The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1917-04-26
Germans Ashamed of
Cruelty to Beleians


dictment of German brutality in the
deportation of conquered Belgians
forced labor, written from behind the
German lines by Brand Whitlock,
American minister to Belgium, was
made public tonight by the state de-
partment. 1t came in a confidential
report last January when the United
States was vainly protesting to Berlin
against the treatment of the helpless
people, but the department did not
dare publish it at that time or until
Mr.. Whitlock was safe on French SOIL
The report begins with story of
what happesed Immediately after the
army overran Belgium, of arrange
mcnts by the Belgian governement to
continue the wages of civilians thrown
out of work and of the conquerors'
determination to put these men to
work for them.
"In August, Won Hindenburg was
appointed to the supreme command"
says the report, "He is said to have
criticized Won Bissing's policy as too
mild. There was quarrel; Won Bis
sing went to Berlin to protest, threat
encd to resign but did not. He re-
turned and German official here
said that Belgium would now be sub.
jcctcd to more terrible regime.
would learn what war was. The
/, Ln.,o
Raided Many Districts.
The deportation began in October
n the Etapc, at Ghcnt and at Brugcs.
The policy spread; the rich industrial
districts of lIainault, the mines and
steel works about Char.croi were next
attacked Now they are scizing men
in Brabant, even in Brussels, despite
some Indications and even predictions
of the civil authorities that the policy
| was about to be abandoned.
LAS by one of the ironicS of life,
| the winter has been more excessively
cold than Belgium has ever known
and while many of those who pre-
sented themselves were adequately
protected against the cold many o.
them were without ovcrcoatS The
men shivering from cold and fear, the
J,o,, a., L.,,;
,u ~,
distressing one.
"Thc rage, the terror and despair
excited by the measure all over Bel
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On. Of Eo,Jo., DoI.
.Tbo ,ycII Lrow, tord.,cv of .o,
sational rcports TO cxnggcroto tbcn,.
selves csncciallv !, ,ir,o of ,,,,. .,. =,
in "A situation like that cxistinr her.,
with no newsnoners IN snrvo nc =,
daily clcarirg housr for ol1 tbo ru
mors that are as avidIv bcIiovad -.
they arc eagerly rcpeated sbonId or
course be considered. but even if =,
modicum Of all that is told ;s truo
there still remains enough 70 stamn
this deed as one of the rou,ost that
history records.
I am constantly in rec.;n, or ro
ports from all over Bclpjum thot tcnd
to bear out stories one constantly
hears of brutality and cruel,v \
number of men sent back to Mons are
said to be in n diving condition mans.
] of them tubcrcular. At MaIjncs and
at Antwerp returned mon have died
their friends asserting that thcv have
been victims of neglect and cruelty
Of cold, of exposure. Of hunger.
81 have had REQUESTS from thc