The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-12-28
MUTlLAT|ONSARE
SUBJECT TOIPRDOF
Fact That Children MaItreated
Are Not Here Does Not
.Disproye Hun Crimes

NEW YORK, December 17-A-( Associ-
ated Press)--Belief that there are in
the United States no mutilated chill
dren from Belgium, victims OF German
atrocities, is expressed by the Rev. j.
=. Stillemans, director Of the Belgian
bureau here, despite rumors to the
contrary. re- &iitiit 'f'TfitT
''Bnt this has absolutely nothing 70
do with, the question ~ German afro
cities or of the treatment mtted out to
Belgian or French children,p declar-
ed Mr.. StillemaEs. Some people
seem TO think that unless children with
hands cut on are brought 20 this coun-
try there could be no truth in what
ever they hear concerniag German
atrocities. First of all, children whose
hands would be cut of would most
probably die. If they survive, how
would they be gotten out Of Belgiuml
Snpposing they were, no one In France,
England or Holland would permit the
bringing Of these children TO America.
There are, thank God, enough kind
hearted people in these countries TO
give these poor little victims whatever
care and affection their sad condition
calls for. II Is not necessary to bring
these children 10 this country to esl
tablish the facts in the matter. We
cannot bring the bodies of those that
were murdered, no more than we can
bring onr destroyed cities to this coun-
try.
Reports Tell Story
"The official reports OF the Belgium
government on the massaeres Of Din.
ant, give the names of COG victims in
that unfortunate city of whom there
were eleven below FIVE years, six from
five to nine, twenty-five from ten to
fifteen and twenty seven Of sixteen and
seventeen years Of age.
'ffThe same Official reports on Lou
vain give the names Of 30 victims Of
whom there were three less than five
years old, five from ten to fifteen, six
Of sixteen and seventeen years old. The
Belgian government possesses great
many, sworn affidayits as to the cruel
way In which these people and these
children were murdered,
81 believe that the rumors as to mu-
tlated children being in this country
are started and circulated by. the Ger
mans themselves for the sake Of being
able to declare them erroneous and TO
claim. yietoriously, though illogically,
that NIL other accusgtions are TO be
judged untrue since in this particular
case no proof is Forthcoming.
Witnesses At Hand
9Several, Of the witnesses Of afro
cities. have, been and. ara at pressnt IN
America, .the most noteworthy among
them being professors Of the, Issnvais.
University. These witnesses however.
are often afraid 70 speak on account
Of the reprisals the Germans would
rake upon their relatives living in Bel
Iht aeeusations against the Ger
tN4. m stand unrefuted and Ger
||l1|| continue to be abhorred as
U most It' n nation In history I'M
tif~ttt cfItaNt u''l ~ 10 4 com,
plete ard al|||1' tttt|fi ~. nd BY
a disinterestd ID|. ~ ~,
they have Away fh'II| I| 3eI.
.gian Free Masons ~ .|II M their
comrades OF Germany asker /. Il az In.
vestigation, The Belgian Bishoss act.
ed likewise, as well as the Belgian So
cialists. In. all these eases the Ger
man refused. They had the opportun-
ity Of clearing their reputation and
they have the same opportunity to-
day, but they know, better than to at.
tempt sc, desperate a task.
q