The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-12-29
HUNS" IMPOSED
ABSURD FINES
State Department Archives at
Washington Record the
Story of SiSsonne.
COMMUNE UNABLE TO PAY
son sueIoW, on That Account, Threat
ened 70 Destroy Home Of Prince
Of Monaco, Who Appealed to
President Wilson.


The universally condemned Ger
man. system Of ertorttHs money from
captured communities is shotUn by
the following documents published
by the committee on public irlfOrnaG-
ton:
4 striking Illustration Of the fierce
brutality Of German methods Is con-
tanned in the archives Of the state de-
partment, because the prince of Mon
AGO appealed to President Wilson
against the injustice of fine imposed
upon a small and impoverished viii
Iage. The following documents from
the state department archives tell the
story. They need no comments.
"Paris, Oct. 81, 1914.
Secretary of State, Washington.
prince of Monaco called this morn
Ing and asked that the following case
be submitted to the president:
prince states that General Won
Buelow for weeks has been fnhabiting
princes ancestral chateau near
Reims, historical monument, contain
looms; that Won Buelow has imposed
fine of 100000 francs on village of
Sissonne some miles distant from chat
eau, because of broken glass found on
road near village. Sissonne being IN
able alone to pay has raised with a
number of other neighboring villages
125,000 francs, but Won BuelOw has
sent two messengers from Sissonne to
prince that unless latter pays fine for
SissOnne the chateau and adjoining vii
lage, as well as Sissonne, will be de-
stroyed on November list. Prince
has answered refusing to pay sum now
but willing to give his word to Ger
man emperor that amount would be
paid after removal of danger of fresh
war incidents. Prince now fearful
lest returning messengers, as well as
male employees on his estate, be shot
because of refusal to pay.
81 have arranged meeting this after
noon between Spanish ambassador and
prince, to whom 1 have suggested that
matter be presented to German gov
eminent through Spanish ambassador
at Berlin inasmuch as princes threat
ened property is in France.
''HERRICK."
Won BueIoW's Threat.
'9To the Mayor of the Commune of
Sissonne.
at has been conclusiTely proven
that the road between Sissonne and the
railway station of Montaigu was, on
September 18th, strewn with broken
glass along q distance of one kilome-
ter and at intervals of so meters, for
the purpose, no doubt, of impeding
automobile traffic.
'1 hold the commune of Sissonne
responsible for this act of hostility
on the part of its inhabitants, and
punish the said community by levying
upon it q contribution of 100000
francs Give hundred thousand
francs).
'This sum must be entirely paid
into the treasury of the Etape by Oc-
tober 18th.
'The inspection of the Etape now
at Montcornet has been directed to
enforce execution of this order.
s'The General Commander in Chief of
the Army,
"vON BUELOW."
Protest of Prince of Monaco.
Monaco, Oct, 22nd, 1914.
"Sire:
81 forward to your majesty several
documents relating to a very grave
and urgent matter.
"The General Won Buelow has caused
to be occupied since one month and
q half my residence of Marchais, sit
uated at five kilometers from the vii
lage of Sissonne. The general has lev
led upon the 800 inhabitants of this
poor ruined village a war contribution
of 1000 francs, of which they are
unable to pay more than one-quar-
ter Moreover, he has sent to me two
emiSsaries bearing q document in
which he threatens to destroy my
property and the village of Marchais,
over and above that of Sissonne, in the
event of my not disbursing myself the
sum in question before the end Of the
Eaonth of October.
THAT is how a Prussian general
treats a reigning prince who for As
vears has been a friend to Germany,
and who in all the countries of the
world is surrounded with respect and
gratitude for his work.
SIN reply to the summons of the
General Won Buelow I have given my
word of honor to complete the above
contribution in order TO avert a hor-