New-York tribune., 1918-05-09
Y. $. Force in Neutrals Told
Picardy Grows To Beware of
Bigger Daily Belgians' Fate
Menaced With Frightful-
nessif They Enter War
Against Teutons

WASHINGTON, May 8. = Teutonic
frightfulness as practised in France
and Belgium has been made the SUBJ
ject OF German warning to neutral
nations of the fate which they may
expect if they take up arms against the
Central Powers.
"1f there are any still thinking of
siding with the Allies, let them take
warning from the fate of Others" says
the warning. 1t is in the form of a
circular, which recites the amount of
booty seized in France and Belgium,
the number of churches damaged and
destroyed, the money wrung from the
stricken inhabitants and, finally, the de-
liberate mistreatment Of English pris-
oners of war.
German propagandists have flooded
Spain with this document printed in
Spanish, and copies have come into
the possession of the State Depart
ment.
Germany's Loot
Having established it's German origin,
the department tonight made public
this translation:
Besides an untold amount of war
material captured on the battlefield,
the Germans have taken possession Of
incalculable booty in France and Bel
gium, including:
High grade watches, AT.
Average watches, 5,016.
Underwear, 18,076.
"Embroideries and women's hand
kerchiefs, 1912.
Umbrellas and parasols, 3,7O5.
Silver spoons, 1875.
Bottles OF champagne, 523 900.
These figures show large increase
over those of the campaign against
France in 1870-71.
"In Belgium, besides many art treas
ures, they have confiscated old paint
ings valued at 100000 pesetas.
due to the treachery of Cardinal
Mercier and other priests, who did
their utmost to stir the priests against
the goodhearted German soldiers, they
We're forced to teach a severe lesson
to the Belgian and French Catholics.
"Cathedrals destroyed, f.
Rendered unserviceable, 8.
Churches destroyed, 27.
Rendered unserviceable, "a.
"Total. 73.
Destruction in Poland
"ln Poland also large number of
churches have been destroyed for mill
tary reasons. The figures concerning
these have not yet been published.
AS as result of the stupid stubborn
ness Of the Belgian people in continu-
ing the struggle after their bloody and
hnal defeat on the battlefield the Ger
man officers were forced against their
will to impose punishments on MANY
rich individuals and wealthy cities.
This has contributed the following
amounts to the German Treasury:
"Punishments, $1,000 900 pesetas.
Security, 13,000,500 pesetas.
"Reprisals, 16,750,OCO pesetas.
Forced contributions, 4,320,850 Pc
setas.
27o)." >@-'''
Says Colonies Will Be Returned
In connection with claims of the ex-
tent of territory occupied by German
troops the following footnote appears:
when it is held that the Germans
have occupied no English territory and
that. on the contrary, they have lost
all their African colonies, amounting
to some 100000 square kilometres. It
must be remembered that the English,
according to the declaration of their
are not intending to secure
oA'y SneShoiOh VI the DTltlSn Empire,
that they have entered the struggle
with only the aim of Helping the Bel
gians. That is to say, the English have
practically pledged themselves to re-
turn the German colonies after the war
IN exchange for the evacuation and in
Identification of Belgium. The Ger
mans. therefore, are to recover all that
they have lost in Africa"
1t is claimed in this document that
more than $4,000 British have been
made prisoners, and in this connection
the following statement is made:
Although to these figures the Eng
lish oppose 124,806 German prisoners
taken by them on the western front. it
must be remembered the English treat
their prisoners with notable kindness
tblandura notoria), while the regime
imposed on the English prisoners BIZ
the Germans is one of extreme rigor.
SO that the Germans, with q small
number of prisoners, have secured
much superior moral effect. Besides.
to the 1894 officers and 51.325
soldiers, must be added the several
thousand English prisoners that have
died in consequence Of disease. scanty
food and other accidents in German
camps"
The figures regarding British pris-
oners, it is explained, refer to the
total prior to the recent drive in
Picardy and Flanders.