The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-02-19
Use of Civilians as Hostages and
for Screens Part of
Devilish System.
FIRST MADE USE OF IN 1870
At That Time II Was Condemned by
the Civilized World, but the Ger
man Military Leaders Have
Never Abandoned IL.

German armies through Belgium
vas marked by nlaSsacres and cru
elites almost beyond belief is giUen
in document made public By the
committee on public information,
from Which the following IS taken:
The massacres in Belgium and
northern France were a part of the
German system of frightfulness. An
ether feature of this system was the
use of civilians as hostages and for
screens.
In discussing the use of hostages the
German War Book (Kriegsbrauch i'm
Landkriege) says:
"By hostages are understood those
persons who, as security or bail for
the fulfillment of treaties, promises, or
other claims, are taken or detained by
the opposing state or its army. Their
provision has been less usual in re-
cent wars. as result of which some
professors of the law of nations have
wrongly decided that the taking of
hostages has disappeared from the
practice of civilized nations.
"a new application of hostage right
was practiced by the German staff in
the war of 1870. when it compelled
leading citizens from French towns
and villages to accompany trains and
locomotives in order to protect the
railway communications which were
threatened by the people. Since the
lives Of peaceable inhabitants were,
without any fault on their part. there
by exposed to grave danger, every
writer outside Germany has stigma
fized this measure as contrary to the
law of nations and as unjustified to-
wards the inhabitants of the country"
Chung to Frightfulness.
Although their deeds in the Franco
Prussian war had been universally
condemned, as they themselves admit
ted, the leaders did not intend to
abandon such a useful measure of
frightfulness. In L'Interprete Mill
taire the forms were provided for such
acts in the next war. Both in Belgium
and in France the Germans have con-
stantly used hostages. The evidence
is contained in the proclamations of
the governing authorities and also In
the diaries of the German soldiers. A
few examples from these will Illus
trate the system which was employed.
A specimen of the arbitrariness and
cruelty is furnished by the proclama-
don of Major Dieckmann, from which
the following sections are presented !:
"After a. m. on the 7th Septem-
Ser, ] win permit the houses in Beyne-
Heusay, Grlvegnee, and Bois-de-Breux
70 be inhabited by the persons who
lived in them formerly, as long as
these persons are not forbidden to fire.
quent these localities by official pro.
hibition.
Prominent People Hostages.
''In order to be sure that the above
mentioned permit will not be abused
the burgomasters of Beyne-Heusay and
of Grivegnee must Immediately pre-
pare lists of prominent persons who
will be held as hostages for "a hours
each at Fort Fleron. September 6
1914, for the first time (the period OF
detention shall bel from p. m. unit
September z at midday.
1.-The life of these hostages depends
on the population Of the above-men
tfOned communes remaining quiet un
der all circumstances
"During the night 1t is severely for
hidden to show any luminous signals
Bicycles are permitted only between
a. m. and p. m. German time).
"From the list which is submitted e
me ! shall designate prominent per
sons who shall be hostages from moor
of one day until the following midday
II the substitute is not there in du
time, the hostage must remain anOth
er "a hours at the fort. After thes
"a hours the hostage will incur tn
penalty Of DEATH If the substitute fail
10 appear
"Priests. burgomasters. and the 9th
er members Of the council are to b
taken first as hostages
81 insist that all civilians who NOV
about in my district shov
their respect to the German officers b.
taking Off their hats. or lifting thei
hands to their heads in military salute
In case of doubt. every German sol
der must be saluted. Anyone VIII
does not do this must expect the Ger
man military to make themselves re
spected by every means"
Hold Small Nations Have No Right:
1.-THE fate that Belgium has Gale
down upon herself is hard for the IN
dividual, but not too hard for this pC
litical structure (Staatsgebilde), 70
the destinies of the immortal great ma
tions stand so high that they canno
but have the right, in case of need,
stride over existence that cannot do
fend themselves, but live, as parasites
upon the rivalries Of the great."-Pro
II. Oncken, in Suddeutsche Monatshef
(South German Monthly)
Would they have dared to defen
such a policy if they could have see
the announcement sent out by the pal
ish Of st. Hadelin with its silent elC
quence7