The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-26
HUNS STEALING
THEY
GET HANDS ON Is
REFUGEES CLAIM
st. Quentin Was Looted
Even of Its Official
City Documents
STRIP FACTORIES
OF THEIR MODELS
Residents Call on World to,
View Plain Evidence
of Vandalism
STRIP FACTORIES
OF THEIR MODELS
6Rv Associated Presa.l

Paris, Friday, Oct 25.-Desperate
destruction of property and docu-
ments OF a historic nature was car
ried aut by the Germans at st,
Quentin, according to a report made
to Premier Clemenceau by the mu-
nicipal authorities OF that city.
Ancient city documents which had
been walled Irp under control OF the
German command and placed under
seal were found to have been re-
moved or burned. Evidence show
ed that this occurred after the in
habitants fed from st, Quentin in
March .1917.
In stripping every factory IN the
CITY the Germans carried OF all
models and designs and even the &C
counts of the various companies
were removed. The municipal Of
fcers ask that an allied or a neutral
committee visit the city soon to es-
tabIish the falsity Of the statement
foreign secretary, that the city was
destroyed by the shells OF the artil-
slery. Such a visfs they say, would
establish that the German depreda-
tions were accompanied by a de-
termination to crush the economic
life of France.
The reports ask that the armis-
tice with German, fhen arranged
win secure the return OF all the peo-
pie of the city from occupied distocts
of Germany, and that Germany be
compelled to pay an indemnity and
supply workers. material, machinery
and furniture to enable the city to
rehabi1itate itself.
HCANfn ExRnA.s&bNIEal
Weather beaten refugees, mostly
from the north OF France. are trick
ling into the Dutch provinces OF
Brabant and Iinburg. Some 1000
are now accommodated in towns of
these provinces.
Distressing stories are told about
the old people and babies who died
from exposure on the way and were
buried where they met their end.
Further westward no exodus has yet
taken place.
In view of the German disclaimers
OF pilfering by the retreating troops,
it is significant that Dutch CORES
pondents at half dozen different
points on the frontier should tell the
same story obtained from refugees.
"The Germans stole everything
they could lay their hands on" a.
citizen of Bruges said to the Rosen~
daaI correspondent of the Maasbode.
In the last few days the Germans
have looted stores ately.
One officer demanded that a city Of
ficer surrender his carriage. Being
asked later for a voucher the officer
pointed revolver at the owner.
Solf Denies Lootina
Amsterdam. Oct. 26.-Speaking in
the reichstag on Thursday DR.. w.
S. Solf, foreign secretary, said that
Spanish Minister Villalobar, repre-.
senting British and Belgian citizens,
and Commissioner Van Bree of the
Belgian relief organization, visited
Tournai, Valenciennes and Douai
on Oct. 18. and reported that the
German military authorities had
done everything in their power Ia
alleviate the conditions OF fugitives
and residents In bombarded towns.
DR.. SoIf also said that it had
been reported to him that German
authorities had tried to protect the
people of those cities against plum
dering and that efforts had been
made to safeguard food supplies and
save art treasures.
Only men of military age had
been removed forcibiy, DR.. Solf as
serted, and even then exceptions
had been made in the cases Of phys
icians, clergymen, firemen, police
men and those employed in supply
ing food.
Referring to questions asked on
the previous day, the foreign secre-
tary said the government emphat-
icalIy repudiated any doubt of it's
intention honestly to carry out the
principles laid down by President
Wilson. He added:
Having in reply to the President
taken it's stand on his messages the
is resolved to act ae-|
cordingly."