El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-10-30
GERMANY VICTOR
UNLESS SHE PAYS
Belgium Demands Indem-
nifty and Stands Firm for
Her Rights.
by EMILE CAMAIAERTs.
CThe Great Belgian POetO

London, Eng Oct 5U--Germany 8
proposed peace conditions have al
/ tered according to the military situa-
I ton. from unconditional restoration
with full indemnity on the morrow OF
invasion to partial or complete annex
alton, and from ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO
the present impudent proposal Of con-
ditional independence On no question
( has Germany been so deeply divided
the pan-German chiefs OF Industry
asking for the coal mines, the naval
I experts claiming Antwerp and Zee
brugge, while the moderates and ma
jority Socialists limited their ambi-
tions TO certain economic and military
guarantees in order 10 guard in the
future against the terrible danger Of
another Belgian attack"
Germany Alters Opinion.
While Germany constantly altered
her opinion concerning peace cOndi-
tons and the future Of Belgium. king
Albert's government never changed
its mind In the note addressed 10
Mr.. Wilson on December 80, 1916, in
the note to the pope of December "a,
1917. IL claimed full and unconditional
restoration of the independence of the
country. indemnities for the damage
wrought and security for the future.
It then demanded Belgium's right, and
D
nothing more
This energetic attitude is all the
more remarkable in that the Belgian
government must take into account
the wishes Of the overwhelming ma
jority Of the people who, under Ger
man yoke. suffer from prosecutions,
plumber and famine. and who are anx-
iously waiting the hour Of deliver
ance.
The recent German proposal does
&c -.
tees. 1t does not even grant uncOndi-
tional independence Preious CONNER
cial treaties must be maintained. the
Flemish question insult be taken up
the allied governments must be in
duced TO restore German colonies
The German Insult.
The entente readers do not perhaps
fully realize the insulting character
Of such proposals. They would amount
to this; Germany, after systemati-
cany destroying Belgium's machin-
cry and stealing her stocks OF raw
material, would be allowed to use the
ruined country as a dumping ground
on the morrow OF the signature Of
peace.
The little band Of traitors who. IN
der the name of "Activists." have
helped the enemy TO bring about the
administrative separation Of the cOun-
try and proclaimed the independence
Of Flanders, would remain unpun-
ished, part AT least. Of their destruct-
i've work being preserved. And Bel
GUM. whose colony has been threat
ened for 20 years past BY the ambi-
lions OF Germany in Central Africa,
should use her credit 10 restore this
menace. She who has suffered most
at German hands should become Ger
many's advocate,
II the subject were not so tragic
one might find some humor in the
situation. Even before the war Ger
many did not hide her desire TO ac-
Quire Belgian and Portuguese Afri-
her professors and statesmen have
proclaimed the necessity OF creating
an immense African empire. extend
ing from the Atlantic 10 the Indian
ocean These ambitions have been
further encouraged lately by the fall
ure OF the western offensive Belgium
escapes, but the Congo remains.
Germany Must Not Escape.
The recent destruction wrought by
the enemy in the evacuated districts
Of France has provoked intense indig-
nation in allied countries. 1t is pro-
posed that the allies should take ev-
cry step to convince the German peo-
pie that they will have TO pay for
these or further outrages- In a re-
cent speech lord Northcliffe emphat-
ically endorsed this policy: Town for
town. village for village. ship Tor ship,
jewel for jewel picture for picture,
dollar for dollar"
Whatever opinion one may have
on the means TO be used to con-
vince the enemy that we are in
earnest. IL IL becoming more and
more evident that peace with
out indemnify would constitute n
German victory.
AS far as Belgium only is concerned.
the destruction wrought during the
invasion were estimated by the Ger
mans themselves At $4,000, 000- To
this figure must be added a war con-
tributfon of 81 ,000. 600. 900 per annum.
collective fines $50. 000. 900 per annum,
the revenue Of the state railways
800 000.0 600 per annum. re0uisitious
which amounted already in February, /
1915, to S0.0O0,000 pounds German es-
timate) without mentioning the cash
seized in the banks. the destruction /
commercial intercourse. the damage
done TO livestock and agriculture, etc. ]
More Than Money Can Pay.
It Is impossible to attempt even ap-
proximately to estimate the indemnity |
already due to Belgium No money ]
win ever restore her most precious !
her historic monuments, /
living witnesses Of the past. and the I
health and happiness Of thousands and /
dren. whose lives have been wrecked /
by the massacres Of the invasion. by I
the DECORATIONS to German prison I
camps. and by forced labor behind the |
western front The bill has run too
high ever to be paid in full And as
long as IL has not been paid in full. I
and as long as the German does not
become another kind Of man, there
viii be an insupera5le gulf between