Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-22
WH|TLOCK MAKES BITTER
INDICTMENT OF GERMANS
fefcrs to Their Marked Brutality in
Deportation OF Conquered
Belgians.
MEN SENT TO FORCED LABOR
Report From the American Minister
Came to State Department. Last
January From Behind .Teuton
Lines, but Was Not Made Public.
MEN SENT TO FORCED LABOR
IBy Associated Pre.s.l


WASHINGTON. April 2l-A bitter
indictment OF German brutality in the
deporta tion of conquered Belgians for
forced labor, written from behind the
German lines by Brand Whitlock
american minister to Belgium. was
made public tonight by the State De-
partmcnt. II came in n confidential
report last January when the United
states was vainly protesting to Berlin
aga inst the treatment OF the HELPLESS
people. but the department did not
dare publish it at that time or until
MIR. Whitlock was safe on French soil
I'm August. Won Hindenburg was an
pointed to tho supreme command" saws
the report. "lle is said 10 have criti-
cized Won Bissing's policy as too mild ::
there was quarrel; Won Kissing went
TO Berlin to protest. threatened TO re-
sign. but did not lie returned. and a
German official here said that Belgium
would now be subjected to a more ter
rib'e regime. would learn what war
was. The prophecy has been vindi-
Gated
"rhe dcportations began in October
in the Etapc. at Client and at BruSes
The policy spread: the rich industrial
districts Of tainaut, the mines and
steel works about Charlerof were next
attacked; now they are Seizinr men in
Erabant. even in Brussels. despite some
indications and even predictions of the
ciVil authorities. that tho policy was
about to be abandoned.
The rage. the terror and despair
excited by this measure all over Sci.
Sium were beyond anything we had
witnessed since the day the Germans
poured into Brussels The delegates
Of the Commission for Relief in Bel
GUM returning to BRUSSELS told tho
most distressing stories OF tho scenes
of cruelty and sorrow attending the
seizures And daily. hourly almost.
since that time. appalling stories have
been related by Bclcians coming to
the legation
II am constantly in receipt of reports
from all over Belgium that tend TO
bear out the stories one constantIv
hears Of brutality and cruelty \ num-
Der Of men sent back to Mons are said
TO be in a dying condition. many of
them tubcrcular. AT MalincS and at
Antwerp returned men have died. their
friends asserting that they have been
victims OF neglect aud cruelty. Of cold,
Of exposure. Of hunger.
81 have had requests from the bur
EomaSt"rS of ten communcS from La
l.ouvicrc. asking that permission he
obtained to send to tho dcportcd men
in GERMANY packages Of food similar
To those that are being sent 10 prison
crs of war. Thus far the German au-
ihoritics have refused Ia permit this
except in special instances aud rctt;ru-
Ing Eclgians claim that even when
such packages are received they are
used by the camp authorities only as
another means of coercinc them TO sign
tho agreements 10 work
They have dealt ~ mortal blow To
any prospect they may ever have had
OF being tolerated by the population
"f Flanders; in tearing away from
ncarly every humble home in The land.
q husband and a father. or "a son and
brother. they have lighted Il fire OF
hatred that will never go out. they
have brought home To every heart in
the land. in way thai will Impress
its horror indclihly on the memory OF
three generations. a realization OF what
German methods mean. not. as with
the carl: atrocities in the heat Of mas
sion and the first lust of war but by
ono OF those deeds that make one de-
spair of the future oi tho human race
decd coidly planned. studiously ma
iurcd and deliberately and systemati-
caliy executed; deed so cruel that
In it's execution, and so monstrous that
even Germah officers are now said TO
be ashamed"