The Elbert County tribune., 1917-12-14

BY sleeping himself In military his
tory an officer will be able to guard
himself against excessive humanitari-
an notions; it will teach him that GER
tain seventies are Indispensable to
war. nay more, that the only true hd-
manity very often lies in ii ruthless
application of them
For the guidance of the officers In
case the inhabitants of conquered ter
ritory should take up arms against the
German army, the German War
Book" quotes with approval the letter
Napoleon sent to his brother Joseph.
when the Inhabitants of Italy We're at
tempting to revolt against him:
THE security of your dominion de
pends on how you behave in the con
quered province. Burn down dozen
places which are not willing to- sub
you have first looted them; my sol
diers must not be allowed to go away
with their hands empty. Have three
10 six persons hanged in every village
which has Joined the revolt; pay no
respect to the cossack'' (that is. to
members of the clergy).
Officers Trained to Be Savages-
Some of the rules laid down in the
German War Book" are illustrated.
and their spirit made more definite IN
"LTnterprete Militaire zum Gebrauch
i'm FeindesIand'' ("Military Interpreter
for Use In the Enemy's Country').
This is manual edited at Berlin in
1906. ST contairs," says the intro
ductioh, "the French translation of the
greater part of documents, letters, and
proclamations, and. some orders of
which it may be necessary to make use
in time of war" Thus, eight years
before this war began, the German
military authorities were not only pre-
pairing their officers to wage war In
a manner wholly contrary to The
Hague regulations, but also We're look
ing forward to the use of these proc
lamations in French or Belgian terri
tory. Among its forms, ready for use
by inserting names, date, and places.
are the following:
"A fine of 100000 marks in conse-
quence of an attempt made by -
to assassinate German soldier, is i'm
poSet. On tle toNH VI ". PS oiuei
of -
Efforts have been made, without
result, to obtain the withdrawal of the
fine.
"The term fixed for payment expires
tomorrow, Saturday, December II. at
noon -.
Bank notes. cash, or silver plate
will be accepted"
"I have to acknowledge receipt of
your letter dated the 7th OF this month,
in which you bring to my notice the
great difficulty which you expect to
meet in levying the contributions.
1 can but regret the explana
tions which you have thought proper
to give me on this subject; the order
in question which emanates from my
government is so clear and precise,
and the Instructions which / have re-
cal that If the sum due by the town
of r. is not paid the town will be
burned down without pity!"
Ruthless Destruction Ordered.
"On account of the destruction of
the bridge of F., 1 order: The dis
trict shall pay a special contribution
of 10.O0O00O francs by way of amends.
This is brought to the notice of the
public, who are informed that the
method of assessment of the said sum
will be enforced with the utmost Sc
verify. The village of r will be
Nv
the exception of certain buildings oc-
cupied for the use of the troops"
These forms have been of great use
to the German commanders in Bel
gium and northern France. The close
ness with which they have been fol-
lowed in these conquered lands, dur
ing the present war, may be seen by
reading these two proclamations:
"rhe City of Brussels, exclusive OF
its suburbs, has been punished by an
additional fine of 100000 francs on
account of the attack made upon a
German soldier by Ryckere, one of its
police officials.
",The Governor of Brussels.
BARON Won LUETTWITZ."
November 1, 1914.
Placard posted on the walls of Lune-
Vile by order of the German authori-
ties:
Notice to the People:
"Some of the inhabitants of Lune-
Vile made an attack from ambuscade
on the German columns and wagons
(trains). The same day (some of the)
inhabitants shot at sanitary forma-
tions marked with the Red Cross. In
addition German wounded and the mil
itary ambulance were fred upon.
Because of these acts of hostility
fine of 650.00O francs is imposed upon
the commune of Luneville. The may
or is ordered to pay this sum in gold
or silver up to $4,000 francs, Septem-
ber 6, 1914, at nine o'clock in the