The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-12-05
Urged That Inhuman Deporta.
tons Be Stopped Because Of
Effect on Neutrals.
IGERARD SUMS UP SITUATION
VIII Stop at Nothing, and
the Only Thing They Respect 10
FORCE" - Huns Capacity for
Cruelty Told by WhltIock.

.by the whole World over the ruthless
|deportations of the people IN Bel
and France, socialist deputies
in the reichstag protested against
the continuance of the practice. Am
bassddor Gerard's evidence shows the
erfent of the horror.
In the N~orddeutsche Allgemeine
Zeltung of December 2, 1916, the fol-
lowing protests against the deporta-
ton of Belgians to work in Germans
appeared. made. respectively, by So
cialist Deputy Haase and Deputy Dit
mann. members of the reichstag:
Thousands of workmen in the oc-
cupied territory have been compelled
to forced labor: we earnestly ask the
government to restore to these work
men their liberty, especially in Bel
GUM. In truth, we (the Germans) find
no sympathy in neutral countries even
the pope has made a protest against
this procedure, and several neutral
:tates have done the same. Common
sense itself demands that we abandon
this procedure which moreover Is in
opposition to the Hague convention to
which we have agreed"
I'm opposition to the secretary Of
state. I must recall that when former
~ the Belgian workmen who had fled
to Holland returned to Belgium. Gov
crnor General Won BissingSpromised
that these Belgian workmen would I'M
der no circumstances be deported to
Germany. This reassuring promise
has not been kept"
Ambassador Gerard's interesting tes-
timony appears in his recent book:
Ambassador Gerard's Evidence.
me president during my visit to
America In 1916) impressed upon me
ms great interest In the Belgians de
ported to Germany. The action Of Ger
many In thus carrying a great part Of
the male population Of Belgium into
virtual slavery had reused great indig-
nation in America. AS the revered
Cardinal Farley said to me a few days
before my departure. You have to go
hack TO the times of the Modes and
the Persians to find a like example of
a whole people carried into bondage
"Mr. Grew had made representations
about this to the chancellor and, on my
return. 1 Immediately took up the
question.
II was Informed that II was a mill
tary measure. that Ludendorf had
feared that the British would break
through and Overrun Belgium and that
the military did not propose to have a
hostile population at their backs who
might cut the rail lines of communi'
cation, telephones and telegraphs, and
that for this reason the deportation
had been decided on. l was. however,
told l would be given permission to
visit these Belgians. The passes. new
ertheless. which alone made such visit
ing possible were not delivered until a
few days before I left Germany.
Belgians Forced to Make Munitions.
Several Of these Belgians who were
put to work in Berlin managed to get
away and come to see me. They gave
me a narrowing account Of how they
had been seized in Belgium and made
to work in Germany at making muni-
tons to be used probably against their
own friends.
II said to the chancellor, There are
Belgians employed in making shells
contrary to all rules Of war and the
Hague conventions He said, 4 do
not believe It, I said, My automobile
is at the door. I can take you, in four
minutes, to where 30 Belgians are
working on the manufacture Of shells
But he did not find time to 60.
Americans must understand that
the Germans will stop at nothing to
win this war, and that the only thing
they respect is force."-James w. &C.
rard. My -Four Years In Germany, 1917,
PIP. 3951-52.
A similar point Of view is expressed
in an article entitled "vae victis'
from the Hungarian newspaper News
zawa of Budapest Quoted in X. @. o.
siannilsson, M~ilitarism at Work in Bel
GUM and Germany. 1917. PIP. 53-54.)
Mixed Hungarian Opinion.
Mechanical skill, and especially
qualified mechanical skill, Is for the
moment a more important factor than
usual, and as 1t must be obtained
where It can be obtained. Belgium has
had to suffer In accordance with the
told saying which always holds good:
Vac victiS (woe to the vanquished).
In Poland mechanical skill and the
ARMS which exist there are modified
under the glorious and fortunate ban
Fners of Poland : In Belgium under the
tanner Of necessity"
So. The question remains: for
what kind Of work will the Germans
use the Belgians? . every kind of
work In Germany is wal work, wheth-
or 1t is called agricultural or indus
trial work. AS the deported Belgians
have not given their consent, their use
Is contrary to international law, and
the policy Of the Germans in Belgium
and Poland Is equally to be deplored.
Instead of aiming at bringing us near
or peace, It serves to embitter. our op-
ponents and to ous more hatred to-