The Cordele dispatch., 1920-01-29
GERMANY ACCUSED FRANCE


war held in FlI.nce. tho demand for
which has been made much Of by the
JunkC and other anti-govemment
forces in Germany. the following
,moSsa2c. us given out on Nov. 10!
by he semi-ofricial Wolff Telegraph !
Curcau in Berlin, was sent to the
Supreme Council by the German gov.
ernmcit:
"Nlr President: On Aug % this
ycEr it was announced throul an
Official publication of the llavas |
agency that the allied and associat
cd governments had decided to ad-
vance the date of the going intoI
effect OF the peace treaty so far as
the return of the German prisoners
of war was concerned. II was added
the preparations for the repatriation
would begin at once.
"The repatriation OF the prisoners
| Of war held by the Americans, Bell
{ gians. English and Italians began
subsequent to this dhte. It has in
general taken normal course while
| simultaneously the repatriation of
the Germans held prisoners over
seas is proceeding. or being pre-
pared for. although rather slow
~, because of the existing shortage
of shipping room. Tho French govern
ment alone refused liberty TO the
German prisoners of war. Indeed
upon the insistence of the German
government and the warm, purely
humanitarian solicitude of the Inter
| national Con tnittee of the Red Gross
declared itself agreed with the pro
position that the return Of the pri
soners of war should begin i'm
mediately after the ratification of
] the peace treaty of France.
France has lntificd The state o
/ peace has been restored to France
by an official decree and there
with the TIME has come for the full
fillment of the promise But still
the German government and the Ger
man people are waiting for the re-
turn of the prisoners, yes even for a
mere approximation of the date upon
which it will begin None can fail to
be deeply affected by the suffeiings
Of more than 1000 5000 men. some Of
whom have been enduring the bitter
lot of prisoners for long years. The
| accord winter since the cessation
| Of hostilities is approaching
"The prisoners remaining behind
! IN the camps of France have had
to see their luckier comrades held
by the Americans. Belgllns and
English march past them TO their
| freedom, without themselves receiv.
| ing even a faint prospect as to the
hour of their liberation. The work
If the breaking down and martyriz !
ing of soul and body has been com
pleted in the case of thouA.nds dur |
ing the months that have passed !
since the conclusion OF armtstice
with their daily expectations off
the arrival of peace, and it is de-
manding new victimes every day.
| Anybody who q mot convince him
self of this with his own eyes has
only to read the prisoners torment
OF, bafflcd hopes speakes in an inn
psessiSe manner. One should not he
deceived regarding the harmful ef-
'octs upon the fate of the German
people exercised by this retCation
0f the prisoners in France. The |
numerous representatives of France |
who Erc now in Germany and who |
have opportunities of learning the
sentiment of the country, cannot
have left the French government in !
lCubt that the prevailing bitternesSt
ever the delay in the repatriation nd |
tha prisoners of war, which has !
spread beyond the families of the !
prisoners throughout the entire Ger