The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-24
PROOF OF GERMAN
BARBARITY seen
IN FREED TOWNS
French Deputies to Demand
Guarantees to Assure Res
titution for Towns De-
stroyed.
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
CHAMPAGNE, Oct Establishments
of engineers from General Gouraud's
army in exploring the region from
which the Germans have been driven
in this sector have discovered In many
villages evidence of the method by
which the destruction of dwellings,
churches and other public buildings
was organized.
The region along the Retourne
abound with indications of wilful de-
vastation of villages that were never
within range of artillery but were
where houses were still erect, they
were mined for slow destruction, while
the purely military installations such
as barracks built by the Germans for
their own troops were left intact. Or
ders for the burning Of Juniville,
large village in the valley of the Re-
tourne arrived on the day OF eyacua-
tion. The Germans had built COM
Portable quarters, with casinos, Off
GERS clubs, moving picture theaters,
hotels and rest houses for the soldiers
in the village. The people pleaded
with the officers to spare their homes
but the torch was put to every house.
The village was one vast brazier when
the French entered it. Mont ST. Remy
shared the same fate.
Officer Ashamed of Work.
Chatelet, Alincourt, Bignicourt and
Vile Sur -Retourne were partially saw
ed because the French troops pressed
the Germans there so closely that the
sappers left behind to do the work
were surprised. Some of these men
fed before they could set off the mines
which had been prepared Others
were captured.
1t has been necessary for French
sappers and miners to explore the eel
lar of every house remaining intact in
this region. Under most of them mines
have been found Mouths of wells were
so mined that explosions would fill
them with rock and earth At Aus
sonce mines were discovered labelled
to indicate the class of destruction
for which they were prepared. These
mines we're provided with glass tubes
containing corrosive liquid to eat
away the wire connection with the
mine and cause its explosion, with a
lapse of time indicated on each tube.
Some were marked for an hour, others
for two, twelve and twenty-four hours
Some were marked as high as seventy
two hours.
Preparations for the destruction of
these villages went on in the presence
of the people and in spite of their
supplications. At Neuville, where
villager implored that his home might
be spared, an officer replied:
81 know it is an ignoble task, but
such are our orders"
DEMAND PREPARATION.
PARIS, Wednesday, Oct. 23-The
question of the devastation wrought
by the Germans in northern France
was the topic of discussion in par
lament today.
In the senate, Antonin Dubost, pres
! ident, asked that victory should give
all it's might to chastisement of the
offender and reparation for the crime
| 'The enemy will be condemned to
restitution for which we will take
guarantees, not being able to rely upon
his word" said Stephen Pichon, for
| eign minister. 1--WE are near the end
of sacrifices imposed by savage ag-
gression for which it's authors try to
escape responsibility. Their calcula-
tions have been upset by President
! Wilson.
Senators from the liberated regions
| filed resolution asking that commits
sioners be sent to ascertain the extent
| Of the devastations which were de-
| scribed as heartbreaking. The resolu-
tion was unanimously adopted
In the chamber of deputies cor
dial reception was given to deputies,
M. G. Delory and Ragheboom, who
stayed in Lille during the German oc
cupation. Paul Deschanel, president
Of the chamber, praised their courage
and rendered homage to Deputy Gnes-
Quirre of Lille, who died victime of
German barbarity for having defend
ed his townspeople.
NJ. Delory, in speech denouncing
the actions of the Germans in forcing
the population of Lille to work within
the zone of artillery fire, expressed
the hope that victory might be the
means of hberating Deputy Enghels.
who was imprisoned by the invaders
for his denulciation of their barbar-