The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-15
.BELGIANS FORCED
To AID GERMANS
Kaiser's Officers Showed Oper
Disregard of lnterna-
tional 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 contention, and all prin-
ciples Of ciuilized warfare, German
authorities forced Belgians to aid
them in the prosecution Of the 1rar.
The committee on public informo-
ton gjrcs the facts concerning
these atrocious deeds in a pdmphle
recently made public, from which a.
take the foUowing:
October y, 1915, the German author
tiles took a long step in the develop
ment of their policy of forcing the Be
gians to aid them in prosecuting tn
war. The decree Of that date revc;l~
the matter and openly discloses a con
tempt for international law.
Article !. Whoever, without reason
refuses TO undertake or to continu,
work suitable to his occupation. ana in
the execution of which the militar.
1 administration is interested, such worE
being ordered by one or more of the
Z llliillIN NbAliiilbli'lti VIII )C ilUlllt u
Imprisonment not exceeding one year
He may also be transported to Gcs
many.
| ''ln voking Belgian laws or even in
/ ternational conventions to the con
trary, can, in no case. justify the re
! fuSal to work.
article .. Any person who by force
| threats, persuasion, or other means
attempts to influence another to refuse
work as pointed out in Article l, 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
/ ahets n punishable refusal to work
will be liable TO q maximum fine Of
10000 marks, and in addition may he
condemned to Il 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 8, the Ger
| man authorities may, in case of need,
impose on communeS. where without
reason, work has been refused, a fine
or other coercive police measures.
This present decree comes into
force Immediately.
Der EtappcinspeEteur,
"VON TNGER,
"Generalleutnant.
| "Ghpnt. October 10 1918"
slavery" Said Cardinal MERCER
Cardinal Mercler's brief comment is
as follows: The injustice ard arbi-
trarineSs of this decree exceed all that
could be imagined Forced labor. col
lectiye penalties and arbitrary punish
ments. oil are there. 1t is slavery. nei-
Their 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.
Il. 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
| dprpn6nntc Of
drunkenness, loafing, unemployment or
ldleneSS.
III. Every inhabitant of the country
is bound to render assistance in case
of accident or general danger, and alst
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
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 fine up to 10000 marks, oil
| one or other of these penalties, unless
a severer penalty is provided for by
the laws in force.
IF the refusal to work has beer
! made in concert or in agreement witt
several persons, each accomplice viii
be sentenced, as if he were ring
! leader, to at least weeks imprison
ment.
! Nv. The German military authori
ties and military courts will enforc,
, the proper execution of this decree
THE QUARTERMASTER GEN
ERAL, SAUBERZWEIG.
Great Headquarters, Sd October
1916"
Military Rulers Responsible.
+ The responsibility for this atrociou
S program rests upon the military ruler
T. of Germany, who had labored so zeal
e ously to infect the army and tn
people with the principles of ruthless
= ness. 1t is significant that the deere
Of October 3, 1916, followed hard upbl
the elevation of Hindenburg to the su
Il prpmp command with udordorf saS Z, /;