Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-01-10

State Department Archives al
Washington Record the
Story Of Sissonne.
COMMUNE UNABLE TO PAY
Won suelow, on That Account, Threat
ened to Destroy Home OF Prince
Of Monaco, Who Appealed to
. PRECEDENT Wilson.

ened to Destroy Home Of Prince
Of Monaco, Who Appealed to
Presldent Wilson.
The universall, condemned Ger
man system Of edssssrting money from
captured comMaaities is shoaun b.
the folloaring documents published
By the committee on pablic informa.
hon:
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.
AGO appealed to President Wilson
against the injustice of fine imposed
upon a small and impoverished vii
lage. The following documents from
the state department archives tell the
story. They need no comments.
"Paris, Oct. q, 1914.
Secretary of State, Washington.
s.Prince of Monaco called this morn.
ing and asked that the following case
be submitted to the president:
s'Prince states that General vor
Buelow for weeks has been inhabitine
princes ancestral chateau neal
Reims, historic,l monument, contain.
ing works of art and family heir.
looms; that Vda Buelow has imposed
fine of 100000 francs on village OF
Sissonne some miles distant from chat
eau, because offbrolen glass found on
road near village. Sissonne being un
able alone to pay has raised with q
number Of other neighboring Villages
125,O00 francs. but Won Buelow has
sent two messengers from Sissonne to
prince that unless latter pays fine foI
Sissonne the chateau and adjoining vii.
lage, as we'll Us Sissonne, will be de.
strOyed on November list. 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 fresf
war Incidents. Prince now fearful
lest returning messengers, as well as
male esispIssess ON sss.ies
because OF refusal to pay.
II have arranged meeting this after.
noon between Spanish ambassador ai.,.
prince, to whom have suggested thai
matter be presented to German gov
ernment through Spanish ambassador
at Berlin inasmuch as princes threat.
ened property is In France.
.eIERRICK."
Won BueIow's Threat.
ITO the Mayor of the Commune Of
SissOnne.
ut has been conclusively proven
| that the road between Sissonne and the
railway station of Montaigu was, on
September 18th. strewn with broker
glass along a distance of one kilome.
ter and at.intervals of so meters, fol
the purpose, mo- doubt, of impeding
| automobile traffic.
II hold the commune of Sissonne
| responsible for this act of hostility
on the part of IT'S inhabitants, and
punish the said community by levyine
| upon 1t contribution of 100000
francs Give hundred Thousand
4 francs).
.sThis sum must be entirely paid
| into the treasury Of the Etape by Oc
tober 18th.
'sThe inspection of the Etape now
4 at Montcornet has been directed tt
enforce execution Of this order.
"The General Commander in Chief o1
| the Army,
1 won BUELOw."
i Protest of Prince Of Monaco.
i Monaco Oct, 22nd, 1914.
"Sire:
Il II forward to your majesty severa
i documents relating to very grave
and urgent matter.
"The General Won Buelow has caused
4 to be occupied since one month ant
a a half my residence of Marchais, sit
uated at five kilometers from the vii
, lage of Sissonne. The general has lev
led upon the i 800 inhabitants of thi'
poor ruined village a war contribution
Of $4,000 francs, of which they arr
unable to pay more than one-quar
ter. Moreover, he has sent to me tw'
u emissaries bearing q document II
which he threatens to destroy m,
property and the village of Marchais
4 over and above that Of Sissonne, in tn
event Of my not disbursing myself tn
sum in question before the end Of tn
month Of October.
"That is how Prussian genera
treats a reigning prince who for 4
years has. been friend to Germany
and who In all the countries OF tn
world Is surrounded with respect an
gratitude for his work.
.In reply to the summons of tn
|. General Won Buelow have given M
word of honor to complete the abov
contribution in order to avert hor
rible action accomplished in coll
blood, but adding that as sovereig
!, prince 1 submit this matter to tn
Judgment OF the emperor by declar
ing that the said sum shall be pai'
when the Chateau de Marchais vii
be free from the danger Of intentiona
destruction.
II am, with great respect, your ma
jesty's devoted servant and cousin,
"ALBERT, Prince Of Monaco"
Letter Addressed to Won Buelow.
Monaco, Oct. %. 1914.
& '.To avert from tho communsro q