The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-01-11
BELGIANS FORCED
TO AID GERMANS
Ksiser's Officers Showed Open
Disregard OF Interna-
tional Law.
W0RKMEN SEIZED AS SLAVES
Cardinal Mercier Moved to Bitter Con-
demnation of Acts Of German Az
thoritiss Which Aroused Detes-
tation of Christendom.

Contrary to rules laid down BY
the Hague convention, and all prtn-
c,pleS of cipiltzed warfdre, German
authorities forced BelgiGns to aid
them IN the prosecution of the wdr.
The committee on public informa-
ton gives the facts concerning
these atrOciouS deeds in a pamphlet
recently made public, from uhich ne
take the following:
October 10, 1915, the German author
tiles took long step in the develop
ment Of their policy of forcing the Bel
gians to aid them in prosecuting the
war. The decree of that date reveals
the matter and openly dlscloseS Il CON
tempt for international law.
Article /. Whoever, without reason,
refuses TO undertake or to continue
work suitable 10 his occupation, and In
the execution of which the military
administration is interested such work
being ordered by one or more OF the
military commanders, will be liable to
Imprisonment not exceeding one year.
He may also be transported to Ger
many.
'ln voking Belgian laws or even in
ternatiOnal conventions 10 the con
trary, can, In no ease, Justify the re-
fusal To work.
article .. Any person who by force,
threats, persuasion, or other means
attempts TO influence another TO refuse
work as pointed out in Article l, IS
liable TO the punishment Of imprison-
ment not exceeding five years.
article 3. Whoever knowingly b-
means OF aid given or in any other way
;betS n punishable refusal to work,
will be liable to maximum fine OF
10000 marks, and in addition may be
condemned to a years imprisonment.
'lf cOmmuncS or associations have
rendered themselves guilty of such IN
offcnse the heads Of the communes will
be punished.
article 4. In addition 10 the penal
ties stated in Articles ! and 3, the Ger
man authorities may, in case of need,
Impose on COmmuncS, where without
reason, work has been refused, a fine
or other coercive police measures.
This present decree comes into
force Immediately.
"Der EtappeinSpekteur,
"VON UNGER.
"GeneraIIeulnant.
"Ghcnt, October l.. 1915"
slavery" Sai6 Cardinal Mercier.
Cardinal Mercier's brief comment is
as follows: The injustice and arbi-
trarineSs of this decree exceed all that
could be imagined. Forced labor, col
lective penalties and arbitrary punish
ments. all are there. II is slavery. nei-
ther more nor less"
Cardinal MERCER was in error, for
the German authorities were able TO
Imagine much more terrible measure.
IN October, 1916, when the need for
an additional labor supply in Germany
had become urgent, the German gov
crnment established the system of
forced labor and deportation which
has aroused the detestation of Chris
rendom. The reader will not he misled
by the clumsy effort of the German au-
thoritics TO mask the real purpose of
the decree.
II. People nbie TO work may be
compelled to work even outside the
place where they live. in case they
have TO apply to the charity OF others
FOR the support Of themselves or their
lnnon1An,g a of
drunkenness, loafng. unemployment or
.dleness.
I'll. Every inhabitant OF the country
ts bound TO render assistance in case
OF accident or general danger, and also
10 give help in case Of public calami-
ties as far as he can, even outside the
place where he lives; in case of refu-
sal he may be compelled by force.
"IlI. Anyone called upon TO work,
under Articles l or II. who shall re-
fuse the work, or to continue at the
work assigned him, will incur the pen
atty of imprisonment up to three years
and of fine up TO 10000 marks, or
one or other of these penalties, unless
q severer penalty Is provided for by
che laws In force.
'If the refusal to work has been
made In concert or In agreement with
several persons, each accompllce will
be sentenced as if he were a ring.
leader, 10 at least weeks imprison-
ment.
Nv. The German military authori- |
Dies and military courts will enforce
the proper execution OF this decree.
THE QUARTERMASTER GEN |
ERAL. SAUBERZWEIG.
Great Headquarters. Sd October,
1916"
Military Rulers Responsible.
The responsibility for this atrocious !
program rests upon the military rulers |
Of Germany, who had abored so zeal |
ously 20 infect the army and the |
people with the principles Of ruthless
ness. II is significant that the decree |
nf October 8. 1916. followed hard upon |
the elevation OF Hindcnburg to The SUI |
IRENE command wifb Ludendorf us his /
r,iief of staff. In his long report of .
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