The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1918-01-10
BELGIANS FORCED
TO AID GERMANS
KsIser's Officers Showed Open
Disregard of Interna-
tional Law.
WoRKMEN SEIZED AS SLAVES
MereIer Moved to Bitter Con.
dennation Of Acts Of German Au-
thoritles Which Aroused Detes-
tatlon Of Christendom.

thoritles Which Aroused oetes-
tatlon Of christendom.
Contrary to rules laid down BY
the Hague convention, and all PriH-
1ples of civilized warfare, German
authorities forced Belgidns to Gid
them in the prosecution of the WGr.
The committee on public iHformG-
lion gives the facts concerning
these atrociolIs deeds in a pamphlet
recently made public. from which Ws
take the tOIloDing:
October -, 1915, the German author
tiles took long step in the develop
nent of their policy of forcing the Bel
CLANS to aid them in prosecuting the
war. The decree Of that date reveals
the matter and openly discloses a con-
tempt for international law.
"Article 1. Whoever, without reason,
refuses to undertake or to continue
WOIh W OCCupulAOls anu AA
the execution of which the military
administration Is interested, such work
Deing ordered by one or more of the
military commanders, will be liable to
Imprisonment not exceeding one year.
He may also be transported to Ger
many.
"In voking Belgian laws or even in
ternatlonal conventions to the con-
Tary, can, in no case, justify the re-
tusal TO work.
article 2. Any person who by force,
threats, persuasion, or other means
attempts to influence another to refuse
work as pointed out in Article l, Is
liable to the punishment Of imprison-
aent not exceeding five years.
"Article 3. Whoever knowingly by
means of aid given or In any other way
abets a punishable refusal to work,
will be liable to a maximum fine Of
10000 marks, and in addition may be
condemned to years Imprisonment.
"If cOmmunes or associations have
rendered themselves guilty Of such an
5ffense the heads of the cOmmunes will
De punished.
article 4. In addition to the penal
hes stated In Articles 1 and 3, the Ger
man authorities may, in case Of need,
impose on communes, where without
reason, work has been refused, fine
Or other coercive police measures.
"This present decree comes into
force Immediately.
"Der Etappeinspekteur,
won UNGER,
"Generalleutnant.
"Ghent, October 12, 1915"
"SIaVery," Said Cardinal MercIer.
Cardinal Mercier's brief comment is
as follows: "The injustice and arbl-
trariness of this decree exceed all that
:ould be imagined. Forced labor, col
Iective penalties and arbitrary punish
nents, all are there. 1t Is slavery, nei-
:her more nor less"
| Cardinal MERCER was in error, for
the German authorities were able to
imagine much more terrible measure.
In October, 1916, when the need for
an additional labor supply in Germany
had become urgent, the German gov
ernment established the system Of
forced labor and deportation which
1as aroused the detestation Of Chris
tendon. The reader will not be misIed
BY the clumsy effort of the German au-
thorities to mask the real purpose of
the decree.
II. People able to work may be
compelled to work even outside the
place where they live, in case they
have to apply to the charity of others
for the support of themselves or their
dependents on account of gambling,
drunkenness, loafing, unemployment or
.dleness.
"II. Every inhabitant of the country
Is bound to render assistance in case
i accident or general danger, and also
% give help in case Of public calami-
lies as far as he can, even outside the
place where he lives; in case of refu-
sal he may be compelled by force.
"IIT. Anyone called upon to work,
1nder Articles or II, who shall re-
work assigned him, will incur the pen
Atty of Imprisonment up to three years
and Of fine up to 10000 marks, or
one or other of these penalties, unless
1 severer penalty is provided for by
the laws in force.
IF the refusal to work has been
made in concert or in agreement with
several persons, each accOmplice will
be sentenced, as if he were a ring
leader, to at least a weeks impriSon-
nent.
"IV. The German military authori-
Hes and military courts will enforce
The proper execution of this decree.
THE QUARTERMASTER GEN
ERAL, SAUBERZWEIG
Great Headquarters. Sd October,
1916"
Military Rulers Responsible.
The responsibility for this atrOcious
program rests upon the military rulers
of Germany, who had labored so zeal
ously to infect the army and the
people with the principles of ruthless
ness. 1t is significant that the decree
Of October 8, 1916, followed hard upon
the elevation of Hindenburg to the su-
preme command with Ludendorf as his
chief Of staff. In his long report Of
January 16, 1917, Minister Whitlock
TRAIL OF RAPINE AND RUIN