The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-14

0bllglng intermediary TO our pOpula-
tons the three following declara-
tons:
"0) The young men need not fear
being taken to Germany, either to be
enrolled into the army or to be en-
ploycd at forced labors.
''(2) If individual infractions of po-
lice regulations are committed, the
authorities will institute a search for
the responsible authors and will pun
ish them, without placing the respon-
sibility on the entire population.
"(3) The German and Belgian au-
thorities will neglect nothing to see
that food Is assured to the popula-
ton"
These promises were not kept, as
Cardinal MERCER and his colleagues
show by abundant evidence in the Gap
peal to Truth"
con March sd, 1915, at the arsenal
at Luttre the German authorities post
ed nCtice demanding return to work
| On April 21st, 200 workmen were call
/ ed for On April 9th soldiers went
! to fetch the workmen from their
homes and take them to the arsenal.
In the absence of a workman, mem
Der of the family was arrested
Workmen Imprisoned on Trains.
However, the men maintained their
refusal to work, because they were
unwilling to cooperate in acts of war
against their country
"On May 4th, 24 workmen detained
In prison at Nivelles We're tried al
Mons by a court-martial, 'On the charge
of being members of q secret society
having for its aim to thwart the carry
ing out of German military measures.
They We're condemned to imprison
ment.
"On May 8th, 1915, 4S workmer
= were shut up in a freight car anC
J taken to Germany.
''On May 14th, 40 men were deport
: ed to Germany.
"On May 18th a fresh proclamation
announced that the prisoners woult
receive only dry bread and water, ant
hot food only every four days. Or
May 22d three cars with 1O4 work
| men We're sent toward Charleroi."
e "a similar course was adopted a
. Malines, where by various method
e of intimidation, the German authori
! ties attempted to force the workers a
+ the arsenal to work on material 70
: the railways, as If it were not plat
+ that this material would become wa
S material sooner or later
5 Stopped All Traffic in MaIines.
Q "On May 30th, 1915 the governc
n general announced that he would /
& obliged to punish the town of Maine
It and its suburbs by stopping all con
s merciaI traffic If by 10 a. m. @
e Wednesday, June ID 500 workme
had not presented themselves for wor
/ at the arsenal.
IS ION Wednesday, June I'd, not
II single man appeared. Accordingly,
complete stoppage took place of ever
vehicle within radius of several xii
IL meters of the town.
10 Several workmen were taken |
-e force and kept two or three days
le the arsenal.
= 1.-THE commune of Sweveghm Ewes
le ern Flanders) was punished in Jun
- 1915, because the $50 workmen at Il
III private factory Of NJ. Bekaert refus
~ to make barbed wire for the Germ:
n, army.
IS, 1.-The following notice was placar
ad ed ar Menin in July-August, 191
to BY order: From today the town W
"a no longer afford aid of any descr
O. tion-including assistance to The
rs families, wives, and children-to a
le, operatives except those who wo
r. regularly at military work, and 9th
IN tasks assigned to them. All other {
he eratives and their families can hen
ny forward not be helped in any fashio
lily Punished for Refusal to Work.
S, similar measures were taken
er- October. 1915. at Harlebekelez-Cou
ley raj, Bisseghem, Lokeren, and Mo
ed From Harlebeke % inhabitants w
he Transported to Germany. At Mo
he in NJ. Lenoir's factory, the directo
8 foreman, and 81 workmen We're
len prisoned for having refused to W.
Ugh in the service of the German army.
Lenoir was sentenced to five years
ed nrisonment, the five directors to
ion year each, six foremen to six mont
ley and the 81 workmen to eight weeks
no. "The general government had
the course also to indirect methods
oy- compulsiOn. 1t seized the Belg
of Red Cross. confscated its proper
Gus and changed its purpose arbitrar
It'll II attempted to make itself master
the the public charities, and to control
ath national aid and food committee.
the eff we were to cite in extenSo
full. decree of the governor general of A
ing ust 4th, 1915, concerning measures
ties tended to assure the carrying out
han works of public usefulness, and
ON of August 18th, concerning the un
lili- ployed. who, through idleness, ref
an from work it would be seen by W
PIN tortuous means the occupying pc
ter attempts to attack at once the Il
ork. terss and the men,"
,ivffl Fines Imposed Without Reason