The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-01-11
BELGIANS FORCED
TO AID GERMANS
Ksiser's Officers Showed Open
Disregard of lnterna-
ti0naI Law. -
WORKMEN SEIZED AS SLAVES
Cardinal Mercier Moved to Bitter Con.
demnation Of Acts Of German Au-
thorities Which Aroused Detes-
tation Of Christendom.


Contrary to rules laid down by
the Hague convention, and all prine-
ciples of civilized warfare, German
authorities forced Belgians to aid
them IN the prosecution of the ,car.
The committee on public tnforma-
ton gives the facts concerning
these atrocious deeds in pamphlet
recently made public, from ,ohich ne
take the following:
October II, 1915, the German author
tiles took long step in the develop
ment of their policy of forcing the Bel
CLANS to aid them in prosecuting the
war. The decree of that date reveals
the matter and openly disclOses 6 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
threats, persuasion, or other means
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 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 1 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 Etappeinspekteur,
''VON UNGER,
"Generalleutnant.
"Ghent October -, 1915"
"SIavery," Said Cardinal Mercfer.
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 MERCER 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
had become urgent, the German gov
eminent 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.
'II. 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-
| ties 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
! fuse the work, or to continue at the
work assigned him, will incur the pen
| atty of Imprisonment up to three years
and of fine up to 10000 marks, or
one or other of these penalties, unless
a severer penalty is provided for by
the laws in force.
eff 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
leader, to at least weeks imprison-
ment.
'IV. The German military authori.
ties and military courts will enforce
the proper execution of this decree
"THE QUARTERMASTER GEN.
| .ERAL, SAUBERZWEIG.
"Great Headquarters, Sd October
| 1916"
| Military Rulers Responsible.
The responsibility for this atrOcious
program rests upon the military rulers
of Germany, who had labored so zeal.
ously to infect the army and the
people with the principles of ruthless
ness. 1t is significant that the decree
of October 8, 1916, followed hard upon
the elevation of Hindenburg to the SUI
preme command with Ludendorf as his
chief of staff. In his long report of
January 16, 1917, Minister Whitlock
TRAIL OF RAPINE AND RUIN