The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-05-16
PLEA FOR WOMEN VICTIMS OF
Huns
Five Million Americans Ask That
They he Regarded rs Wounded in
Var.

1nEs
A plea that all Allied women Who
were brutally attacked D. German
soldiers In the occupied zones shall
be regarded as wounded IN war IN
stead OF being the objects Of disgrace,
is made in a petition. signed by b.0o0,-
900 American women. which was pre-
scented 90 Premier clemeneeau by Mrs.
Charles II. Farnam Mrs Farnam
acted in the name of the committee
on the protection of women under
international law.
The resolution IN full follows.
Whereas. there is overwhelming
evidence that. In the present war, the
armies of the Central European Pow
ers and OF their allies have been per
mitted and encouraged - commit
and. officers and men en- masse, have
actually and persIstently committed.
every form Of sexual Oifense against
the country they have entered.
Whereas. such offenses are crimes
as we'll under the laws Of war rs m
der the laws Of pence, u we'll under
the common laws of nations as m
der the municipal law Of every nation
which is even specifically civilized
and under The Hague convention.
Whereas. such crimes. besides
their monsIrous Insult 10 the dignity
of Womanhood, strike at tho heart Of
society, the home. and the deliberate
wholesale authorized commission Of
them by the Germans and their Allies
confronta society accordingly With
the alternatives either of aequiesfing
in ia own destruction to allow the
violation. tie mutilation. he slavery
and compulsory prostitution Of women
and girls 10 become established ~
force of precedent as permitted
custom under the laws 81 war Or.
Enthusiastically to destroy TINT prese-
dent.
And inaamneh H more fhnn d11.-
900 French women have unitedly ap-
pealed to the women OF al countries
to Join them in denouneIng this n
famous and sinister attack on the
common life Of humanity through Is
womankind
Therefore. we. he women Of he
United States hereby
=. Associate ourselves with IHe
women of France n their protest md
appeal which Is annexed hereto.
-. Demand thai any officers. sol
diera or civilians Of mo Central Pow
ers or their allies who have haen
gully of any sexual offence against
woman or girl OF France Of her allies
in the course of the present war be
punished. Il possible. especially IN
fragrant and notable cases. and ia
measures be taken by the nations n
conference that in any further VARS
the commission of these dangerous
and degenerate villalnies be absolutely
forbidden and denounced and ade-
quale penalties with proper methods
of enforcing them be carefully pro
vided and promulgated.
q. Declare our own deliberate
feeling, judgment and position 10 be
that all women injured By a desnIe-
able enemy ought 10 be treated and
regarded. not as shamed. but as
wounded In the war. And We impI0fe
our allies to confer that status on
them. both officially and IN the pub
lie mind.
Furthermore, we direct our com
mitlee in charge To deliver these
resolutions. duly authenticated to
each Of the governments lneludIng
our own government allied against
any Or all Of the Central Powers and
their allies IN the present war and
TO each of the societies associated IN
the appeal Of the French women. and
TO arrange. 80 far as possible. Tor
their publication IN the Allied conn-
tries