The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1918-05-09

Germany. VINO signed the conventions
of the second peace conference Mt The
Hague, 1907, pledged themselvo the
following:
article l.. No general penalty, pc
cuniary or otherwise, shall he inflicted
upon the population on account of the
acts of individuals for which they can
not be regarded as Jointly and several
ly Responsible
"Article LII. acquisitions In kind
and services shall not be demanded
from municipalities OF inhabitants ex-
cept for the needs of the army of &C.
cupation. They shall be in proportion
to the resources of the country. and of
such 4 nature as not To involve the i'll
habitants in the obligation of taking
part in military operations against
their own country
The German authorities have violat
cd these articles from the very begin
ming. As soon as they invaded Bel
GUM. heavy fines We're laid upon indi-
vidual communities as repris;tls for
its regulations which MAS committed
within their boundaries. In AN APP
peal to Truth Cardinal MERCER cites
the following eases:
"3Ialines, woriing-cluss town,
without resources. has had IL fine of
10000 marks inflicted on it because
the burgouiaster did not inform the
military authority of Il journey which
the cardinal, deprived of the use of mis-
motorcar, had been obliged to make
ON foot, In fact, upon The ilimsiest
pretcXts heavy fines are inflicted ON
Communes. The commune Of l'uerS
WAS subjected to Il fine Of 5000 marks
because a telegraph wire was broken,
although the inquiry showed thar it
had given way through wear
Mcrc.less Exactions.
In addition ia such arbitrary,
sporadic eNuctiouS, in December. 1911,
the Germans demanded 40,0O0,ooO
francs ($&u0o,G0D) month to be
paid h. the belgian provinces jointly.
Concerning this enormous imposition
Cardinal MERCER says. i'll the Appeal
to Truth
"Now, in December, 1911, Belgium
was devastated. Contributions of war
! imposed on The towns and innumerable
acquisitions in kind had exhausted her.
The greater part of the factories We're
idle. and in those which were still at
Work. raw materials were, contrary to
all law, being ely Communicated.
ut was on this impoverished Bel
GUM. living on foreign charity, that =
contribution oi nearly 50aGu0,G0O
francs was imposed
The German military rules have also
made he families responsible for acts
committed by or charged against mem
bers as is shown in tie following eX-
alnples. Which are quoted rom the
appeal IL Truth. cited above:
The Belgian government have sent
! orders to rejoin the army to the mi
Iftianen Of several Glasses. Ali
those who receive these orders are
strictly forbidden TO act upon them.
In case of diSobedience the
family of the militiaman will be held
equally Responsible.
Punishment "Without Mercy"
The commander in chief of the Ger
man army III Belgium posted procla-
nation declaring:
THE village, here aet> OF hostility
shall be committed by HE Inhabitants
against cur troops will he burned.
For all destruction Of roads, rail-
ways, bridges. etc, the villages in the
nai9hborhuod of the destruction will
bn held responsible.
The punisllnents announced above
/ will he carried out severely and with
/ out mercy The Whole community
will be held responbic. Hostages
viii be taken in large numbers. The
heaviest war taxes will be levicd.'
/ AT the end of the APPEAL to Truth
| Cardinal MERCER says:
"Dut We cannot say all here, nor
| tIuote al.
! If, however, our readers wish for
| he proof OF the accusations
; we shall be glad 10 furnish them.
! There is net in our letter, nor i'll the
! four anovXes Ito the Appeal t"
i TRUTH, one allegation OF y !lich we
! nave r,d The proofs il oul records"