The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-10-23
HUNS Plan TO
FREE BELC|ANS
Kaiser Promises Cardinal Mer-
cier Victims Will Be Re-
leased Monday.
NOTE IS sent TO WILSON
King to Be Presented With Sword
When He Returns to Brussels
Belgium Has 1000 900 900 War
Bill Against Germany.

Rome, Oct. 22.-BarOn Won der
Lancken, chief Of the German political
department at Brussels, has informed
Cardinal Mercier, prfmate Of Belgium,
that when the Germans evacuate that
country the deported Belgians and po-
ht1cal prisoners will be spontaneously
released, according to the Osservatore
Romano, the semiofficial Vatican or
gan. He told Cardinal Mercier, it is
said, that part Of the Belgians who
were depOrted would be free to return
to their country on Monday.
This notification was in the form of
letter handed to the cardinal person.
ally by Baron Won der Lancken.
To Be Set Free spontaneously"
The text of the letter is as follows:
"You are the incarnation of the emil
nence of occupied Belgium. You are
its venerated and needed pastor. It is
then to you that the general govern
ment and my local government have
charged to announce that when they
vacate your territory they will spon-
taneously set free deported Belgians
and political prisoners. They will be
in part free to return to their country
on Monday.
''This declaration is Of a nature that
will fill your heart with rejoicing. I
am all the happier to make it to you
in that I could not have lived four
years among the Belgian people with
out esteeming them and without ap-
preciating their patriotism at its true
value"
1t is understood this communication
has been transmitted to King Albert
and President Wilson.
Brussels Gift Awaits King.
Paris, Oct. 22.-During the earliest
days of the German occupation of
Brussels in 1914, project was formed
to present King Albert sword of hon
or upon his return to the city. The
model was made and the artist who
designed it carried it through the bar
rier into Holland and from there came
to Paris.
The sword has been made here. The
hilt Is of gold and platinum set with
precious stones. 1t represents the Bel
gfan lion overcoming the Teutonici
eagle. It will be sent to Brussels and
will be there In time for the kings
entry to the city.
Belgian Items for Germany.
London, Oct. 23.-Some of the items
which figure on Germany's bill in Bel
gium are given as follows from an off,
cial Belgian source.
Local contributions and fines levied
by Germany on Belgium In 1914-f8,-
100000 $40 OOO 0OO).
War contributions from November,
1914, to October, 1916--f38, ,4O0, 900
($1o2,OOO,O0O).
War contributions, seven months
to May, 1917-f14,O0O,OO ($7O,OOO-
OOO).
War contributions from May, 1917,
to May, 191S-f28, 100000 t$144,OO0.
OOO).5
War contributions from June to Oc-
tober of the current year-f15,O 900 600
(s75, 5,OOOO0O).
Total Is $4,000, o,ooo, 900.
Raw materials and machinery taken
by the Germans were reckoned by
them in january, 1915, at fSO,OOO,OOO
($40O, ,O0O, ,OOO). The damage of Decem-
Der, 1914, estimated by the North Ger
man Gazette, amounted to f2OO,OOO,-
600 ($1,OOO OOOO,OOO). This makes a
grand total of 1884, 100000 ($1,921, ,0OO,-
OOO).
These items do not include material
destruction and reQuisitions since JAN
uary, 1915, which alone must be reck-
oned at several hundred million