The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-01-23
SOCIALISTS SAW
GERMANY's ERROR
Stopped Because of the Effect
on Eeutrals

UY bfto E0ftDtb NDI W 0bo3 StSO 1LL1k@eo
deportations of the people IN Bel
GUM and France, sociqlist deputies
IN the reicbstag protested against
the continuance of the practice. An1-
5aesador Gerard,s evidence shows the
extent of the horror.
In the Norddeutscne Allgemeine
Zeitung Of December 2, 1916, the fol-
lowing protests against the deporta
uon of Be1gians to work in Germany
appeared, made. respectively, by So
ecialist Deputy Haase and Deputy Dit
mann. members of the reichstag:
thousands Of workmen in the oc-
eupied territory have been compelled
TO forced labor; we earnestly ask the
government. to restore to these work
men their IiieYfy, especially in Bel
GUM. Ia truth, we 1.-THE Germansl ind
no sympatEly In neutral countries even
the pope has made a protest against
| this procedure, and several neutral
Gtates have done the same Common
sense itself demands that we abandon
this procedure which moreover is in
opposition TO the Hague convention to
which we have agreed
"In opposition TO the secretary OF
state, / must recall that when former
| ~ the Belgian workmen who had fed
TO Holland returned to Belgium, Gov
ernor General Won Kissing promised
that these Belgian workmen would I'M
der no circumstances be deported TO
Germany. This reassuring promise
has not been kept
/ Ambassador Gerard's interesting tes-
timony appears in his recent book:
! Ambassador Gerard's Evidence.
Ine president during my visit to
America in 1870 impressed upon me
MS great interest in the Belgians de-
ported to Germany The action of Ger
many in thus carrying great part Of
the male population of Belgium into
virtual slavery had reused great indig-
nation in America As the revered
Cardinal Farley said to me few days
before my departure. You have to go
back to the times of the Modes and
the Persians to find like example OF
a whole people carried into bondage
Mr.. Grew had made representations
about this to the chancellor and. on my
return. Immediately took up the
question.
/ II was informed that it was a milf
tary measure. that Ludendorf had
/ feared that the British would break
through and Overrun Belgium and that
the military did not propose to have
hostile population at their backs who
might cut the rail lines of communi-
cation, telephones and telegraphs, and
that for this reason the deportation
had been decided on was, however,
told I would be given permission to
visit these Belgians The passes, new
ertheless, which alone made such visit
ing possible were not delivered until
few days before left Germany.
/ BeIeians Forced to Make Munitions.
Several of these Belgians who were
put to work in Berlin managed to get
away and come to see me. They gave
me narrowing account of how they
had been seized in Belgium and made
to work In Germany at making muni
tons to be used probably against their
own friends.
II said to the chancellor, There are
Belgians employed In making shells
contrary TO all rules of war and the
Hague conventions. He said, I do
not believe it. said, My automobile
Is at the door. can take you, In four
minutes, to where 80 Belgians are
i working ON the manufacture of shells
But he did not find time to go.
Americans must understand that
+ he fNrp. n&N
win this war, and that the only thing
they respect is force. flames W. Ge-
rard. My -Four Years in Germany, 1917,
PIP. 3951-52.
j A similar point of view is expressed
in an article entitled 'sVae Yictfs"
from the Hungarian newspaper News
zawa of Budapest QUOTED in K G. Os-
sfannilsson. Militarism ut Work in Bel
1 GUM and Germany. 1917, pp. 53-54.)
Mixed Hungarian Opinion.
Mechanical Skill and especially
qualified mechanical skill, is for the
moment more important factor than
usual, and as 1t must be obtained
where it can be obtained, Belgium has
had to suffer IN accordance with the
old saying which always holds good
Vac victis fwoe to the vanquished).
In Poland mechanical skill and the
arms which exist there are modified
under the glorious and fortunate ban
ners of Poland:' in Belgium under the
banner of necessity
- The question remains: for
what kind of work win the Germans
use the Belgians? -. every kind of
work in Germany Is war work, wheth-.
er 1t is called agricultural or indus
trial work. As the deported Belgians
have not given their consent, their use
is contrary to international law. and
the policy OF the Germans in Belgium
and Poland is equally to be deplored.
Instead of aiming at bringing us near
er peace, 1t serves TO embitter our OPP
ponenfs and TO arouse more hatred to-