The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-01-14

lions, the three following declara-
lions:
"(1l 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 POI
lice regulations are committed, the
authorities win institute a 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 popuIa-
ton"
These promises were not kept, as
Cardinal MERCER and his colleagues
show by abundant evidence In the ZAP
peal to Truth"
''On March 23d, 1915, at the arsenal
at Luttre the German authorities post
ed ncdce 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.
q
! 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 Nfvelles were tried at
hyys 81 81,
OF being members of a secret society,
having for its aim to thwart the carry
ing out Of German military measures
They were condemned to imprison-
ment.
'On May 9Th, 1915, 48 workmen
were shut up in a freight car and
/ taken to Germany.
"On May 18th, 40 men were deport-
ed to Germany.
ION May 18th a 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 104 work
men were sent toward Charleroi."
"a similar course was adopted at
Z
of intimidation, the German authori-
ties attempted to force the workers at
! the arsenal to work on material for
! the railways, as if 1t were not plain
that this material would become war
material sooner or later.
Stopped All Traffic in MaIines.
"On May 30th, 1915, the governor
| general announced that he would be
obliged to punish the town OF Malines
and its suburbs by stopping all COM
| mercial traffic If by 10 a. N. on
Wednesday, June I'd, 500 workmen
had not presented themselves for work
| at the arsenal.
"On Wednesday, June I'd, not a
single man appeared. Accordingly, a
| complete stOppage took place of every
vehicle within radius of several kilo-
meters of the town.
Several workmen were taken by
force and kept two or three days at
the arsenal.
'The commune of Sweveghm (west-
ern Flanders) was punished in June,
| 1915, because the $50 workmen at the
private factory of M. Bekaert refused
to make barbed wire for the German
army.
''The following notice was placard-
| ed at Menin in July-August, 1915:
BY order: From today the town win
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 OPP
eratives 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-Court-
raj, Bisseghem, Lokeren, and Mons.
From Harlebeke % inhabitants were
transported to Germany. At Mons,
in NJ Lenoir's factory. the directors,
| foreman, and 81 workmen were inn
/ prisoned for having refused to work
1 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.
'aThe general government had re-
course also to indirect methods OF
compulsion. It seized the Belgian
Red Cross, confiscated its property,
and changed its purpose arbitrarily.
It attempted to make itself master OF
the public charities, and to control the
national aid and food committee.
s'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 idIeness, refrain
from work. it would be seen by what
tortuous means the occupying power
attempts to attack at once the mas
tiers and the men,"
Fines imposed Without Reason.
The German authorities were not
satisfied with one impoverishing levy.
In November, 1915, one month before