Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-19
Luremburg Asks Help
By Frederic J. Haskin

Washington, June l6.-A committee OF the
citizens of the grand duchy of Luxembourg have
addressed petition to President Wilson, asking
that the United States do not forget the wrongs
that have been inflicted upon their country by
Germany II this war is being fought over the
rights of small nations, says the petition in effect
remember that we are the smallest OF all nations
and that our rights were the first to be violated.
The first neutral nation to be invaded by Ger
many was Luxembourg. The invasion was fla
grant breach OF solemn treaty, and the Germans
admitted as much, explaining with their usual
myopc morality that the breach was justified
on grounds OF military necessity. I'VE Lave COM
mitted wrong-I speak plainly, y,"-said the Ger
man chancellor addressing the Reichstag "but
we will make redress for this wrong as soon as
our military objects are attained"
The first prisoners taken in the great war were
citizens of Luxemburg-men who had done no
wrong, done nothing but protest against the inva-
sion OF their territory. They were removed into
Germany, and the natives got the impression that
they were spies, with the result that their lives
were endangered. The German armies swept COM
petely, over Luxembourg, one of the most peace
ful and progressive states in Europe.
Luxembourg is country Of about 1000 square
miles, with population of 10000. There is no
compulsory military service and the army in 1914
consisted of 800 men and excellent military
band. When war was declared Luxembourg closed
81. | n
German advance guard forced the army to remove
the chains at the point of the pistol. One single
barricade was erected to check the advance of
the Teutons and the men who built it were forced
to take it down. Any resistance of course, was
absolutely hopeless.
Since then Luxembourg has been in German
hands. The petition to President Wilson was
drawn up by committee of exiles in Paris. A
large number Of Luxemburghers left the country
rather than remain under Prussian domination.
The number OF Luxemburghers fighting as volun-
teers in the allied armies is greater in proportion
to population than those of any other nation in
the world.
There are two reasons why possession of
Luxembourg was important to Germany. First, il
lies on the direct road to France. Second, it is
an important agricultural and industrial state. 1t
has rich mines of lead, copper, antmony and iron.
Almost per cent of the whole worlds output of
iron is produced in this tiny nation. In the face
OF these considerations the solemn treaty stipula-
tons were not considered. The first scrap of pa
per was torn to shreds
For many years past Germany has been at
tempting to extend its influence in Luxembourg.
The highly developed railroad system Of the coun-
try was controlled by Germans, and it is clear
that this network of railroads, so excellently
adapted to the transportation of troops, was de-
signed largely with that end in view. Luxem-
burg was member of the German customs union.
Every effort was made to Germanize the grand
duchy, but these efforts failed because hatred
of Prussia is deeply ingrained in the Luxembourg
nature. OF this there seems to be no reasonable
doubt
The ruler OF Luxembourg is Grand Duchess
Marie Adelaide 1t is said by some that the grand
duchess herself went out in her motor car to pro-
test against the violation of her neutral duchy
but the actual protest seems to have been made
by officers of the tiny army.
Ae in he
triotism of the Luxemburghers is very ardent
sentiment. Their country is at once one of the
most beautiful and the richest in the world In
all the arts of peace they occupy very advanced
position. The government is a constitutional
monarchy; there is complete religious freedom in
normal times. There are excellent roads, $40
miles of ralroad-n a country of 900 square
miles-a network of telephone lines, l2S post
Offices and schools particularly numerous
Education, is compulsory. In this state of 10000
schools, 700 secondary schools and numerous
technical schools and colleges. Students came
from all over Europe. The country enjoyed rea-
lively great wealth and prosperity.
Both French anr German were taught in the
schools. The common people use mixed dialect
principally based on German words. French was
universally used in official circles and by the
higher classes generally.
What will become of Luxembourg after the
war? The people are unalterably opposed to
Prussian rule Nowhere are the Prussans bet
ter hated Luxembourg would sooner be French
than Prussian and it would rather be part of
Belgium than a part OF France. What it really
desires is plain enough--it wishes to become again
what it was once, free and independent state.
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