The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1918-01-11

OF the peoples against whom the mill
tary leaders were anxious to wage
war. Not only were the Germans grad
ually led to believe that it was neces-
sary to fight defensive war against
unscrupulous foes, but also that these
foes would violate every precept Of HUI
mainly, and consequently must be
crushed without mercy as a measure
of self-defense. The fruits of this
campaign Of suspicion and hatred be-
came evident when almost at the out
break of the war many Germans be-
came possessed with the belief that
the whole population of Belgium, the
first country to be invaded, had vio-
lated every rule Of honorable warfare,
that the francs-tireurs (guerrillas)
were everywhere present doing their
deadly work in secrecy or under the
cover of darkness; that women and
even children were E1utilating and kill
ing the wounded or helpless prisoners.
Extract from letter written by a
German soldier to his brother. (This
letter now in the possession Of the
United States government, was obtain
ed for this pamphlet from Mr.. J. G.
Grew, formerly secretary to the United
States embassy at Berlin)
November 4, 1914
"The battles are everywhere ex-
tremely tenacious and bloody. The
Engi1shmen we hate most anG we want
to get even with them for once. While
one row and then sees French prison
ers, one hardly ever beholds French
black troops or Englishmen. These
coed people are not overlooked by our
infantrymen that sort of people is
moved down without mercy. The
losses Of the Englishmen must be enor-
nous. There is desire to wipe them
out, root and ALL
Urged to XIII Without Pity.
Extract from another letter to
brother:
schleswig, 25, Il fAug. %, 1919.
"Dear Brother, You viii
shortly go to Brussels with your regi-
ment, as you know. Take care to pro
tect yourself against these civilians,
especially in the villages. Do not lei
anyone come too near. They are very
gians; even the women and children
are armed and fire their guns. Never
go inside a house. especially alone.
II you take anything to drink make
the inhabitants drink first, and keep at
a distance from them. The newspa-
pers relate numerous cases in which
they have fired on our soldiers wh;lst
they were drinking. You soldiers must
spread around so much fear Of yonr-
selves that no civilian viii venture
TO come near you. Remain always in
| tho company of others. I hope that
you have read the newspapers and tha {
| YOU know how to behave. Above all
i have no compassion for these cut
threats. Make for them without pity
| with the hutt-end Of your rifle and the
| bayonet.
"Your brother, WILL"
The emperor gave his sanction to
the reports of the brutal acts Of The
Belsians in a telegram to President
| Wilson.
Berlin, via Copenhagen, Sept. Z, 1914
"I feel it my duty, Mr.. President
to inform you as the most prominen1
representative Of principles Of human
| ity, that after taking the French fort
ress of LOngWy, my troops discovered
there thousands Of dumdum cartridges
made by special government machin
ery. The same kind of ammunition
was found on killed and wounded
troops and prisoners, also on the Bit
ish troops You know what terrible
wounds and suffering these bullets in
| fict and that their use is strictly for
hidden by the established rules Of in
ternational law. / therefore address!
solemn protest to you against TIN:
kind Of warfare, which, owing to th'
methods Of our adversaries, has be
come one of the most barbarOus knew
in history. Not only nave they EN-
uloyed these atrocious weapons, bu
the Belgian government has openly en-
Outraged and long since carefully pre-
pared the participation Of the Belgian
civil population in the fighting. Tn
atrocities committed even by Wonlel
and priests in this guerrilla warfare
also on wounded soldiers, medical stat
and nurses, doctors killed, hospital
|
nv generals finally were compelled t.
take the most drastic measures in or
der to punish the guilty and to fright
en- the bloolthirsty population iron
| continuing their work Of vile nul'de
} end horror. Some villages and eve
the old town Of Loewen Nouvain)
excepting the fine hotel de vile, ha
TO be destroyed in self-defense, an
for the protection Of my troops. N
heart bleeds when I see that sue
measures have become unavoidable
and when think of the numerous iT
nncent people who lose their home an
property as consequence of the bal
harous behavior Of those criminal:
Signed. William. Emperor and King
GERARD, Berlin"
Iorenz Muller in the German Catf
| ,Ii. poyiouy Dor EpjS February 1871;