The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-01-17

VI tbt Btvpits dSdluSt WHulb IN h'p
tary leaders were anxious to wage
war. Not only were the Germans grad
ually led to believe that IL was neces
sary TO fight a defensive war against
INSCRIPTIONS foes, but also that these.
foes would violate every precept Of hui
manity, and consequently must be.
crushed without mercy as a measure
of self-defense. The fruits of this
campaign of suspicion and hatred be-
came evident when almost Mt the out
break of the war many Germans be-
came possessed with the belief that
the whole population Of Belgium, the
first country to be invaded, had vio-
lated every rule of honorable warfare,
that the francs-tireurs (guerrilias)
were everywhere present doing their
deadly work In secrecy or under the
cover of darkness; that women and
even children were mutilating and kill
ing the wounded or helpless prisoners.
Extract from a letter written by a
German soldier to his brother. (This
letter. now in the possession Of the
United States government, was obtain
ed for this pamphlet from Mr.. J. G.
Grew, formerly secretary to the United
States embassy at Berlin.)
November 4, 1914.
"The battles are everywhere *
tremely tenacious and bloody. The
Englishmen we hate most and we want
to get even with them for once. While
nnn nnv, on1 Than cnac ISranrh wilson
ers, one hardly ever beholds French
black troops or Englishmen. These
good people are not overlooked by our
infantrymen; that sort of people Is
moved down without mercy. The
losses of the Englishmen must be enor-
nous There is a desire to wipe them
out, root and ALL" .
Urged to KIN Without Pity.
Extract from another letter to a
brother:
schleswig, 25, 8 ID tAug. %, 1910.
Dear Brother, . You will
shortly 60 to Brussels with your regi-
ment, as you know. Take care to pro-
tect yourself against these civilians,
especially in the villages. Do not let
anyone come too near. They are very
clever, cunning, fellows, these Bel
gians; even the women and children
are armed and fire their guns Never
go inside n house, especially alone.
If you take anything to drink make
the Inhabitants drink first. and keep at
a distance from them. The newspa-
pers relate numerous cases In which
they have fred on u soldiers whilst
they were drinking. You soldiers must
spread around so much fear Of your
selves that no civilian will venture
to come near you. Remain always In
the company Of others. hope that
you have read the newspapers and that
YOU know how to behave. Above all
have no compassion for these cut
threats. Make for them without pity
with the butt-end of your rifle and the
bayonet.
"Your brother, WILL"
The emperor gave his sanction to
the reports of the brutal acts Of the
Belgians in a telegram to President
Wilson.
Berlin, via Copenhagen, Sept. Z, 1914.
"I feel 1t my duty. Mr.. President,
to inform you as the most prominent
representative Of principles of human
ity, that after taking the French fort
ress of Longwy, my troops discovered
there thousands of dumdum cartridges
made by special government machin-
ery. The same kind of ammunition
was found on killed and wounded
troops and prisoners. also on the Brit
ish troops. You know what terrible
| wounds and suffering these bullets In
fict and that their use is strictly for
hidden by the established rules Of In
ternational law. I therefore address
a solemn protest to you against this
kind of warfare, which, owing to the
methods of our adversaries, has be-
come one of the most barbarous known
| IN history. Not only have they I'M
ployed these atrOcious weapons. but
the Belgian government has openly en-
couraged and long since carefully pre-
pared the participation Of the Belgian
civil population in the fighting. The
atrocities committed even by women
and priests in this guerrilla warfare,
also on wounded soldiers, medical staff
and nurses, doctors killed, hospitals
attacked by rife fire, were such that
my generals finally were compelled to
take the most drastic measures In or
der to punish the guilty and to fright
en- the bloodthirsty population from
continuing their work Of vile murder
and horror. Some villages and even
the old town Of Loewen (Louvain),
excepting the fine hotel de vile, had
to be destroyed In self-defense, and
for the protection of my troops. Ny
heart bleeds when ] see that such
measures have become unavoidable
and when I think of the numerous in
nocent people who lose their home and
property as a consequence Of the bar
barous behavior Of those criminals.
| Signed. william. Emperor and King
GERARD. Berlin"
Lorenz Muller In the German Cath
olic Review Der Feis. Fehruory. 1915.