The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-04-26
WHAT GERMAN RULE
MEANS TO A
CONQUEREDLAND
Systematic Exploitation Of Belgium
Under the Rathenau Plan.

Germans under the so-calieu halhe-
nan Man" is re valel for the FIST time
to the American people IN the latest
Of the Committee OH Pubic
Information, issued today, entitled
"Gcrnan Treatment of Conn lefs ! Ter
r.tory." it is based upon unpublished
renorts' to our department Il state,
sud other sources as yet little known
in this cou. try, and presents an appah.
ing record of calculates German greed
and brutality. Much Of tae most aamn
ing evidence is derived from the OH
eial orders and other utterances OF the
Germans themselves.
The Rathenbau plan was SUGGESTED
early in August, 1914, by Or. Waiter
Rathenbau, president of the General
Electric Company of Germany. 1t
consists essentially in the formation,
under his direction, of bureau 70
procure unfailing supply of essential
raw materials for the war, such as
rubber, saltpetre, metals, etc, both by
purchase in neutral markets and by
seizure in occupied territories. Se-
cret,y mere dastardly purpose was
ursued. THE plan aimed not merely
at making war support war by con-
tributions and Iequisition. forced from
the conquered peoples. 1t also sought
to DESTROY the industries among the
subject peoples so that it might not
he possible to build them up again for
some years, if at all. In the mean
time, the German authorities counted
upon their ability to capture the mar.
kets of the world for their own wares.
AS an example of the deliberate
crushing of Belgian competition, the
case of the glass industry is cited.
This was one of the most fiourishing
industries Belgium before the war,
and German glass manufacturers could
not compete with it in the export trade
In the words of the head of the Ger
man organization of glass manufac-
turers. at became vital to the Ger
man manufacturers of glassware that
the Belgian manufacturers should be
stopped from going to neutral mar
kets" Accordingly, the German adj
ministration in Belgium was appealed
to. and it promulgated IAN order stop
ping importation, transit, and exporta-
ton" of these goods. Seizure OF Bel
gian trade secrets was another fea-
ture Of this typically German plan,
The extent to which Belgium has
been dens9ed of its s%gffa this fis k..s..'ss.
plan is almost unbelievable. "All
crude materials indispensable for Bel
gian industries" reported BriandWhit-
lock, our minister to Belgium, as ear
! ly as August 2, 1915, were acquisitions
ed and sent to Germany-leather,
hides, copper, wool, flax, etc. Further
more, if not the entire stock, at least
the greatest number possible Of ma
chinery parts were shipped to Germa-
ny, to be used, according to German
statements, in making munitions which
Belgian factories had refused to pro-
duce." Belgian draft horses, the best
in the world, were seized and sent to
Germany to be sold to German farm
ers. A long list compiled from the
German official ordinances is given Of
| the articles ordered seized in Belgium
1t comprises some 800 separate items,
listed under such headings as minerals
and metals, chemicals, machinery, food
clothing, textiles, household articles,
old material, oils and explosives, metal
products for industrial establishments,
medical supplies, etc. The articles
range from tungsten steel to ground
Stag, from electric condensers and con-
ductors to printers slugs and matrices,
from all grains for breadmaking to oat
straw, from bath tubs to stair carpet
rods and door knobs, from old rags to
the skins, horns, feet, bones and car
casses Of horses, calve, goats, rabbits
and dogs. Nothing apparently is over
overlooked or forgotten in this ruth
less robbery of the quivering victim.
1t is German efficiency joined to Ger
man unscrupulousness and disregard
Of all rights on the part of those not
able to defend themselves.
Other chapters in this publication,
which may be obtained free by writing
to Jackson Place, Washington, d. c.,
are devoted to pillage and arson as
practiced by German officers and
troops; to the deliberate burning of
the rich city of Louvain, on the false
charge that the citizens had fired on
German troops; and to the wanton de-
struction of houses, orchards, and ev-
cry work Of man carried out lastspring
in northern France when Hindenburg
was forced to fall back from the re-
gion Of the Somme.
Professor Dana C. Munro, of Prince
ton University, is the compiler, assist
ed by George c. Sellery, of the Univer-
sity of Wisconsin, and August C. Krey
of he University Of Minnesota. The
pamphlet is part two of German War
Practices" the first part Of which, by
the same authors, was issued several
months ago.
"In some respects the material in
this part, write the authors in the in
production, (which deals with the treat
ment Of conquered territory, seems at
first of less brutal and revolving
character, as injury to properly is al
4ssa Sc lo.c .o,.so..... a.. j.