Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-11

French and British, gave onlcial sane
ton to the military policy Of murder
ing civilians and razing towns.l
Thus the teachings Of the German
war book and Of the German apostles
Of frightfulness. suspicion, and hatred
had now begun to bear their natural
fruit. But the voice Of protest was
not entirely silent. A considerable
number Of letters by German soldiers
who were shocked by the German
atrocities were sent to Ambassador
Gerard, because he was the represen-
tative of the United States, the leading
neutral nation. The three letters
which follow. in translation, were ne
ceived by the American ambassador
from German soldiers. They were OBJ
tanned for this pamphlet from Secre-
tary Grew; they illustrate both the sys-
tenn and the horror of 1t, which the
writer's felt.
The Whole Lot Must Die.
Here Is the protest of a German SOL
der. an eyewitness Of the slaughter
Of Russian soldiers In the Mazurian
lakes and swamps.
1T was frightful. heartrending, as
these masses Of human beings were
driven to destruction. Above the ter
rible thunder OF the cannon could be
heard the heartrend;ng cries Of the
Russians, 20 Prussians! o Prussians!"
but there was no mercy. Our cap
tain had ordered: THE whole lot
must die; so rapid fire." As have
heard, five men and one officer on our
side went mad from those heartrend-
ing cries. But most OF my comrades
and the officers joked as the unarmed
and helpless Russians shrIeked for
mercy while they were being suffocat-
ed In the swamps and shot down. The
order was: Close up and at it hard
er!" For days afterwards those heart
rending yells followed me and I dare
not think of them or I shall go mad.
There Is no God. there Is no morality
and no ethics any more. There are no
human Q beings any more, but only
beasts. Down with militarism.
This was the experience Of a Prus-
sian soldier. At present wounded:
Berlin, Oct %, 1914.
II you are a truth loving man please
receive these lines from common
Prussian soldier.
Order Wounded Killed.
Here is the testimony Of another
German soldier on the eastern front:
Russian Poland, Dec. 1894. In
the name of Christianity I send you
these words. Ny consciences forces
me as a Christian German soldier to
inform you Of these lines.
Wounded Russians are killed with
the bayonet according to orders.
And Russians who have surrender
ed are often shot down in masses ac-
cording to orders. in spite of their
heartrending prayers.
I'm the hope that you, as the repre-
sentative OF a Christian state, will pro-
test against this. I sign myself,
"A German soldier and christian.
Il would give my name and regiment,
but these words could get me court
martialed for divulging military Sc
crets."
Numbering Prisoners.
The third letter, from the western
front, shows the same horror OF the
system of which the writer was wit
ness.
ITO the American Government Wash
ington, U. s. A.
Englishmen who have surrendered
are shot down in small groups With
the French one is more considerate
ask whether men let themselves be
taken prisoners In order to be dis
armed and shot down afterwards? Is
that chivalry in battle? 1t is no long
er secret among the people; one
hears everywhere that few prisoners
are taken; they are shot down in small
groups. They say naively: I'VE don't
want any unnecessary months to feed
Where there is no one to enter COM
paint there is no judge Is there then
no power IN the world which can put
an end to these murder's and rescue
the victims? Where Is Christianity?
Where Is right? Might is right.
A soldier and man who is no bar
barian." a Ss
THE Belgian government early In
the war warned civilians TO conduct
themselves so as to invite no excuse
FOR reprisal The Belgian authorities,
nevertheless, were constantly con-
frouted with evidence OF German
|bestiality.]
Charges by Bsioians.
Here IL al summary OF the charges
1.-THE Belgian government makes
against the sGermanss 100 81
l. That thousands OF iinofYendsng
civilians. Including women. and chill
tdren, are murdered by tie Germans.
"A ai9 Z