The Arvada enterprise., 1918-01-17
SOCIALISTS saw
GERMANY'S ERROR
Urged That Inhuman Deporta.
tons Be Stopped Because Of
Effect on Neutrals.
GERARD SUMS UP SITUATION


the Only Thing They Respect 10
Fierce" - Huns Capacity for
Cruelty Told by Whltioeik.
Aroused by the indignation shovn
BY the vhols world over the ruthless
dsportations of the people in Bsl-
gium and France. socialist deputies
in tie rs;chstag protested against
tho continuance of the practice. Am
bassador Gerards evidsncs shows the
sstsnt of tho horror.
In tho Norddeutsche Allgemetne
Zeituns Of December 2, 1915. the fol.
lowing protests against the deporta-
don Of Belgians to work in Germany
appeared, made, respectively, by So
caalist Deputy Haase and Deputy Dit
mann. members Of the reichstag:
Thousands Of workmen In the oc-
eupied territory have been compelled
% forced labor; we earnestly ask the
government to restore to these work
men their liberty, especially in Bel
GUM. In truth, We (the Germans) ind
no sympathy In neutral countries; even
the pope has made q protest against
this procedure. and several neutral
states have done the same. Common
sense itself demands that we abandon
this procedure which moreover Is In
opposition to the Hague convention to-
which We have agreed"
"In opposition to the secretary Of
state, must recall that when former
ly the Belgian workmen who had fed
to Holland returned to Belgium, Gov
ernor General Won Bissing promised
that these Belgian workmen would un-
der no circumstances be deported to
Germany. This reassurlng promise
has not been kept"
Ambassador Gerard's interesting tes-
timony appears In his recent book:
Ambassador osrard's Evidence.
'rne president (during my visit to
America In 1016) impressed upon me
his great interest In the Belgians d.
ported to Germany. The action Of Ger
many IN thus carrying Q great part Of
the male population Of Belgium into
virtual slavery had reused great indlg-
nation In America. Az the revered
Cardinal Farley said to me . few days
before my departure, You have to 20
hack to the times Of the Nedes and
the Persians to dnd q like example Of
whole people carried Into bondage
''Mr. Grew had made representations
about this to the chancellor and. on my
return. Immediately took up the
question.
II was informed that It was q mill.
tary measure. that Ludendorf had
feared that the British would break
through and overrun Belgium and that
the military did not propose to have q
hostile population at their backs who
might cut the rail lines Of commun,
cation. telephones and telegraphs. and
that for this reason the deportation
had been decided on. was. however.
told I would be given permission to
visit these BelEians. The passes, nev.
eftheless, which alone made such visit.
Ing possible were not delivered until Q
few days before left Germany.
osielans Feresd 70 Make Munitlsns.
Several Of these Belgians who were
put to work In Berlin managed to get
away and come to see me. They gave
me q narrowing account Of how they
had been seized In Belgium and made
to work 10 Germany at making muni.
tious to be used probably against their
own friends.
n said to the chancellor. There are
Belgians employed In making shells
contrary to all rules Of war and the
Hague conventional He said. 4 DO
not believe IT, ! said. Ny automobile
10 at the door. I can take you. In four
minutes, to where 20 Belgians are
working On the manufacture Of shslls.'
But he did not nnd time to 80.
"Americans must understand that
the Germans will stop at nothing to
win this war, and that the only thing
thsy respect 10 force."-James ". &C.
rard. Ny -Four Years IL Germany, 1914,
PIP. 3o6l.62.
4 similar point Of New II expressed
IN an article entitled "vas victia"
from the Hungarian Newspaper News
sawa Of Budapest (quoted IN K. q. o.
siaanilsson. Miiitarism at Work In Bel.
sism and Germany. 1917. PIP. 68-64.)
Mixed Hungarian opIRisN.
Mechanical skill. and especially
qualified nschanical skin. 10 for the
moment Q more important factor than
usual. and % Il must be obtained
where II eaa b obtained. Belgium has
had to suffer 10 accordance with the
old saying which always holds good |:
Vac victia (woa to the vanquished).
In Poland mechanical skill and the
arms which exist there are mobllised
under the glorious and fortunate ban.
nsss Of Poland : In Belgium under the
banner Of necessity.'"
-. The question remains: for
what kind Of work will the Germans
use the Beigiansf every kind Of
work 10 Germany IN war work, wheth.
sf II 10 called agricultural or indus.
trial work. A the deportcd Belginns
have not given their consent. their use
II contrary to international law. anS