Morning Oregonian., May 13, 1915, Page 2, Image 2

1
TIIE MORNING OREGOXIAN. TnURSDAT, MAT, 13, 1915.
ATROCITY CHARGES
RENEWED IN BRITAIN
Bryce Committee Says Evi
dence, Duly Weighed, Gives
Ample Support. .
HIGH OFFICERS ARE BLAMED
Occurrences in Belgium Early In
War TJevlewed Murder, Pillage
and AVorse Declared Part of
Systematic Campaign.
I.ONDOX, Hay 12 Viscount Bryce.
ex-British Ambassador at Washington
" and now chairman of a special ISovern-
ment committee appointed to investi
" irate and report on "outrages alleged
" to have been committed by German
'. troops during the present war," ha
. submitted the report of the committee
to Premier Asquith.
The document is considered as prob-
ably the most severe arraignment thus
far made of the German military sweep
.' across Belgium, mainly because of the
1 position of Viscount Bryce as a, his-
torian and also because of the care
- with which the Investigation was made,
the great number of witnesses who tes
', tified and were examined and the mass
of evidence now submitted with the
I report of the committee.
J De-liberate Huurrei Charged.
Summing up. tho committee says it
' rcRirds the following facts as proved:
'First That there were in many
parts of Belgium, deliberate and ays
." tematically organized massacres of the
civil population, accompanied by many
isolated murders and other outrages.
"Second That in the conduct of tfce
war generally, innocent civilians, both
men and women, were murdered in
a large numbers, women violated and
children murdered.
"Third That looting, house burning
and the wanton destruction of property
were ordered and countenanced by the
officers of the German army; that
J elaborate provision had been made for
systematic Incendiarism at the very
outbreak of the war, and that the burn
? ing and destruction were frequent when
s no military necessity could be alleged,
being, indeed, part of a system of a
k general terrorization.
t "fourth That the rules and usages
of war were frequently broken, par
J ticularly by using of civilians, includ-
ing women and children, as shields for
advancing forces exposed to fire, to a
I, less degree by killing the wounded and
prisoners, and In the frequent abuse
of the Red Cross and white flag."
Detail of Devastation Recited.
- Taking up the conditions at Liege,
; Belgium, at the outset of the war the
report gives a harrowing recital of oc
v currences at various points in the de
t vastated territory. At Herve, on August
1, the report says, "the murder of an
- innocent fugitive civilian was prelude
. to tho burning and pillage of the town
, and other villages in the neighborhood;
v to the Indiscriminate ehAoting of civil
ians of both sexes and to the organized
... military execution of batches of se
v lected males. Thus some BO men escap-
ing from burning houses were seized,
taken outside thu town and" shot. At
' Vclen. a hamlet west of Herve, 40 men
v were shot. In one household alone the
' father and mother were shot, the daugh
. ter died after being repeatedly at
' tacked and the son also was wounded,
i "Kntries in a Uerman diary show that
on August 19 the German soldiers gave
i themselves up to debauchery in the
".streets of Liege, and on the night of
the 20th a massacre took place in the
streets. Though the cause of the mas-
sacre was in dispute, the results are
. known with certainty. The Rue des
( Pitterus and houses in the Place da
i L'Unl versitle and the 'Qua! Des Pech-
- curs were systematically fired with ken-
zine, and many inhabitants were burned
alive in their houses, their efforts to
escape being prevented by rifle Are.
r Twenty people were shot while trying
- to escape before the eyes of one of the
witnesses. The Liege Are brigade
' s turned out. but was not allowed to ei
tinguish thr tire. Its carts, however,
" were usefully employed in removing
" heaps of civilian corpses to the town
", hall."
lllRht in One Family Killed.
Taking up the valleys of the Meuse
fand Sanibre. the report gives lengthy
'.'details of conditions described by wit
nesses at Andenne. and says:
J "About 400 people lost their lives in
.this massacre, some on the banks of
Jthe Meuse. where they were shot ac
cording to orders given, and some in
-the cellars of the house where they had
taken refuge. Eight men belonging to
one family were murdered. Another
j man was placed close to a machine gun,
"which was fired through him.
