The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-03-28
kaiser's Officers Showed Open
Disregard OF Internal
tionaI Law.
W0RKMEN SEIZED AS SLAVES
Cardinal Mereler Moved 10 Bitter Con-
demnatlon OF Acts Of German Au-
thorlties Which Aroused Detes-
tation Of christendom.

ciples Of civilized warfare, German
authorities forced BeIgidnS 10 aid
them 'n the prosecution Of the wdr.
The committee on public informd-
ton gives The facts concerning
these dtrooious deeds in a pamphlet
recently made public. from Which we
take The following.
October -. 1915. the German author
tiles took a long step In the develop
mint Of their policy Of forcing the Bel
CLANS 20 aid them I'm prosecuting the
war. The decree Of that date reveals
the matter and openly discloses con
tempt for international law.
article I. Whoever, without reason,
refuses 60 undertake or TO continue
work suitable 10 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
ternationai conventions 90 the con-
trary. eau, In no case. justify the re-
fusal 20 work.
Article 2 Any person who by force,
threats, persuasion. or other means
attempts TO influence another 10 refuse
work as pointed out In Article l. Is
liable TO the punishment Of imprison-
ment not exceeding five years.
Article 8. Whoever knowingly by
means OF aid given or In any other way
abets a punishable refusal 20 work.
will he liable TO u maximum fine OF
10000 marks. and IN addition may be
condemned TO n years Imprisonment.
IF communes or associations have
rendered themselves guilty OF such an
ofrense the heads Of the communes will
be punished
article 4. In addition to the penal
ties stated In Articles and 3. the Ger
man authorities may. In case of need.
impose on communes. where without
reason. work has been refused, fine
or other coercive police measures.
This present decree comes into
force Immediately.
"Der Etappeinspekteur,
won UNGER,
"Generalleutnant.
"Ghent. October II. 1919"
slavery" Said Cardinal Mercier.
Cardinal hercicr's brief comment Is
as follows: The injustice and arbi-
trariness OF this decree exceed all that
could be imagined. Forced labor. col
iective penalties and arbitrary punish
ments. all are there. II is slavery, nei-
Their more nor less"
Cardinal MERCER was in error. for
the German authorities were able 90
Imagine a much more terrible measure.
In October, 1915. when the need for
an additional labor supply In Germany
had become urgent. the German gov
ernment established the system of
forced labor and deportation which
has aroused the detestation Of Chris
tendon. The reader will not be mlsled
by the clumsy effort Of the German au-
thoritles to mask the real purpose OF
the decree.
II. People able TO work may be
compelled 10 work even outside the
place where they live. in case they
have TO apply 10 the charity of others
for the support Of themselves or their
dependents on account OF gambling,
drunkenness. loafing. unemployment or
idleness.
I'll. Every lnhabltant Of the country
IN bound -ender assistance In case
OF accident general danger, and also
10 give help in case of public calami-
ties as far as he can, even outside the
place where he lives; In case OF refu-
sal he may be compelled by force.
"III. Anyone called upon TO work,
under Articles / or ii, who shall re-
fuse the work. or TO continue at the
work assigned him, will incur the pen
atty OF imprisonment up TO three years
and OF fine up TO 10000 marks, or
one or other Of these penalties, unless
a seyerer penalty is provided for by
the laws In force.
IF the refusal TO work has been
made In concert or In agreement with
several persons. each accomplish viii
be sentenced. as II he were a ring
leader, TO at least a weeks imprison-
ment
"Iy. The German military authori-
ties and military courts will enforce
the proper execution of this decree.
"THE QUARTEIlMASTER GEN
ERAL, SAUBEliZWEIG.
"Great Headquarters, 30 October,
1916"
Military Rulers Responsible.
The responsibility for this atrocious
program rests upon the military rulers
Of Germany, who had labored so zeal
ously TO infect the army and the
people with the principles Of ruthless
ness. II Is significant that the decree
OF October 8. 1915, followed hard upon
the elevation OF Hlndenburg TO the SUI
preme command with Ludendorf as his
chief Of staff. In his long report OF
January 10, 1917, Minister Whitlock