Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13
GERMANS IN CRITICISM
OF CARDINAL MERCER
Liberties Granted Him Are Being
Used Merely for Purposes OF
Political Agitation.
CREATES AWKWARD SITUATION
Statement Regarding Activities OF
Primate of Belgium, Who Is Now
Visiting in Rome, Made Public in
Berlin.

BERLIN. February 12 tvia wireless
TO Sayvillc) The following statement
regarding the activities OF Cardinal
Mercicr. primatc OF Belgium, who is
visiting Rome, was made public to-day
by the Overseas News Agency:
The letter which Cardinal Mercier
and the Belgian bishops addressed to
the German clergy on November "a.
1915 regarding an investigation of al
legations that atrocities had been COM
mitted in Belgium by Germans), did
not reach Cardinal Won Hartmann.
Archbishop of Cologne. until January
I. which explains why it has not been
answered The general impression
prevailing in Germany. however, is
that the letter was inspired entirely
by Cardinal Mcrcier. whose intransi-
geant attitude toward the German au-
thori,ics became manifest on various
occa Sions.
Before the w&r Cardinal Mcrcier
was an influential Belgian politician
For example, at the time of King Leo
pold's death. he sided publicly with
the party in favor of colonial expan-
sion In the notorious Eongo affair
demanding an increase in the Belgian
army. After the occupation of Bel
giurn by German forces, the cardinal
preserved similar attitude using the
influence of tho clergy for agitation
of purely political nature.
ORDERED PRAYERS
FnR NICTORE OF kIITES
AT the time OF the great Anglo
French offensive the cardinal ordered
that in all Belgian churches in the
occupied territory prayers be said for
the victory OF the entente forces At
the same time, on St Michaers Day
he published a pastoral letter, compar-
ing the present war with the struggle
between ST. Michael. tho patron saint
of Brussels, and Lucifer suggesting
In transparent fashion that he did not
compar Germany with the angel.
In another pastoral letter the car
dinal said the Germans possessed no
legitimate authority. and had no claim
To the esteem OF Beluians. who owed
affection and obedience only to their
King.
During religious Ccremonials I'm the
fall. Cardinal Mercier declared 20 Bel
Rian priests assembled in the Malines
seminary that they were all obliged
10 offer the greatest possible resistance
to the Germans.
In competent German circles. ii is
pointed out in the appendix TO the
letter OF the Belgian clergy, inspired
by Cardinal MERCER. II IS stated that
an Austrian priest made investig ations
in Belgium which has disastrous results
for Germany. However, Cardinal Pin
Archbishop of Vienna. declares publicly
and formally that lie never authorized
any priest 20 make such Investigations.
NO PROOF OF ATTACH
on BELGIAN Nuns
The letter OF the Belgian bishops
also discusses the allegation that Ger
man soldiers attacked Belgian nuns.
When urged TO investigate this charge
Cardinal MERCER declined. on the
ground that he did not wish to hurt
any ones feelings But the Bishops of
lAcge Nanur, Bruges and Client de-
c.ared that no such misdceds had come
20 their knowledge
All this corroboratcs the German
impression ;hat the liberties granted
freely TO Cardinal MERCER in the in
iorest of his exalted pricstly vocation
are being used by him merely for pur-
poses OF political agitation, which
places The German authorities in an
awkward position"