The midland journal., 1917-12-28


In the early days of the German ad-
vance into Belgium, the people had
learned to fear the worst Tht3 was
particularly true in Antwerp. In or
der to alleviate their fears and to OBJ
tain guarantees which might hasten
the restoration of settled conditions,
Cardinal Mercier secured from the
German government at Antwerp prom
ises, and in circular letter dated Oc-
tober 18th, 1914, asked the clergy of
the province of Antwerp to communi-
cate them to the people:
"The governor Of Antwerp, Baron
Won Hoiningen, General Won Huene,
has authorized me to inform you in his
name and to communicate by your
obliging intermediary to our popula-
tions, the three following declara-
tions:
"(1) The young men need not fear
being taken to Germany, either to be
enrolled into the army or to be en-
ployed at forced labors.
"(2) If individual infractions of po-
lice regulations are committed, the
authorities will institute q search for
the responsible authors and will pun
ish them, without placing the respon-
sibility on the entire population.
"(3) The German and Belgian au-
thorities will neglect nothing to see
that food is assured to the popula-
tion."
-"On March 23d, 1915, at the arsenal
at Luttre the German authorities post
ed notice demanding return to work.
On April 21st, 200 workmen were call
ed for. On April 9th soldiers went
to fetch the workmen from their
homes and take them to the arsenal.
In the absence of a workman, mem
Der Of the family was arrested.
Workmen imprisoned on Trains.
However, the men maintained their
refusal to work, because they were
unwilling to cooperate in acts Of war
against their country
"On May 4th, "a workmen detained
in prison at Nivelles were tried at
Mons by court-martial, 'on the charge
of being members of secret society,
having for its aim to thwart the carry
ing out of German military measures
They were condemned to imprison-
ment.
ION May sth, 1915, As workmen
were shut up in a freight car and
taken to Germany.
"On May 18th, As men were deport-
ed to Germany.
ION May 18th fresh proclamation
announced that the prisoners would
receive only dry bread and water, and
hot food only every four days. On
May 22d three cars with 1O4 work
men were sent toward Charleroi"
"a similar course was adopted at
Malines. where by various methods
of intimidation, the German authori-
ties attempted to force the workers at
the arsenal to work on material for
the railways as if it were not plain
that this material would become war
material sooner or later.
''The following notice was placard-
ed at Menin in July-August, 1915:
BY order: From today the town will
no longer afford aid of any descrip-
tion-including assistance to their
families, wives, and children-to any
operatives except those who work
regularly at military work, and other
tasks assigned to them. All other op-
eratiyes and their families can hence
forward not be helped in any fashion,
Punished for Refusal to Work.
similar measures were taken in
October, 1915, at Harlebekelez-Co Court
raj, Bisseghem, Lokeren, and Mons.
From Harlebeke 20 inhabitants were
transported to Germany. At Mons,
in M. Lenoir's factory, the directors,
foreman, and 81 worllmen were i'm
prisoned for having refused to work
in the service of the German army. NJ.
Lenoir was sentenced to five years inn
prisonment, the five directors to
year each, six foremen to six months,
and the 81 workmen to eight weeks.
"The general government had re-
course also to indirect methods of
compulsion. 1t seized the Belgian
Red Cross, confiscat' its property,
and changed its purl.,c arbitrarily.
1t attempted to make itself master of
the public charities, and to control the
national aid and food committee.
"If we were to cite in extenso the
decree of the governor general of Aug
ust 4th, 1915, concerning measures in
tended to assure the carrying out Of
works of public usefulness, and that
of August 18th. concerning the unem-
ployed. who, through idleness, refrain
from work. it would be seen by what
tortuous means the occupying power
attempts to attack at once the mas
ters and the men,"
Fines Imposed Without Reason.
The German authorities were not
satisfied with one impoverishing levy.
In November, 1915, one month before
the expiration of the twelve-month
period fixed for the levy, they decreed
that the contribution of 100000
francs a month should be paid for an
indefinite period. In November, 1916,