The Arvada enterprise., 1918-01-10
BELGIANS FORCED
TO AID GERMANS
Ksiser's Officers Showed Open
Disregard Of lnterna.
tionaI Law.
W0RKMEN SEIZED AS SLAVES
Cardinal Msreler Moved to Bitter Con.
demnatlon Of Acts Of German Az.
thorities Which Aroused Oetes-
tatlon Of Chrietendom.

Contrary to rules laid down b,
the Hague convention. and all prin-
ciples of civilized warfare, German
authorities forced Belgiars to aid
them in the prosecution of the war
The committee on public informa.
ton gives the facts concerning
these atrocious deeds in a pamphlet
recently made public, from which W
take the following:
October 12, 1915, the German author.
tiles took a 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 disclOses u con.
tempt for international law.
article I. Whoever, without reason,
refuses to undertake or to continue
work suitable to 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.
"In voking Belgian laws or even in
ternational conventions to the con-
trary, can, in NO case, justify the re-
fusal to work.
ARTICLE Q. Any person who by force,
threats, persuasion, or other means
attempts to influence another to refuse
work Us pointed out in Article l, IL
liable to the punishment of imprison-
ment not exceeding five years.
"Article 3. Whoever knowingly by
means Of Md given or in any other way
abets a punishable refusal to work,
Will be liable to maximum fine Of
10000 marks, and In addition may be
condemned to years imprisonment.
III communes or associations have
rendered themselves guilty OF such an
offense the heads Of the cOmmunes will
be punished.
ARTICLE 4. In addition to the penal
ties stated In Articles l and 3. the Ger.
man authorities may, in case Of need,
Impose on communes, where without
reason. work has been refused, a flnC
or other cOercive police measures.
"This present decree comes into
force Immediately.
"Der Etappeinspekteur,
"vON UNGER.
"Generalleutnant.
"Ghent. October IL. 1916"
slavery" Said Cardinal Msreisr.
Cardinal Mercicr's brief comment Ia
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. 1t Is slavery, mel.
ther more nor less"
Cardinal Mercier was In error. for
the German authorities were able to
imngine much more terrible measure.
In October. 1910. when the need for
an additional labor supply In Germany
had become urgent. the German gov.
ernment established the system of
forced labor md deportation which
hns aroused the detestatiOn Of Chris
tendon. The reader will not be mlslcd
by the clumsy effort Of the German nu.
thoritles to musk the real purpose OF
the decree.
~. People able to work may be
compelled to work even outside the
place where they live. In cnse they
have to npply to the charity OF others
for the support OF themselves or their
dependents on account OF gambling.
drunkenness. Ionfng. unemployment or
idlcnesx.
III. Every inhnbitnnt Of the country
IL bound to render assistance In ease
Of accident or general danger. and nlso
to give help In case Of public calaml-
ties ns far ns he cnn, even outside the
place where he lives: in case OF refu.
sal he may be- compelled by force.
"III. Anyone called upon 10 work.
under Articles ! or II. who shall re-
fuse the work, or to continue nt the
work assigned him. will incur the pen.
atty Of Imprisonment up 10 three yenrs
and Of n fine up to 10000 marks. or
one or other Of these penalties. unless
q sevcrcr penalty Is provided for by
the laws In force.
III the refusal 10 work has been
made In concert or In agreement with
several persons. ench ncc0mplics will
be sentenced. az II he were q ring.
leader. to At least weeks imprison.
ment.
NV. The German military authori.
ties and military courts will enforce
the proper execution Of this decree.
''THE QUARTERMASTER GEN.
EItAL. SAUBENZWEIG.
sGrcat Headquarters. I'd October
1910"
Military Rulers Responsible.
The responsibility for this atrocious
program rests upon the military rulers
Of Germany. who Ind lnbored No zeal.
ously 10 infect the army and the
people with the principles of ruthless
ness. II is significant that the decree
Of October 3. 1910. followed hnrd upon
the elevation Of Ilindenburg 10 the su
presns command with Ludsndorf nv hi,
chief Of stniY. In his long report oi