e
recognition of the veracity of the facts
denounced"
Women Sent to Fields.
The note is accompanied By mass
of testimony concerning the SEIZURE ior
work in fields of thousands of women
and young girls. The document says
that the events which occurred at Lliie'
Roubaix and Turcoing were only the
application of the cruel system OF
work forced on the population, and de-
scribes the various forms OF Vioience
the Germans are accused of having
practised.
The note says: "A woman who was
,emoved from b, Ardennes, af-
firms that her husband was shot for
refusing to obey an order to requisl-
tion supplies, and that she herself was
imprisoned for two days.
"In F., Meurthe and Moselle,
work assigned to the Mayor being un,
completed in time, he was suspended
from a tree by means of a rope passed
under his arms, and he was left IN TINS
position about an hour"
The note cites cases Of men seventy
to eighty years old made to work; OF
women forced TO labor under the fire, OF
French troops, and others compelled
to dig trenches. 1t also makes
charge. based on the testimony OF
witness. that in October, 1914, the Ger
mans took from the Department OF Pas
de Calais a party Of inhabitants, and
the fire of the French and that forty
were thus killed.
The document says the German gov.
ernment on January "a, 1915, denied
mistreatment of inhabitants. but, says
the French note, Sworn testimony re-
garding measures taken in April at
lille shows the degree of faith which
can be placed in their denials.'