Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-19
NO MUTILATED BELGIAN
 CHILDREN IN AMERICAN
Belgian Bureau Head Says None Brought to This Country, hut
 Atrocities Exist,

New York, Dec. 15.-Belief that there are in the United States no mntilated children from Belgium, vic tlms of German atrocities, is expressed by the Rev. J. F. Stillemans. director of the Belgian Bureau here. despite f,lmors to the contrary.
 'But this has absolutely nothing to do with the question of German atrocities or of the treatment meted out to Belgian or French children" :" declared the Rev. MT. Stillemans. Some people seem to think that un- less children with hands cut off are brought to this country there could be no truth in whatever they hear concerning German atrocities. First of all children whose hands would be cut off would most probably die. If they survive how would they be got ten out of Belgium? Supposing they were, no one in France England or Holland would permit the bringing of these children to America. There are, thank God, enough kind-hearted peo- pie in these countries to give these poor little victims whatever care and affection their sad condition calls for It is not necessary to bring these chil- dren to this country to establish the facts in the matter. We can not bring the bodies of those that were mur- dered no more than we can bring our destroyed cities to this country.
 sThe official reports of the Belgian government on the massacres of Dinant give the names of 6O6 victims in that unfortunate city, of whom there were II below five years, six from five to nine. 22 from 10 to 15 and 27 of Is and 17 years of age.
 "The same official reports on Lou vain give the names of 210 victims, of whom there were three less than five years old, five from 10 to IS, six of 16 and IT years old. The Belgian government possesses great many sworn affidavits as to the cruel way in which these people and these chil- dren were murdered. 3.+.
 "I believe that the rumors as to mutilated children being in this coun- try are started and circulated by the Germans themselves for the sake of being able to declare them erroneous and to claim victoriously, though that all other accusations are to be judged untrue since in this particular case no proof is forthcom- ing.
 Several of the witnesses of atroci- ties have been and are at present in America, the most noteworthy among them being professors of the Louvain University These witnesses, how ever, are often afraid to speak on ac- count of the reprisals the Germans would take upon their relatives living in Belgium.
 "The accusations against the Ger mans will stand unrefuted and Ger many will continue to be abhorred as q most degraded nation in history un- til the Germans will submit to a com plete and official inquiry conducted by a disinterested court. This, however. they have always refused. The Bel. gian Free Alasons appealed to their comrades of Germany asking fair Investigation The Belgian bishops acted likewise, as we'll as the Belgian Socialists In all these cases the Ger mans refused. They had the oppor- tunity of clearing their reputation and they have the same opportunity to. day, but they know better than to at tempt so desperate task"