The Washington herald., 1917-07-08
watch GERMANS here
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

/ abroad or at sea. His office is con-
| tinuing to issue routine bulletins OF
army and navy matters at home. 1t
! is understood that anything from
abroad will have to pass through
other censorship channels.
Included in the prospective round
| up of Germans may be also the Ger
| man marine insurance agents. These
men are known to have gathered in
| formation of great potential import
ance to the German U-boat grand
command. They have picked up much
definite information of the sailing of
ships, their cargocs and destinations.
1t has never been shown. however.
that any such information reached
Germany. Gathered into concentra-
tion camps or removed to the interior
under restriction. these men will be
at least removed from temptation.
Question of ReprIsnis.
Some officials of the State Depart
ment yesterday seemed to think that
the old treaties between this country
and Prussia might preclude the possi-
bility of reprisal for the new Belgian
outragcs. 1t was pointed out. how
ever Nlldl llt
had made these treaties imperative by
their many breaches.
1t was also stated that there were
few Americans left in Germany upon
whom the Kaiser might turn for re-
venge. A number of embassy clerks
were left in the Spanish Embassy to
look after the organization of our in
terests after Mr.. Gerard left. These
may be ordered out of Germany.
There are still a few representatives
of large American businesses in Ger
many, but the State Department has
taken the position that If necessary
these men will have to suffer the dis
comforts of German internment
camp.
The facts Of the new German de-
portations as reported by the Belgian
minister today are these:
When Belgian troops conquered the
German territories in Taborah, Ger
man Southwest Africa. they found
there many German men of nonmili-
tary age and many German women
and children. The whole Taborah
region had been devastated by war,
the Belgian minister says. 1t was i'm
possible for the Germans to be kept
there without serious risk to health
and life. They were accordingly
transferred to France. This transfer
| the Germans alleged to be inhumane
The Belgians offered to exchange
| these prisoners for Belgian civilians
interned in Germany. On June Ger
many. through the Holy See, an
nounced that the Belgian offer would
| be considered.
Outrages Related.
Yet, on June 29, without further ne
gotiation or notice the Germans Or
dered the deportation of twenty
prominent Belgians from Brussels, as
reprisal for the alleged inhumanity
| to the Germans from Taborah.
A message to the Belgian minister
from Baron Beyens, Belgian minister
for foreign Affairs. has this to say
Of the proceedings:
IAN official intelligence of the
Wolff News Agency tells us that these
| retaliatory measures were taken be-
cause of the treatment accorded by
the Belgian troops after the capture
| of Taborah, to German women and
children and civilians not liable for
military service. They were COM
PEELED according to WolfO) to travel
across the Congo to the great danger
of their health, interned in France in
stead of a neutral country, notwith-
standing the reiterated steps taken
| with the Belgian government.
I'VE protest against these false al
| legations. While the civilian Ger
mans were brought back to Europe
| it was on the request of many of
them and in the interest of the health
of all.
Had we not done so we should have
been charged with leaving them to
! die in Africa. in a country ravaged
by war and in a pernicious climate.
We hold certificates signed by the
parties concerned themselves which
show that their treatment all through
was extremely humane"