Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-01-23

| OF the Germans the treacherDuS nature
If the peoples against whom the mill
tary leaders were anxious to wage
war. Not only were the Germans grad
ualiy led to believe that 1t was neees
sary TO fight defensive war against
Inscriptions foes. but also that these
foes would violate every preeept Of hu-
manity. and consequently must be
crushed without mercy as a measure
OF self-defense. The fruits OF this
campaign Of suspicion ane hatred be-
came evident when almost at tie 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 yio-
lated every rule of honorable warfare,
that the francs-tireurs (guerrillas1
were everywhere present doing their
deadly work In secrecy or under the
cover of darkness; that women and
even children were mutilating and XIII
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.. ]. C.
Grew, formerly secretary to the United
States embassy at Beriin.)
November 4. 1914.
The battles are everywhere ex-
tremely tenacious and bloody. The
Englishmen we hate most and we want
TO get even with them for once. While
one now and then sees French prison
ers. one hardly ever beholds French
black troops or Engiishmen. 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 desire to wipe them
out, root and all"
Urged to Kin Without Pity.
Extract from another letter to a
brother:
Sehleswig, Is. II tAug. IS. 1910.
Dear Brother, You will
shortly go to Brussels with your regi-
ment, as you know. Take care to pro-
tect yourself against these civilians,
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
90 inside house, especially alone.
II you take anything to drink make
he inhabitants drink first. and keep at
/ distance from them. The newspa-
,ers relate numerous cases In which
hey have fred on our soldiers whilst
hey were drinking. You soldiers must
'pread around 30 much fear OF your
selves that no civilian win venture
% come near you. Remain always In
he company of others. I hope that
You have read the newspapers and that
Tou know how to behave. Above all
have no compassion for these cut
.hroats- Make for them without pity
With the butt-end Of your rife and the
,ayonet
your brother, WILL"
The emperor gave his sanction to
he reports of the brutal acts OF the
3eigans In q telegram to President
wilson
Berlin, via Copenhagen Sept Z, 1914.
az feel 1t my duty. Mr.. President,
of principles of human
ty. that after taking the French fort
TESS Of Longwy. nay troops discovered
here thousands Of dumdum cartridges
made by special government machin-
cry. 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
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 en-
ployed these atrocious weapons, but
the Belgian government has openly en-
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 (Louyain),
excepting the fine hotel de Vile. had
to be destroyed In self-defense, and
for the protection of my troops. My
heart bleeds when see that such
measures have become unavoidable
and when think Of the numerous In
nocent people who lose their home and
property as consequence of the bar
barous behavior of those criminals