The Mankato free press., 1918-10-04
ORDER OF HUN CHIEF
SPEAKS Of MUT|NY
STUFF COMES RIGHT FROM
TEUT HIGH COMMAND
Generalof German Forces Tells
All About the Many
Desertions
LOWELL MELLETT

Paris, September 12.-[By Mall
I'm series of interesting docu-
ments and army orders, which have
fallen into the hands of French army
the German high command itself
furnishes the most eloquent reply to
the claims of Bethmann- Hollweg
and Hertling that AlsaceL Lorraine is
: German to the core.
These documents prove beyond a
doubt that the Germans are forcing
the people of Alsace Lorraine to
fight against their kindred, and that
AlsaceLorraine at heart is French.
One of the captured army orders
reveals the fact that over 10000 Al
sacians mutinied at the Beverloo de-
pot in Belgium during May. Accord
ing to the order, the mutiny was
suppressed pitilessly," and all SOL
diers were ordered to assist in
rounding up the mutineers who were
trying to make their way towards
Holland. In other documents the
crown prince orders that soldiers
from Alsace- Lorraine must never be
employed in critical situations and
are to be used in the front lines only
when in company with trusted
troops.
During the preparations for the
great Marne offensive, the Germans
became alarmed by the number of
deSertion of AlascianS. General
BuchholZ issued an order that ''un
der no pretext must they be utilized
in the first line during the present
operations" and recommends that
severe measures" be taken in cases
of disloyalty."
Text of Hun Order
The order is dated July 4, 1918,
and reads as follows:
"Xth Army, No. 1922 42nd Div
ision Ia 1852 Secret MYT65. The
crown princes group OF armies has
reported, that because of the number
of desertions of Alsace- -Lorrain-
ians recently, they must under no
pretext be utilized in the first lines
during the present operations. Con-
sequently, divisions are ordered that
all soldiers from Alsace Lorraine or
others whose origin does not give
sufficient guarantee of their loyalty,
should be until further notice kept
out of the zone of combat. Each regi-
ment is responsible for the loyalty
of Alsace- Lorrainians remaining in
the first line"
Buchholtz orders that the men re-
moved from the lines be sent back
for agricultural work and guard duty
under reliable guards. He asks each
tn writ A doty hn
number of Alsace- -Lorrainians in
each regiment, the number who can
be trusted in the front lines, and an
opinion of the service of these men.
The captured papers throw CON
siderable light on the manpower sit
uation of the German high command
They prove that the major number
of divisions brought from the Rus
sian front in the spring were COM
posed of subject peoles whose loyalty
to Germany was open to doubt.
Recommends "Iron Hand"
In a confidential order issued to
all officers in the early spring, Gen.
eral Won Bohn explained that many
of the divisions being brought from
the east front for reinforcements
were composed of large proportion
of men from Alsace- Lorraine, and
that past unhappy" experiences
proved that they "were prone to in
General Won Bohn suggests that
such tendencies must "be treated
with an iron hand" but that Ger
many could not offord to diminish
her chances by lone hairs breadth"
by dispensing with the use of these
men. In his order III A, No. "a,
Pers." and dated general headquar-
tiers, Mar. 2, Won Bohn says:
mo longer must the excuse be en-
tertained that because of the pres
ence of parents or relatives on the
French side, soldiers from Alsace-
Lorraine can be withheld from the
fighting lines. 1t must be clearly ex-
planned to them that if their parents
CT relatives were as scrupulous as
themselves they would run no risk
However, the contrary has been
proved long ago. The soldiers from
Alsace Lorraine must fight against
the French conquest, the same as
though Alsace Lorraine were a part
of the German Empire. We can no
longer keep them away from the
Western front"
The order revealing the big NUT
jny at Beverloo reads as follows:
"244 BI Mr.. 2044 lib Secret In the
month of May at the depot at Bever-
loo there was mutiny in which 1O,-
900 soldiers of Alsace Lorraine par
ticipatad. The repression was pitt
less. The Alsace -Lorrainians have
qualified as miserable traitors to the
Fatherland and have used the
French language and sang French
songs. Post a copy of this order in
every barrack room. Dated, 18th May
Signed, Lieutenant General Woide"
CompIained of Manner in Which He