The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-04-02
BARBARISM OF GERMANS DE-
NOUNCED BY FRENCH PREMIER

Attention of Neutral Powers Called
TO Outrages Committed in French
territory by Retreating TeutOn Ar
mics
A Paris dispatch of the 25th states
that the French government has
charged its representatives in neutral /
countries to protest against "acts Of J
barbarlsm and devastation on the part {
OF the Germans in territory evacuat !
ed by them in Northern France. The |
full text Of the note, which is signed
by Premier Ribot, follows:
"The government of the republic
now is gathering the elements of pro-
test which it intends sending to neu-
trail governments against acts of bar
barism and devastation committed by
the Germans in French territory
while retreating.
| "At this time / ask you to make
known to the governments to which
you are accredited that we intend to
denounce before universal Judgment
the unqualifiable acts INDUCED in by
the German authorities. No motive
demanded by military necessities can
! justify the systematic devastation of
public monuments, artistic and his
torlcal, as well as public property,
accompanied by violence against pei
sons; cities and villages in their en-
tirety have been pillaged, barred and
destroyed, private homes stripped of
all furniture which the enemy has
carried off; fruit trees have been torn
Up OF rendered useless for future
production; streams and wells have
ueen poisoned. The inhabitants, rel
atively few in number, who have not
been removed, have been left with
minimum of rations while the en-
envy seized stocks supplied by the
neutral revictualizing committee that
were destined for the civil popula-
ton.
"You will point out that this does
not concern acts destined to hinder
the operations Of our armies but OF
devastation having no connections
with this object and having for its
purpose the ruin for years to CONS
of one of the most fertile regions Of
France.
"The civilized world can only re-
volt against this conduct on the part
of the nation which wanted to impose
it's culture on top, but which reveals
itself once again as quite close tt
barbarism still. and in range Of dis
appointed ambition, tramples on the
; most sacred right of humanity"
| In addition to the foregoing mote
l the representative of the French gov
eminent in foreign countries have
/ received the following instructions re
questing them to protest against tn
pillaging of safes and theft Of stock
by German troops:
"According to evidence in the pos
I .oca,o,, 4l,o o114b ori+ioc Il
the region taken from the enemy
notably at Peronne, where a branc
of the Bank Of France was plllage
and the safes broken into, much ne
gotiable paper has been stolen by tn
] retreating German troops. I woul
| be obliged if you would call to tn
! attention Of the government to whic
Il you are accredited these wrongs
| private property, against which tn
II government of the republic makes tn
! most energetic protest. You will a
| so ask them to caution their bank
and their nationals against all ope
! rations concerning papers while
| might be undertaken by German sui
| iects, directly or Intermediates, will
1 out furnishing serious proof of the
| former ownership"
| Premier Ribot, who is also foreig
I minister in the new French cabine
| concludes his instructions to the go
e1nment's representatives by sayin
that France as we'll as it's allies Wi
l not in fact recognize as valid ar
| effected in good faith operations CO.
- corning negotiable papers that Il
Germans seized in violation of II
o. Hague convention.