, 1917-12-20

recognition IN some provisions of the |
Geneva convention aud the Brussels
and Hague conferences"
by sleeping himself in military his
tory an officer will be able to guard
himself against excessive humanitari-
an notions; 1t will teach him that GER
tain seventies are indispensable to
war. nay more, that the only tru hui
manity very often lies in a ruthless
application of them"
For the guidance of the officers in
case h inhabitants of conquered ter
ritory should take up arms against the
German army, the German Wal
Book" quotes with approval the letter
Napoleon sent to his brother Joseph.
when h inhabitants of Italy were at
tempting to revolt against him.:
The security Of your dominion de-
ponds on how you behave In the con-
quered province. Burn down a dozen
places which are not willing to sub
NIT themselves. OF course, not until
you have first looted them my SOL
diers must not be allowed to go away
with their hands empty. Have three
to six persons hanged in every village
which has Joined the revolt; a no
respect to the cossack" Chat is, to
members Of the clergy.
Officers Trained to Be Savages.
Some of the rules laid dow in the
German War Book" are illustrated,
n their spirit made more definite in
"LInterprete Militaire yum Gebrauch
i'm Feindesland" t"Milltary Interpreter
for TTcn In thu Enapnu'o Cnruntrv'l
This Is a manual edited at Berlin In
1905. at contains" says the intro
duction, "the French translation Of the
| greater part Of documents, letters, and
proclamations, and some orders Of
which 1t may be necessary to make use
in time of war" Thus, eight years
before this war began, the German
military authorities were not only pre-
pairing their officers to wage war In
a ann wholly contrary to The
Hague regulations, but also were look
ing forward to the use Of these proc
lamations in French or Belgian terri
tory. Among Its forms, ready for use
by inserting names, date, n places,
are the following:
"a fine of 100000 marks in conse-
quence of an attempt made by -
to assassinate a German soldier, is i'm
posed on the town of o. By order
of -.
Efforts have beer made, without
result, to obtain the withdrawal of the
fine.
1.-THE term fixed for payment expires
tomorrow, Saturday. December II. at
noon -.
Bank notes, cash. or silver plate
will be accepted"
81 have to acknowledge receipt Of
your letter dated the 7th Of this month,
in which you bring to my notice the
great difficulty which you expect to
meet in levying the contributions.
l.. / can but regret the explana-
lions which you have thought proper
to give me on this subject; the order
in question which emanates from my
government is so clear and precise,
and the instructions which I have re-
ceived in the matter are SO categori-
cal that IL the sum due by the town
of R is o paid the town will be
burned down without pityT
Ruthless Destruction Ordered.
"On account of the destruction of
the bridge of F. / order: The dis
trict shall pay a special contribution
of 1 100000 francs by way Of amends.
This is brought to the notice of the
public, who are informed that the
method of assessment Of the said sum
will be enforced with the utmost Sc
verify. The village of F. will be
destroyed Immediately by fire, with
the exception of certain buildings &C
cupied for the use of the troops"
These forms have been Of great use
to the German commanders in Bel
GUM and northern France. The close
ness with which they have been fol-
lowed in these conquered lands, dur
Ing the present war, may be seer by
reading these two p~roclamations:
The City of Brussels, exclusive Of
Its suburbs, has been punished by an
additional fine of 100000 francs on
account of the attack made upon a
German soldier by Ryckere, n of Its
police officials.
'HThe Governor of Brussels,
.BARoN Won LUETTwITZ."
November 1, 1914.
Placard posted on the walls of Lune-
VILE by order of the German authori-
ties:
"Notice to the People:
"Some of the inhabitants Of Lune-
VILE made an attack from ambuscade
on the German columns and wagons
(trains). The same day (some of the)
inhabitants shot at sanitary forma-
lions marked with the Red Cross. In
addition German wounded and the mill
- .uora arod nnnn