The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-03-21
the province Of Antwerp to communI-

cate them TO the people:
THE governor of Antwerp, Baron
Won Hoiningen, General Won Huene,
has authorized rue TO inform you In his
name and to communicate by your
obllging intermediary to our populs-
lions, the three following declara-
tons:
"U) The young men need not fear
being taken TO Germany, either to be
enrolled into the army or to be en-
ployed at forced labors.
"(2) II individual infractions Of po-
lice regulations are committed, the
authorities will institute search for
the responsible authors and will pun
ish them, without placing the respon-
slblllty on the entire population.
"t3) The German and Belgian au-
thoritIcs will neglect nothing to see
that food Is assured 20 the popula-
ton"
These promises were not kept. as
Cardinal MERCER and his colleagues
show by abundant evidence Ia the ZAP
peal to Truth"
"On March 23d, 1915, at the arsenal
nj Luttre the German authorities post
ed a nolice 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 10 the arsenal.
In the absence OF workman, a men,
Der Of the family was arrested.
Workmen Imprisoned on Trains.
However, the men maintained their
refusal TO work, because they were
unwilling 10 cooperate In acts of war
against their country
"On May 4th. "a workmen detained
In prison at Nlvelles were tried at
Mons by court-martial, 'on the charge
OF being members Of a secret society.
having for its aim to thwart the carry
ing out OF German military measures
They were condemned to imprison-
ment.
ION May sth. 1915. 4s workmen
taken TO Germany.
"On May 14th, As men were deport-
ed 10 Germany.
"On May 18th a fresh proclamation
announced that the prisoners would
receive only dry bread and water, and
hot food only every four days. On
May I'D three cars with 1O4 work
men were sent toward Charleroi."
"a similar course was adopted at
Mallnes, where by various methods
of intimidation, the German authori-
/ ties attempted 10 force the workers at
the arsenal 20 work on material for
the railways. as II II were not plain
that this material would become war
material sooner or later.
Stopped All Traffic In Malines.
"On May Both, 1915, the governor
general announced that he would be
obliged TO punish the town Of Malines
and It's suburbs by stopping all COM
mercial traffic II by 10 a. IN. on
Wednesday. June I'd, 500 workmen
had not presented themselves for work
at the arsenal.
"On Wednesday. June I'd. not a
single man appeared. Accordingly. a
complete stoppage took place Of every
vehicle within a radius OF several kilo-
meters OF the town.
Several workmen were taken by
force and kept two or three days at
the arsenal.
"The commune Of Sweveghm (west-
ern Flanders) was punished In June,
1915. because the $50 workmen at the
private factory OF NJ. Bekaert refused
to make barbed wire for the German
army.
"The following notice was placard-
ed at Menin In July-August, 1915:
by order: From today the town will
no longer afford aid OF any descrip-
tion--includlng assistance to their
/ families, wives, and chlldren-to any
operatives except those who work
regularly az military work, and other
tasks assigned 10 them. All other OPP
eratIves and their families can hence
forward not be helped In any fashion
Punished for Refusal to Work.
"Similar measures were taken In
October, 1915, at Harlebekelez-C Court
raj, Bisseghem, Lokeren, and Mons.
From Harlebeke 20 inhabitants were
transported TO Germany. At Mons,
In NJ. Lenolr's factory, the directors,
foreman, and 81 workmen were i'm
prisoned for having refused TO work
In the service OF the German army. M.
Lenoir was sentenced TO five years Inn
prisonment. the five directors to a
year each, six foremen to six months.
and the 81 workmen TO eight weeks.
'The general government had re-
course also to indirect methods OF
compulsion. II seized the Belgian
Red Cross, confiscated its property,
and changed its purpose arbitrarily.
II attempted TO make itself master OF
the public charities, and to control the
national aid and food committee.
"If we were to cite In extenso the
decree OF the governor general of Aug
ust 4th, 1915, concerning measures In
tended TO assure the carrying out OF
works Of public usefulness, and that
OF August 18th, concerning the unem-
ployed, who. through idleness, refrain
from work. II would be seen by what
tortuous means the occupying power
attempts 10 attack at once the mas