New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-15

now arrive at that part of this story
which is most painful. that is, the conduct
Of the German troops in this country, which
they claim is a part of the German Empire
loyal and dear to all German hearts.
When the French troops made tGeir entry
into Mulhouse on August 5, 1914, they were
received in a triumphal manner which con-
stituted an absolute denial OF the supposl-
ton that Alsace was Germanized II is, there
fore. TO sheer brutality that one must attrio-
ute the behavior of the German troops tow
ard the population when they retook the
city. and also the pillage, the burning. and
the atrocities committed at Sungau, Dalneln
and Sengern During the night or August
II and Is the Germans retreated after thelr
check before Belfort, burning IN the manu-
factories of Bourzvler, massacring innocent
civilians some over seventy years old)' ana
taking to prison eighty others under the pre-
text that the inhabitants had fired on the
troops. This is the easy and prevalent eN-
cuse: They fired on us IL is the same
that they used AT Louvain and in how many
other localities, but it so happened at bourz-
viler that. at an investigation held by Ger
man authorities themselves, it was proved
that the civilians had made use of no arms
and that it was the Germans who IN a sort
of panic had fired on each other. The CIVIL
ians were liberated, but in spite of tins TINS
false story has been circulated, and also pos
tai cards. showing and mentioning that these
ruins had been caused by the French on Au-
gust Is. 1914. when, as a matter of fact, they
only entered on the 18th. The same pro-
cedure has been followed in many places As.
for instance. in Sengern, where the Mayor
refused TO attest that the ruins had been
paVarthalazs an Ordi-
nance was passed, menacing with five years in
prison any one contending that the Germans
were responsible for the distinctions. There
arc many other abominable atrocities which
7 might cite. Certain ones il is hard TO con-
troll. and moreover for the greater number,
one would risk to expose innocent lnhabI-
tants to further reprisals. This requsitory
must he left to future historians. What 1t
ia possible to say to-day is simply that the
Germans conducted themselves in Alsace and
Lorraine as if they were in a veritable
"enemy's country" as they behaved in Bel
qium and in Northern France, and which, |
have witnessed. Their conduct would seem
10 agree with the words Of William ii after
the taking Of Thanh by the French troops,
"If must give back Alsace to France VIII
give her back as bald as an egg This re-
mark was repeated by journalist TO a citi-
zen of Strasburg who replied: well, perish
Alsace, and long live France
Outrages Upon Brothers
And so. after having for fortyfive years
vainly attempted to gain by persuasion, OF
after having subjected them to all manner Of
yexations. of injustces and of outrages, this
is the way the Germans treat to-day those
whom they have wished to reclaim as their
brothers @ The response to 1t all Is TOO
easy. II the Alsatans, in spite OF the PAD
treatment, have become such good Germans,
why do they still continue to martyrize them
| know that a certain number of conclliat-
ing but misinformed persons IN neutral
countries propose solution for TINS agonH-
ing problem with which we are occupied
When | say. a solution, | should say t"o'
because if some are partisans of autonomy
and would like to see Alsace ana Lorraine
form an independent state others, perhap,
more numerous still. lean toward a niebi-
settle. which would permit the Alsatlans and
Lorraines to decide for themselves, to when
country they wished TO be definitely attached.
These two propositions. which appear at first
SIGHT seductive do not resist serious exam
nation and are objected 10 by the Alsatians
and Lorraine themselves. plebiseite!
Did they give one in 1871? No. The Ger
mans were very careful not to do such a
thing. They knew too well what would De
the result As a matter of fact. If one looks
at it from a practical point of view, such an
undertaking would find insurmountab!e am
culties. For instance, what guarantee OF I'M
partiality would offer a vote authorized under
German surveillance and menace 1t would
he impossible TO prevent official pressure.
How would it be possible to allow vote to
tho innumerable Alsatisns who. have fled from
German domination and from whom 1t would
no iniouitous to withhold it? And. above all,