Gunnison news-champion., 1918-08-16
3ELGIANS FORCED
TO AID GERMANS
Kaiser's Officers Showed Open
Disregard Of Interna-
tionai Law.
WoRKMEN SEIZED AS SLAVES
Cardinal mereier Moved TO Bitter Con-
cemnation Of Acts Of German Au-
thori;ies Which Aroused oetes-
.ation Of ChFistendom.

Contrdry TO rules laid dorm BY
the Hague contention, and all prin-
eiples of ciuilized pdrfdrs. German
authorities forced Bslgians to aid
them in the prosecution of the rar.
The committee on public informa-
ton giUes the facts concerning
these dfroeiOus deeds in pdmphle:
recently made public. from which re
t1l-e the foHowiHe:
October II 1918. the German author
tiles took a long step in the develop
meut of their policy Of forcing the Bel
giDns to aid them in prosecuting the
war. The decree Of that date reveals
tna matter and openly discloses a con-
tempt for international law
Article /. Whoever, without reason,
refuses to undertake or 10 continue
work suitable TO his occupation. and In
the execution of which the military
administration is interested, such work
being ordered by one or more OF the
military commanders, Will be liable TO
Imprisonment net exceeding one year.
He may also be transported to Ger
many.
"In yokinc Belgian laws or even in
ternntinnal conventions to the con-
lrary. can. in no case, Justify the re-
fusal to work.
Article .. 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 imprison-
ment not exceeding five years.
Article 3. Whoever knowingly by
means Of aid given or In any other way
abets punishable refusal TO work.
will be liable to maximum fine OF
10000 marks. and in addition may be
condemned to "A years Imprisonment
"If communes or associations have
rendered themselves guilty of such an
offense the heads OF the communes will
be punished.
Article 4. In addition to the penal
ties stated In Articles and 3, the Ger
man authorities may. in case Of need.
impose on communes. where without
reason. work has been refused. fine
or other coercive police measures.
.This present decree comes into
force Immediately.
Der Etnppeinspekteur,
"yON UNGER,
"Generalleutnant.
"Ghent, October II, 1915"
"siavery," Said Cardinal Mercier.
Cardinal Mercier's brief comment is
as follows: The injustice and arbi-
trariness of this decree exceed all that
could be imagined. Forced labor. col
iective penalties and arbitrary punish
ments all are there. II is slavery, nei-
ther more nor less"
Cardinal Mercier was in error, for
the German authorities were able to
Imagine much more terrible measure.
In October, 1916, when the need for
an additional labor supply In Germany
hnd become urgent, the German gov
ernment established the system of
forced labor and deportation which
has aroused the detestation of Chris
tendon. The reader will not be misled
by the clumsy effort of the German au-
thorities to mask the real purpose Of
the decree.
II. People able TO work may be
compelled to work even outside the
place where they live, in case they
have to apply to the charity Of others
for the support of themselves or their
dependents on account OF gambling
drunkenness, loafing, unemployment or
idleness.
III. Every inhabitant OF the country
is bound to render assistance In case
Of accident or general danger. and also
to give help In case of public calami-
lies as far as he can. even outside the
place where he lives: in case Of refu-
sal he may be compelled by force.
iii. Anyone called upon to work.
under Articles / or II. who shall re-
fuse the work. or to continue at the
work assigned him, will incur the pen
Atty Of Imprisonment up to three years
md Of fine up to 10000 marks. or
one or other OF these penalties. unless
severer penalty is provided for by
the laws in force.
III the refuSai TO work mas Deen
made In concert or in agreement with
several persons, each accomplice will
be sentenced, as IL he were ring
lender, to at least a weeks imprison-
nent.
Nv. The German military authori-
les and military courts will enforce
he proper execution of this decree
THE QUARTERMASTER GEN
EEAL, SAUBERZWEIG.
Great Headquarters. Sd October.
1915"
Military Rulers Hesponsibss.
The responsibility for this atr0cious
program rests upon the military rulers
If Germany, who had labored so zeal
,usly to infect the army and the
people with the principles Of ruthless
uess. 1t is significant that the decree
q