Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-01-04
huns. IMPOSED
ABSURD fines
State Department Archives at
Washington Record the
Story of Sissonne.
COMMUNE UNABLE TO PAY
Won BueIoW, on That Account, Threat
ened to Destroy Home of Prince
of Monaco, Who Appealed to
President Wilson.

PRESIDENT wilson.
The universally condemned Ger
man system Of ertorting money from
captured communities is showm By
the fo!!o'0ing documents published
By tile committee on public infOrnsa-
tion:
A striking illustration of the fierce
brutality of German methods is con-
tanned ia the archives Of the state de-
partmert, because the prince OF Mon
AGO appealed to President Wilson
against the injustice of fine imposed
upon a small and impoverished vii
.lage- The following documents from
the state department archives tell the
story. They need no comments.
Paris, Oct 27, 1914.
Secretary of State, Washington.
prince of Monaco called this morn
ing and asked that the following case
be submitted to the president:
Prince states that General Won
Buelow for weeks has been inhabiting
princes ancestral chateau near
ReimS, historical monument contain
ing works of art and family heir
looms; that Won Buelow has imposed
fine of 100000 francs on village of
Sissonne some miles distant from chat
eau, because of broken glass found on
road near village. Sissonne being un-
able alone to pay has raised with
number of other neighboring villages
125,000 francs, but Won Buelow has
sent two messengers from Sissonne to
prince that unless latter pays fine for
Sissonne the chateau and adjoining vii
lage, as well as Sissonne, will be de-
stroyed on November 1st. Prince
has answered refusing to pay sum now
but willing to give his word to Ger
man emperor that amount would be
paid after removal of danger of fresh
var incidents. Prince now fearful
lest returning messengers, as well as
male employees on his estate, be shot
because of refusal to pay.
II have arranged meeting this after
noon between Spanish ambassador and
| prince, to whom 1 have suggested that
! matter be presented to German gov
ernment through Spanish ambassador
| at Berlin inasmuch as princes threat
| ened property is in France.
| "HERRICK."
Won Buelow's Threat.
'To the Mayor of the Commune of
! Sissonne.
"It has been conclusively proven
| that the road between Sissonne and the
railway station of Montaigu was, on
September 18th, strewn with broken
glass along distance of one kilome-
ter and at intervals of so meters, for
the purpose, no doubt, of impeding
automobile traffic.
81 hold the commune of Sissonne
! responsible for this act of hostility
on the part of its inhabitants, and
punish the said community by levying
upon it contribution of 100000
francs Give hundred thousand
| francs).
"This sum must be entirely paid
into the treasury of the Etape by Oc-
J tober 18th.
"The inspection of the Etape now
at Montcornet has been directed to
enforce execution of this order.
"The General Commander in Chief of
the Army,
''VON BUELOW."
Protest of Prince of Monaco
Monaco, Oct, 22nd, 1914.
"Sire:
81 forward to your majesty several
documents relating to a very grave
and urgent matter.
eThe General Won Buelow has caused
to be occupied since one month and
half my residence of Marchais, sit
uated at five kilometers from the vii
1age of Sissonne. The general has lev
led upon the 1,500 Inhabitants of this
poor ruined village a war contribution
If 100000 francs, of which they are
Unable to pay more than One-quar'
ter. Moreover, he has sent to me two
emissaries bearing a document in
which he threatens to destroy my
property and the village of Marchais
over and above that of Sissonne, in the
event of my not disbursing myself the
sum in question before the end of the
Month of October.
I s'That is how Prussian genera
treats a reigning prince who for A
years has been a friend to Germany
and who in all the countries of the
world is surrounded with respect ant
gratitude for his work.
"In reply to the summons of the
General Won Buelow I have given my
word of honor to complete the above
contribution in order to avert a hor