The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-07
ENsLAvEMENT OF BELGIUM

The London Times is publishing a
very complete and authentic History
and Encyclopedia of the War" and
has just completed its twelfth volume
with a remarkable chapter which de-
scribes the deportations from Bel
GUM one Of the most iendish acts
of the ruthless barbarism in the long
chronicles OF Germany's crimes
against humanity. This chapter on
Belgium's woes. the first detailed &C.
count of an aspect of the war, is with
out a precedent in history. 1t is as
The Times says:
To find q parallel for the wholesale
cnslavement and deportation OF the BEL
gian people one has to so back TO the
story of Assyria eight centuries before
Christ. The horrors Of the treatment
inflicted on martyred Belgium during
the last twelve months arc still far too
little understood by Allied and neutral
nations. We are convinced that If the
terrible episodes now unfolded were
more widely known there would be less
light and easy talk Of negotiating peace
upon lines initiated by Germany. Men
speak Of restitution and reparatton. but
when we read this distressing chronicle
Of brutality and torture and slow muir
der Of the ruthless destruction Of
homes and of the separation Of famil-
les. we instinctively feel that there can
never be any adequate atonement for
the crimes committed by the German
nation and their leaders. Apart from the
actual facts. the callous and deliberate
spirit in which the Germanic tribes
have wrought these deeds requires care
full study. That spirit is revealed in
the famous memorandum written by the
late General Won Bssing who was Gov
ernor-Gencral OF Belgium from Novem-
Der 1914. to April. 1917.
The public has been given various
quotations from this candid document,
which revealed the real intent Of the
German attack on practically defense
less Belgium, but the London Times
now publishes for the first time the
bulk of the memorandum, which e1-
tends over several pages. 1t is a
thesis in favor Of the permanent &C.
ctpation and "Germanization" of Bel.
GUM, and unveils with extraordinary
and cynical frankness the motives
which led Germany to plunge the
world into war and the true character
of German aims in the west. 1t
frankly explains why Germany must
utilize the territory, the resources,
and the people Of Belgium, in order to
prepare for the next war, which will
have. for its object the crushing Of
France and Great Britain. I'm all
earnestness," says The Times, I'VE
commend this translation Of the po-
litical testament of General Won Bis
sing to those who enormously suppose
that an inconclusive peace may still
leave the Allies in safety and in free
dom"
Official Germany is now anxious to
divert attention from General Won
Blessings candour. His memorandum
ends with 4 quotation from Bismarck
In policy. if in any sphere, faith
. moves mountains AS the leader of
the Socialist minority, Herr Haase,
said in his recent speech in the Reich
stag. "one must have faith which
can move mountains to believe that
, the views of Herr yon Kissing have
already been disposed Of" All the
more reason is there now for sup
! pressing all agitation In this country
which looks to any peace that does
not include the complete dethrone.
ment of Prussianism, which Is incar-
mated in the Kaiser and his mad
dream Of world domination.