The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-06-06

!
Germans Flout International Law
and Order Belgians to Work
For Them.
''Invoking Belgian laws or even in
ternational conventions to the con-
trary, can, in no case, justify the re-
fusal to work.
"On the subject of the lawfulness
of the work exacted, the military
commandant has the sole right OF
forming a decision.
"Article 2. Any person who by
force, threats, persuasion, or other
means attempts to influence another
to refuse work as pointed out in
Article /, is liable to the punishment
of Imprisonment not exceeding i've
years.
ARTICLE g.. Whoever knowingly
by means of aid given or in any
other way abets a punishable re-
fusal to work, will be liable to a
maximum fine of 10000 marks, and
in addition may be condemned to
years imprisonment.
eff communes or associations have
rendered themselves guilty of such
an offence the heads of the COM
munes will be punished.
"Article 4. In addition to the
penalties stated in Articles 1 and 3,
the German authorities may, in case
of need, impose on communes, where
without reason, work has been re-
fused, a fine or other coercive police
measures.
"This present decree comes into
force Immediately.
DER Etappeinspekteur,
"VON UNGER,
"Generalleutnant.
"Ghent, October 18th, 1915"
Cardinal Mercier's brief comment
is as follows: 'The injustice and
arbitrariness of this decree exceed
all that could be imagined. Forced
labor, collective penalties and arbi-
trary punishments, all are there. 1t
is slavery, neither more nor less"
October 3, 1916, German Government
Inaugurates Wholesale
Deportations.
~ in,
the German authorities were able to
imagine a much more terrible meas
ure. In October, 1916, when tha
need for an additional labor supply
in Germany had become urgent. the
German government established the
system of forced labor and deporta-
ton which has aroused the detesta-
ton of Christendom. The reader
will not be misled by the clumsy
effort of the German authorities to
mask the real purpose of the decree.
The Decree Of October 3, 1916.
decree Concerning the Limiting
of the burdens of public charity *"
81. People able to work may be
compelled to work even outside the
place where they live, in case they
have to supply the charity of Others
for the support of themselves or their
dependents on account of gambling,
drunkenness. loafng, unemployment,
or idleness.
"II. Every inhabitant of the
country is bound to render assist
ance in case of accident or general
danger, and also to give help in case
of public calamities as far as he can,
even outside the place where he lives;
in case Of refusal he may be comDell-
ed by force.
iii. Anyone called upon to
work, under Articles l or II, who
shall refuse the work, or to continue
at the work assigned him, will incur
the penalty Of Imprisonment up to
three years and of fine up to 10, 900
marks, or one or other of these pen
alties, unless a severer penalty is
provided for by the laws in force.
eff the refusal to work has been
made in concert or in agreement,
with several persons, each accom-
plice will be sentenced, as if he were
a ringleader, to at least weeks i'm
prisonment.
CIV. The German military au-
thorities and Military Courts will en-
force the proper execution of this
decree.
"The Quartermaster General, Sau-
Berzweig.
''Great Headquarters, Sd October,
1916"