The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1918-01-03
PARISH PRIEST
USED AS SHIELD
Brand WhitIock Tells of CoWardIy
Act of Commander Of Ger
man Detachment.
HUGH GIBSON ADDS EVIDENCE
Tells Of Priests Compelled to Walk Be-
fore "Huns" to Form Screen
Cardinal Mereier's Statement
az to Taking Of Hostages.

That the Germans in Belgium
made use of wOmen, children, and
priests as screens to protect the in
Uaders from Belgian troops is ShOWn
By the folIotVtng testimony gathered
By the committee on public tnfor-
nation:
Minister WhItlock, in his report Of
september IL, 1917, to the secretary Of
states, gives an instance of the Ger
man practice Of seeking protection.
"The Germans( attacked HOugaerde
on the 18th August the Belgian troops
were holding the1G bridge in the
village. The Germans forced the par
ish priest of Autgaerden to walk In
front Of them as shield. AS they
neared the barricnde the Belgian SOL
diers fred and the priest was killed.
After the retreat of the BelgianS the
Germans shot four men, burned 80
houses, and looted 100."
Hugh Gibson, in "A Journal From
Our Legation in Belgium" page 155,
gives another incident:
"TwO old priests have staggered In
to the - legation more dead than
alive after having been compelled to
walk ahead of the German troops for
miles us a sort of protecting screen.
One of them is Ill, and 1t is said that
he may die as q result of what he has
gone through"
Statement of Cardinal Mercier.
"At the time Of the invasion Bel
gian civilians, in 20 places, were made
to take part in operations of war
against their own country. AT Ter
monde, Lebbeke, Dinant and elsewhere
In many places, penceable citizens,
women and children were forced to
march in front of German regiments
or to make screen before them.
"The system of hostages was carried
out with u fierce cruelty. The procla-
nation of August 4th, quoted above,
declared, without cirCumlOcution
Hostages will be freely taken
"An official proclamation, posted at
Liege, in the early days of August, ran
thus: Every aggression committed
against the German troops by any per-
sons other than soldiers in uniform
not only exposes the guilty person to
, be Immediately shot, but will also en-
tail the severest reprisals against all
the inhabitants, and especially against
hose natives of Liege who have been
detained as hostages In the citadel OF
Liege by the commandant of the Ger
, man troops
"These hostages are Monsignor Rut'
ten, bishop of Liege; NJ. Kleyer, burgo'
master of Liege; the senators, repre-
sentatives, and the permanent deputy
and sheriff of Liege."
The above quotation Is taken from
IAN Appeal to Truth" addressed No
vember "a, 1915, by Cardinal Merciel
and the other bishops Of Belgium t.
' The cardinals, archbishops, and bishops
: If Germany and Austria a-Hungary.
!, "Some ten or dozen American cor
8 respondents, Of whom ] was one, wit
:. messed the first German drive through
. Belgium. Most of us were so appalled,
d and Mortified by what we saw as to be
e ,ome antl-German for Iife." VIII Ir
E, win In Saturday Evening Post, OctO
L Der @. 1917, page Al.
d Robbery Under Guise Of Fines.
t. The contracting nations. Including
4 3ermany, who signed the convention