The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-04-27
MISERY OF BELGIUM
DEPICTED REPORT
BY BRAND WH|TLOCK
Deportation Of Natives Il ClAssed
~ 'one Of she Foulsst Deeds
That History Records; Won
izindsrSurs II Blamed.

M0|||MI DUYFr|||||TM|| 70 IUH H|IMIM-
Waxhinrton. Aprii 27.--The state
department has made public a report
from Brand whhiock. written "a
Hsrsscis IN January. when he was the
knnsrfcan Minister TO Belgium IN
which ne describes b terrible effects
Of the German policy OF dcportins
BeigiAnn 60 Germany TO compel them
20 work there. since the beginning OF
the war ~ Europe. this 81 the first
renurt from Mr.. Whitlock that the
sfaiA department has permitted to
reach the American people. Allow
.ne fof ali cx~KEEcrnticn. nv. Whit
lock aaya there remains enough TO
stamp THE deed az one % the ~fouicst
thn hIstcry rccorde."
statements made by Minister Whit
lock suggest that Field Marshal Won
Hndsnburs was responsible for the
deportation policy. He was said 20
have crlticinsd as too mild h rule
81 General Won BiEslng. the military
governor Of Belgium, and az a result
there was a quarrel which sent Won
Kissing 10 Berlin with the intention OF
resisnine. When Won Blessing returned
The relen 81 terror in Belgium began.
The report from Mr.. whitiock reads
a. follows:
sIn order 10 fully understand h
situation. Il Is necessary 20 go back
to the autumn of 1914 At h time
We we're organixlne the relief work,
the feomite ~Nationaf-the Belgian re-
i;ef organization hat cola boratcs with
the Commisslon for Relief In Bet
gIum-proposed an arrangement by
which the Belgian government should
pay 70 lis own employees left In Bel
gium. and other unemployed men be-
sldnse the wages they had been ae-
customed to receive.
The Belgians wished 10 DO this Tor
humanitarian and patriotic purposes.
they wished 90 provide the hnempioy
ed with the means o. livelihood. and.
tt the same time. 10 prevent their
workfng for the Germans.
The policy was adopted and mas
been continued in practice and on the
rolls OF the Comite National have been
borne the names OF hundreds OF thou
sands--some 70e.0 coo. / beiieve-of Idle
men receiving his dole, distributed
through the communes.
German Cupiaify Tempted.
..Ths presence OF these unemployed.
however, was a constant temptation TO
German enpidity. Many times they
sought TO obtain the lists OF the chro-
1aeurs tunemployed) but were always
fooled by the claim that under the
guarantees covering the relief work
the records Of the comite National
and its various sub-organizntions were
immune. Rather than risk any inter-
rpptions Of the revitaillsment. Tor
which. while Ioath 60 own any 0bAsa-
ticn 10 America, the Germans have
always been grateful. since il has had
the effect OF keeping the population
caim. the authorities ne7er pressed
the poiet other than with the 0urgo-
masters OF the con.munes- Finally.
however, the military party, always
brutal and with an astounding ignor-
ance OF public opinion n OF moral
sentiment Determined to put these idle
me 10 work.
in August Won Hindenburg was ap
posnted TO the supreme m He
il said 10 have criticised Won Bissings
policy as too mild: there was a quar-
rel, Won Blessing went to Berlin to pro-
test, threatened to resign. but did not.
He returned and a German official
here said that Belgium would now be
subjected to a more terrible regime
would learn what war a The proph-
ery has been yindicated.
The deportations began In October
In the etape. at Ghent and at Brdscs
The policy spread; the rich industrial
districts Of Hainaut. the iaines and
steel works, about Charleroi were
next attacked; new they are seizins
men IN Brabant. even In Brussels. de-
spite some indications. and even pre-
dsctions Of the civil authorities. thai
the policy was about TO be abandoned.
During the last fortnight men
have been impressed here IN Brussels
but their seizures here are made evi-
IDENTITY with much greater care thar
in the provinces, with more regard for
the appearance There was nc public
announcement OF the intention Ia de-
port. but suddenly about ten days ago
certain men In towns whose names are
on the list OF chomeurs receiving sum
mons. notifying them 10 report at on
Of the railway stations on given day
penalties were fixed f0r failure 20 re
spond 10 the ana there WA
printed on the card an offer OF en-
ploy mcnt by the German government
either IN Germany or Belgium.
ION the first ds., out OF about 1895
men ordered 20 present Themselves a
the Care du Midi, about 100 responded
These were examined by Gernsa'
physicians and s00 were taken. Their
was no disorder. a large force "a
mounted uhlans keeping back IN
crowds and bar ring access 90 the sta
ton 10 ali but those who had beer
snmmoned 10 appear. The Commis
sion for Relief In Belgium had seeure'
permission 10 give 10 each doporte'
man a loaf Of bread and some OF tn
eommunes provided warm clothing 70
those who had none and IN addition
small financial allowance.
One Of the irouics Of Life.
"As bs one Of the lronies Of life tn
winter has been more excessively coli
than Belgium has ever known il, an
while many or those who p~resentei
themselves were adequately ~protecto'
against the cold. many Of them wef'
wltnout %oycrcoats. The men sisiverini
from tola and fear. the parting q
weeping wives and children the pnr
rlers Of brutal rhians, all this mad
the scene a pitiable and distressini
one,
~ was understood that tho seizure
wouId continue here Ia iirussels' hn
on Thursday last. . bitter cold IA
fhoee that had been convokcd Were
sent home without examination. II y
..rnoaed that the severe weather has