Evening journal., 1916-12-06
BELGIAN PRIhAIES
PROTEST sweeping
Cardinal Mercier Accuses
Germans OF Violating Ex-
pIicit Promise to People
SAYS IT is COLD
CALCULATION

LONDON, Dec. 6.--Documents re-
cei,ed here give the text Of the reply
Vi Gen Won Bissing, military governor
OF Belgium. 10 Cardinal Mercier's let
er Of October 10 and the cardinals re-
ioindef OF November 10.
Gen. yon Kissing reply, dated Octo-
her 26 begins by denying amy VOCATION
ol the assurance the uerman command
ers gave at the beginning OF the war
that no men woulu nr removed from
Belgium. declaring that such removals
had been justified by "tho clandestine
emigration OF large numbers OF young
men wishing to JOIN the Belgian army
he adds; "ihe German authorities would
have been quite justified in following
ne example Of England and France, but
they have not done 80.
Contendmg that the employment Of
Belgian unemployed in Germaiy has
nothing TO do with the ecnduc, OF the
war. but is purely social and economic
measure, Gen. Won Kissing says;
"Oreat Britains merciless economic
isolation OF Germany bears equally on
Belgium; IL deprives her OF raw mater
ials and prevents the export Of manu-
iactures, and thus deals a vital blow,
leaving masses oi the people unemploy-
ed and bringing state of public Gallant
.tv 70 Belgium"
The Cardinals Reply.
Replying on November 10. Cardinal
Mercier recalls the promise made by
Baron Won Heuhne. and subsequently
confirmed by Baron Won Der Goltz,
and says;
THE undertaking was explicit and
entirely without time limit that young
people have nothing 10 fear that they
may be sent 20 Germany either 10 be
enrolled I'm the army or employed at
forced labor
This engagement has been violated
every day a thousand times for fifteen
days
charge that England and France have
done such things Cardinal Meroier re-
minds him that he should look to those
countries for revenge not toward
peaceful and disarmed population. The
Cardinal then denies that the Belgian
workers menaced public order, saying
"flye million Belgians and some hun
dred Americans are wondering wit
nosses OF the dignity and impocable
patience Of our working classes"
Effect on the War.
Cardinal Merdier says that II. as
Won Bissing declares such labor has
nothing to do with the conduct OF the
war. properly speaking. Il has some
thing TO do with the war properly
speaking"
For he continues. "even Il a Bel
gian does not take up arms. he re-
leases tho hands OF a German work
man. who will take them up"
The latter concludes as follows.
Two years ago they say there was
death. there was Diilaee, there was
burning. But 70 was war Today IL is
no longer war. II Is cold calculation,
desired destruction. imposition Of
might over right. the humiliation OF
man in defiance OF humanity. n de-
pends on you your EXcellency, TO 81
lence the voice. the cries OF outraged
conscience.
May God. on whom we call with
all the ardor OF the soul OF an op-
pressed people. inspire you with the
pity OF the good samaritan
Hundreds Killed IN Revolt.
Two Belgians who have arrived at
Sluiskiil, Holland. from Ghent. report
that there was a revolt in Antwerp on
November 80, IN which between two
and three hundred inhabitants and
many German soldiers were killed, ac-
cording 20 a Reuter- Amsterdam dis
patch quoting a Slulskill correspond
ent
The reported revolt was due TO a
cali upon the Inhabitants for work in
Germany.
The newspaper Les Nouvelles OF
Amsterdam says the Germans are be-
ginning to reduce considerably their
requirements as to the number OF un-