Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-17
NO MUT|LATED BELC|AN !.
CHILDREN IN AMERICA
Enough Kind Hearted People In
France. England and Holland to
Caro- for Little Ones
VICTIMS OF CRUEL GERMANS
Several OF Witnesses Of Frightful
Atrocities Have Been, and Arc at
Present, in This Country-Accusa.
tions Against Huns Unrcfuted.

NEW YORK. December 16.-Bclief
that there are in tho United States no
mutilated children from Belgium. VIC
Tins OF German atrocities. Is expressed
oy the Rev. J. +. Stillemans. director
OF the Belgian bureau here. despite ru-
mors to the contrary.
But this has absolutely nothing to
do with the question OF German afro
cities or OF the treatement meted out
10 Belgian or French children" de-
ciared the Rev. Mr.. Stillemans. Some
people seem to think that unless chill.
dren with hands cut off are brought
TO this country there could be no truth
in Whatever they hear concerning Ger
man atrocities. First Of all, children
whose hands would be cut OF would
most probably die. II they did sur
vive. how would they be gotten out
of Belgium? Surprising they were. no
ono in France, England or Holland
would permit the bringing of these
children 20 America. There arc. thank
God. enough kindhearted people in
these countries to give these poor lit
tie victims whatever care and arec-
ton their sad condition calls for II
is not necessary TO bring these chill
dren to this country to establish the
facts in the matter. We cannot bring
the bodies OF those that were muir
dcrcd. no more than wo can bring our
destroyed cities to this country.
The official reports of the Belgian
government on the massacrcs OF Oman.
give the names OF COS victims in that
unfortunate city. Of whom there were
eleven below FIVE years, six from five
TO nine. twenty-five from ten to ff-
teen and twentyseven OF sixteen and
seventeen years of age
The same official reports on Lou.
vain give the names Of 2I0 victims, of
whom there were three less than five
years old. five from ten to fifteen SIX
or sixteen and seventeen years old. The
Belgian government possesses a great
many sworn affidavits as TO the cruel
way in which these people and these
children were murdered
believe that the rumors as 20
mrti|atcd children being in this coun
try arc started and circulated by the
Germans themselves for the sake OF
being able to declare them crronecl,
and to claim VIGOROUSLY, though iltor
!cally. that all other accusations ere
to be judged untrue. since in this par.
ttcular case no proof is Forthcoming.
several OF the witnesses OF atroci-
Ties have been and are at prcsen. in
America. the mos, noteworthy among
them being professors Of the I.ouyair
University. These witnesses, however
arc often afraid 10 speak on account
OF the rcprisals the Gernans would
take upon their relatives living in Bel
GUM.
The ACCUSATIONS against the Ger
mans will stand unrefut.d and Ge-.
many will continue to be abhorred A.
mos; degraded nation in history un-
II! the Germans will submit TO com
piete and official inquiry conducted BY
disinterested court. This. however
they have refused. The Belgian Ere.
Masons appealed TO their comrades o,
Germany asking It fair :nvestiEation
me Belgian bishops acted likewise. A.
VIGIL AS the Belgian Socialists. In
All these cases the Germans refused
IheS had the opportunity OF c,earin.
tnc!r reputation. and they have I'll.
same opportunity to-day. but t.,ey
know better than to attempt so acs-
peratc a task"