The Elbert County tribune., 1918-01-04
BELGIANS FORCED
TO. AID GERMANS
Ksiser's Officers Showed Open
Disregard of Interna-
tionaI Law.
WORKMEN SEIZED AS SLAVES
Cardinal Mereier Moved to Bitter Con-
demnation Of Acts Of German Az
thorities Which Aroused Detes-
tation Of Christendom.

tation Of christendom.
Contrary TO rules laid down by
the Hague convention. and all prin-
ciples of civilized warfare. German
authorities forced Bslgians TO aid
them in the prosecution OF the war.
The committee on public informa-
ton gipes the facts concerning
these atrocious deeds in a pamphlet
recently made public. from which TOE
take the followtng:
October II, 1915, the German author
tiles took a long step in the develop
ment of their policy of forcing the Bel
gians to aid them In prosecuting the
war. The decree of that date reveals
the matter and openly discloses con-
tempt for international law.
Article 1. Whoever, without reason,
refuses to undertake or to 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 not exceeding one year.
He may also be transported to Ger
many.
''In voking Belgian laws or even In
ternational conventions to the con-
trary, can, in no case, justify the re-
fusal to work.
Article 2. Any person who by force,
oil or
attempts to influence another to refuse
work as pointed out in Article 1, 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 a punishable refusal to work,
will be liable to a maximum fine of
10000 marks, and in addition may be
condemned to 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 Etappelnspekteur,
"VON UNGER,
"Generalleutnant
"Ghent, October II, 1915"
Slavery" Ssid 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
lective penalties and arbitrary punish
ments, all are there. 1t 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, 1915, when the need for
an additional labor supply in Germany
had 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 misIed
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
ldleness.
nj ,f ho
Is bound to render assistance in case
Of accident or general danger, and also
to give help in case Of public calnmi-
ties as far as he can, even outside the
place where he lives; in case of refu-
sal he may be compelled by force.
all. 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
and of n fine up to 10000 marks, or
one or other of these penalties. unless
severer penalty is provided for by
the laws in force.
"If the refusal TO work has been
made in concert or in agreement with
several persons, each accomplice will
be sentenced, as If he were a ring
lender, to at least u weeks imprison-
ment.
"Iv. The German military authorl-
ties and military courts will enforce
the proper execution Of this decree.
1.-THE QUARTERMASTER GEN
ERAL. SAUBERz\NEIG.
"Great Headquarters. Sd October,
1885,
Military Rulers Responsible.
The responsibility for this atrocious
program rests upon the military rulers