The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-04-26
LOOTING OF
FRENCH HOMES
Germans Arc Carrying Away An
tiquities and Objects Of Art
From Conquered
Territory.

| [By Henry Wood. United Press Cor
] respondent
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES,
i March II. (By mail.)-Germany's lat
est spoliation Of Alsace,Lorraine con-
sists of the carrying away from the
latter Of all the old antiquities ana
objects Of art on which the Two
provinces for centuries past have
! been unusually rich.
| The exodus of all these objects,
many of priceless historic and artistic
worth, across the borders Of sthe two
provinces and over into the big Ger
man cities would appear to consu-
tute Germany's final effort to squeeze
out Of Alsace and Lorraine the last
thing of value while she still has II
within her power to do so.
During the seventeenth century
Alsace and Lorraine became very
much center for various lines OF
art and especially for the making or
the various styles of furniture which
have since won for themselves fixed
places in the history and develop
ment of artistic furnishings. Because
Alsace and Lorraine was the center
of the various trades, art crafts, and
manufacturers that were employed
in the production Of these historic
styles OF furniture, thousands OF the
best pieces remained In the two prov
inces where they became heirlooms
in the native families.
1t is largely this class of art OBJ
iects that the Germans are now
searching out and carrying off to
Berlin, Munich and other German CEN
tiers. Owing to the fact that the Ger
man authorities are now forcing the
liquidation and sale Of all homes and
other properties owned by French
citizens and often of Alsacians guilty
only of French sympathies, thous-
ands of these old pieces of furniture
are being thrown onto the market In
manner that enables the German
antiquarians to buy them at nominal
figures. In. other instances, the
antiquarians search out families that
have been impoverished by the war
and induce them to part for little
ready money with objects Of the
greatest artistic value.
This exploitation of the two prov
inces by German antiquity dealers ap-
pears to have reached such a proper
ton that even the German press,
notably the ''Kleine Press of Frank
fort, have printed articles pointing
out the Ubiquitous practice. The
"Hagenauer Zeitung" also details the
scandal in the following manner:
1.-The lovers of the art objects and
antiquities of Alsace are becoming
alarmed over the fate Of all the beau
tiful and precious art treasures that
are now actually leaving the country.
From all parts of the German en-
pire antiquarians are now arriving
and gaining possession OF hidden
treasures from the very bottom Of the
two frontier provinces for the pur-
pose Of reselling them at fabulous
prices to their clients at Berlin.
Munich and elsewhere.
1.-The hour is propicious for such
purchases. Numerous auction sales
and foreclosures offer favorable oc-
casions for the acquisition OF objects
of real style. Many small middle
class families Of the villages have
need of money, and without too much
insistence will give up bureau OF
the Louis Sixteenth style which has
come down to them from grand
mother and which is finished in strips
of brass engraved by hand. With
the money which they receive they
can procure other articles less indis-
pensable.
'In the seventeenth century the
art crafts were very flourishing in
Alsace. The house furnishing which