Evening journal., 1917-03-27
AGAINST
German BARBARISN
Acts OF Retreating Army
Decried by the
French
SEE NO MILITARY
REASON FOR IT

PARIS. March 27.-The French gov
srnment has charged its representa-.
tives in all neutral countries to pro-
test against "acts of barbarism and
devastation on the part Of the Ger
mans in territory evacuated by them
in Northern France The full text OF
the note. which IS signed by Premier
Ribot, follows
.aThe government Of the republic
now Is gathering the elements of pro-
test. which 1t intends sending to neu-
.tral governments. against acts of bar
barism and devastation committed by
the Germans IN French territory
which they are evacuating while re-
treating
AT this time / ask YOU TO make
known to the government 20 which
YOU are accredited that we intend TO
denounce before universal Judgment
the unqualihable acts INDUCED in by
the German authorities. No motive de-
manded by military necessity can
Justify the systematic devastation of
public monuments, artistic and his
foricaI. as we'll as public property, ac-
companied by violence against per
sone. cities and villages in their en-
tiretv have been pillaged, burned and
destroyed: private homes stripped Of
all furniture. which the enemy has
carried of: fruit trees have been torn
M or rendered useless for future pro-
duction: streams and wells have been
poisoned The inhabitants, relatively
few in number. have been left with a
minimum Of ratlons, while the enemy
seized stocks supplied by the neu-
trail revictualing commission that were
destined for the civil population.
No Military Excuse.
"You VIII point out tnat this con
Germs not acts destined 10 hinder the
operations of our enemies. but Of dew
astation having no connection with
this object and having for its purpose
The ruin for years to come of one OF
the most fertile regions OF France.
"The civilized world can only revolt
against this conduct on the part OF n
nation which wanted to impose its
culture on It, but which reveals itself
once again as quite close to barbar-
ism still and. IN a rage OF disappointed
ambition. tramples on the most sacred
right Of humanity"
In addition to the foregoing note.
the representatives of the French gov
ernment IN foreign countries have re-
ceived the following instructions re-
questing them to protest against the
plllaging OF safes and the theft of
stocks by German troops:
Stolen Stocks Void.
According to evidence I'm the pos
session OF the military authorities IN
the region taken from the enemy, not
ably at Peronne, where a branch Of
the Bank OF France was pillaged ant
fle-- safes broken into, mucn negOti
able paper has been stolen by the re
treating German troops. ] would be
Obliged il you would call to the atten
fion Of the government TO which you
are accredited these wrongs to private
property. against which the govern
ment OF the republic makes the most
energetic protest. You viii also ask
them to caution their banks and their
nations against all operations con
cerning p-pers which might be under
taken b. German subjects, directly or
by Intermediates, without furnishing
serious proof OF their former owner
ship"
Premier Ribot, who also is foreign
minister in the new French cabinet,
concludes his instructions to the gov.
ernments representatives in neutral
countries by saying that France as
we'll as its Allies will not in fact re
cognize as valid and effected in good
faith. operations concerning negoti
able paper that the Germans seized
IN violation Of The Hague Convention