The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-01-21


Belgian provinces, under the quasi
civil government of Governor General
Won Kissing. did not enter the occu-
pied territories until June, 1915, and
so, of course, saw none of the actual in
Vasion and overrunning of the land. II
saw only the graves of the massacred
and the ruins of their towns. But II
saw through the long, hard months
much too much for my peace of mind
of how the Germans treated the I'M
fortunates under their control after the
occupation.
Destruction Complete.
AS chief representative for the com
mission, 1t was my duty to cover this
whole territory repeatedly in long mo-
tor journeys in company with the Ger
man officer assigned for my protection
and for the protection of the German
army against any too much seeing. As
had opportunity also to cover most Of
Belgium in repeated trips from Brus-
sells into the various provinces, nee.
essarily had opportunity to compare
the destruction wrought in the two re-
gions.
Il could understand why certain
towns and villages along the Mouse and
along the lines of the French and Eng
lish retreat were badly shot to pieces.
There had been fighting in these towns
and the artillery of first one side and
then the other had worked their havoc
among the houses of the inhabitants
But there were many towns In which
there had been no fighting and yet all
too many Of these towns also were In
ruins. 1t was not ruin by shells, but
ruin by fire and explosions These
were the famous punished towns,
Either a citizen or perhaps two or
three citizens had fired from window
on the invaders-or were alleged to
have. Thereupon block, or two or
three blocks, or half the town was
methodically and effectively burned or
blown to pieces. There are many OF
these punished towns in occupied
France. And between these towns and
along the roadways are innumerable
isolated single farmhouses that are also
In ruins. 1t Is not claimed that there
was any sniping from these farm
houses. They were just destroyed along
the way-and by the way, one may
say. When the roll of destroyed vii
lagos and destroyed farmhcuses in oc-
| cupied France is made known. the
world will be shocked again by this evil
|dence of German thoroughness.
Found Neutrality Impossible.
"But the horrible methods of that
deportation were such that we, al
though trying TO hold steadfast to a
| rigorous neutrality, could not but pro.
test. Mr.. Gerard, our ambassador to
| Berlin, happened at the very time of
this protest to make a visit to the
/ great headquarters m the west and the
matter was brought to the attention
of certain high officers at headquarters
on the very day of Mr. Gerard's visit
and in his hearing. So that he added
his own protest to that of Mr. Poland
/ our director at the time, and further
/ deportahons we're stopped But ter.
rible mischief had already been done
Husbands and fathers had been taken
from their families without word OF
| 'good-by: sons and daughters on whom
] perhaps aged parents relied for sup
l port We're taken without pity or appar.
emf thought of the terrible conse-
/ quences. The great deportations OF
II Belgium have shocked the world But
these lesser deportations-tha Is
lesser in extent, but not less brutal in
their carrying out-are hardly known
Germany Must Be Civilized.
81 went into Belgium and occupied
France a neutral and I maintained
while there steadfastIy neutral be.
havior. But / came out no neutral.
cannot conceive that any American en-
joying an experience similar to mine
could have come out neutral. He
would come out, as came, with the
ineradicable conviction that a people
or a government which can do what the
Germans did and are doing in Belgium
and France today must not be allowed
If there is power on earth to prevent it
TO do this moment longer than can be
helped. And they must not be al
lowed ever to do it again.
Il went in also hater OF war, and
came out more ardent hater of war
But, also. came out with the ineradic
able conviction, again, that the only
/ xUav In which Garraan,v YtndoY. TIC nY.oe,