Evening star., 1917-09-30

hrouaht IRE confetti. which they flung
into the houses while they were occu-
Of the shooting of the Inhabitants as
they tried to escape. Drunken German
soldiers firing their guns led the sober
ones to believe the civil population was
rising, although 1t was known they had
no weapons and fifty or more leading
citi1ens were shot without a hearing.
Women were attacked in public places.
But even here there was a chance for
Germany. She could say-and she has
said-she did not order these things,
although she did order the shooting Of
hostages without inquiry. and she did
order the looting which resulted in
drunkenness and its thousand resulting
brutal crimes.
But on one count Germany must face
the world. must be tried and sentenced.
with no possibility Of acquittal. She
protected her advance with non-com-
batants.
Interview With King Albert.
have before me on my desk the origi-
nal copy of an interview with Albert
King of the Belgians. during the first
winter of the war. Much that was said
during that interview has never been
published and will not be published now
] have not the kings permission. al
though he would probably give it
When the interview was written for
publication We were still a neutral
people.
He respected our neutrality, although
he was hopeful that some day he could
lay the case of Belgium before the
world. 1t is enough to say that he con-
mate knowledge. and that not the loss
of a kingdom. but the inhuman methods
Of the invaders was the thing that had
struck to his very heart. Here is that
of the American people, lest we forget
In the tangle Of international law and
the outcry of Germany that we are
fighting the allies war, the real cause of
our entrance into the world conflict
To the American people today this is
q war not only of democracy against
H1ilitary autocracy. not only of the
breaking OF treaties. not at all of diplo-
matte juggling and disputed points Of
law.
War Against Brutality.
1t is war against brutality and in
humanity: war against cruelty; a war
against ruthlessness and barbarism and
IncreolbIe savaGery: war against the
German conviction that might is right.
The hrst time King Albert Of Belgium
gave to the world at large his statement
a. to the conduct Of the Germany army
noon In 1915 when. in his own villa at
La Panne. he gave mo the following in
terview. Later he reread 1t carefully
Z have not changed a word. He spoke
y,
pencil to follow HIM
Later on. when his equerry brought
mo the interview. oficfally approved. he
| said: This will make history, madame
% sure was he that tho kings state
nents would carry with 1t not only con-
vfctton. but the outraged sympathy OF
the American people.
Fearful things have been done. par
ticularly during the invasion" the king
said. weighing his words carefully. AL
though 1t would be unfair to condemn
the whole German army Some regi-
nents have been most humane. but
others behaved very badly. Have YOU
seen the government reportr
Investigation Was Accurate.
said had not seen II, though I had
beard that careful Investigation had
been made.
The government was very cautious. -
his majesty said. THE Investigation
was absolutely impartial and as accur-
ate a. It could be made Doubts were
cast on all statements-even those of
the most dependable witnesses-until
thew could be verified"
They were verihedg'
Yes: again and again.
BY the victims Themselves
Not always. The victims of extreme
cruelty DO rot live 20 tell Of 1t. but
German soldiers themselves have told
TIE story. We have had here at La
Pannes many hundreds of Journals
taken from dead or imprisoned Ger
pans furnishing elaborate details OF
host .atrocious acts. The government
81 keeping these Journals. They fur
Lish powerful and incontrovertible