Williams news., 1918-03-14
HUNS" IMPOSED
 ABSURD FINES
State Department Archives at Washington Record the
 Story of Sissonne.
COMMUNE UNABLE TO PAY
Won Buelow, on That Account, Threat ened to Destroy Home of Prince of Monaco, Who Appealed to
 President Wilson.

The urivsrsally condemned Ger man system of srtorting money from captured con,nssnities is shovn by ths foIlowing doe@msnts published by ths consnaittes on public tnfornaa- tion:
 A striking illustration of the fierce brutality of German methods Is con- tained in the archives of the state de partment, because the prince of Mon- aco appealed to President Wilson against the injustice of a fine imposed upon a small and impoverished will lage. The following documents from the state department archives tell the story. They need no comments.
 Paris, Oct. 27, 1914. Secretary of State, Washington.
 Prince of Monaco called this morn ing and asked that the following case be submitted to the president:
 Prince states that General von Buelow for weeks has been inhabiting princes ancestral chateau near Reims, historical monument, contain ing works of art and family heir looms; that Won Buelow has imposed fine of 5O0OOO francs on village of Sissonne some miles distant from chat eau, because of broken glass found on road near village. Sissonne being un- able alone to pay has raised with a number of other neighboring villages 5000 francs, but Won Buelow has sent two messengers from Sissonne to prince that unless latter pays fine for hot cd infr vii lage, as well as Sissonne, will be de- stroyed on November 1st. Prince has answered refusing to pay sum now but willing to give his word to Ger man emperor that amount would be paid after removal of danger of fresh war incidents. Prince now fearful lest returning messengers, as well as male employees on his estate, be shot because of refusal to pay.
 "I have arranged meeting this after noon between Spanish ambassador and prince, to whom have suggested that matter be presented to German gov ernment through Spanish ambassador at Berlin inasmuch as princes threat ened property is in France.
 "HERRICK."
 Won BueIow's Threat '"To the Mayor Of the Commune of
 Sissonne.
 "It has been conclusively proven that the road between Sissonne and the railway station of Montaigu was, on September 18th, strewn with broken glass along a distance of one kilome- ter and at intervals of 50 meters, for the purpose, no doubt, of impeding automobile traffic.
 'I hold the commune of Sissonne responsible for this act of hostility on the part of it's inhabitants, and punish the said community by 1evying upon it a contribution of 5o0,OOO francs Give hundred thousand francs).
 'This sum must be entirely paid into the treasury of the Etape by Oc- tober 18th.
 "The inspection of the Etape now at Montcornet has been directed to enforce execution of this order. ssThe General Commander in Chief of the Army,
 "vON BUELOw."
 Protest of Prince of Monaco.
 Monaco, Oct, 22ud, 1914. "Sire:
 'I forward to your majesty several documents relating to a very grave and urgent matter.
 "The General von Buelow has caused to be occupied since one month and a half my residence of Marchais, sit uated at five kilometers from the will lage of Sissonne. The general has lev fed upon the 1,50O inhabitants of this poor ruined village a war contribution of 5OO,OO0 francs, of which they are unable to pay more than one-quar- ter. Moreover, he has sent to me two emissaries bearing a document in which he threatens to destroy my property and the village of Marchais, over and above that of Sissonne, in the event of my not disbursing myself the sum in question before the end of the month of October.
 "That Is how a Prussian general treats a reigning prince who for 45 years has been a friend to Germany, and who in all the countries of the world is surrounded with respect and gratitude for his work.
 "In reply to the summons of the General von Buelow I have given my word of honor to complete the above contribution in order to avert a hor-
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