"A hair dresser was murdered in his
I kitchen, where he was sitting with a
child on each knee. A paralytic was
murdered in his garden. After this
came the general sack of the town.
Many of the inhabitants who escaped
j the massacre were kept as prisoners
'and compelled to clear the houses of
'corpses and bury them in trenches. The
v prisoners were subsequently used as a
"inciter in protection for a pontoon.
K ... -J - t . i . . L. . L. . . .
v across tho river, and were so used to
.; prevent the Belgian force from firing
upon It."
I Many Incidents Related.
' The report cites a great number of
Incidents, giving the authortly of wit
"nessea seen by the committee. These
"include allegations of mutilation of
corpses of civilians, attacks on women
nd murder of children. Incidents
mentioned in this part of the report in-
hide:
"At lloescht several children had
'hecn murdered. One child 2 or 3 years
'old was found nailed to the door of a
farmhouse by its hands and feet, a
f crime which seems almost incredible,
but tho evidence for which we feci
lonnd to accept. In the garden of this
house was the body of a girl who had
lien shot in the forehead.
X "At Kppaghem the dead body of a
child of 2 was seen pinned to the
'ground with a German lance. The
Jam witness saw a mutilated woman
alive near Weerde on the same day."
A chapter is given to conditions at
Ixuvsln. The report says:
- "The massacre of civilians "at I.ou
Jvaln was not confined to its citizens.
'largp crowds of people were brought
COUPONS TO BE VOTED FOR QUEEN OF THE ROSE FESTIVAL.
Not Good After May 15, 1915
THE ROSE FESTIVAL QUEEN CAMPAIGN
This Coupon will count for 10 Votes
For Miss
Candidate of ,
Good for 10 votes when filled out and sent to the Campaign Depart
ment by mail or otherwise, on or before the above date. No coupon will
be altered in any way or transferred after being received at the Rose
Festival Headquarters, 336 Northwestern Bank building.
SOME AMERICAN VICTIMS OF GERMAN TORPEDO WHICH SANK LUSITANIA.
I f . I1 ii.Aa-j.cfa a ' Os' 141
r ip'1 L rr
V x - ' M "' " JT llA
. - " ?T f ' till I
--r-- TZJZ,1 ':
into Louvaln from the surrounding dis
tricts, not only from Aerschot and Cel
rod. but also from other places. For
example. a witness describes how
many women and children were taken
in carts to Louvaln and there placed in
a stable. Of the hundreds of people
thus taken from the various villages
and brought to Louvaln. some were
massacred there, others were forced to
march along with citizens of Louvain
through various places, some being al
ternately sent to the Belgian lines at
Malines; others were taken in trucks
to Cologne, others were released.
High Officers Held Responsible.
"Some were marched through Co
logne afterwards for the people to see.
Ropes were put around the necks of
some and they were told they would
be hanged. An order then came that
they wcreto be shot instead of banged.
A firing squad was prepared and five
or six prisoners were put up but were
nor shot This taking of the Inhabi
tants in groups and marciiing them 'to
various places must evidently have
been done under the direction of a
higher military authority. The ill
treatment of the prisoners was under
the eyes and often under the direc
tion and sanction offflcers and of
ficers themselves took part in it."
A chapter of the report is given to
the diaries' of.. German ' soldiers, from
which many quotations are made, such
as: ,
"A transport of 300 Belgians came
through DuJ&burg in the morning. Of
these SO. including the Cherburgo
master, were shot according to martial
law."
"About 220 inhabitants and the vil
lage were burned."
"Artillery Is continuously shootlnff.
Just now the crossing of the Meuse
begins near Uinant. All villages, cha
teaux and houses are burned down dur
ing the night. It is a beautiful sight
to see the fires all around us in the
distance."
Another diary, by a member of the
Second Mounted Battery, First Kur
hessian field artillery, regiment No. 11,
records an incident which happened in
French territory near Lille on. Octo
ber Jl:
"We had no fight, but we caught
about 20 men and shot them."
The committee says of this last
diary: "By this time killing not In a
fight would seem to have passed into
a habit."
Set Pnrpoae Detected.
The committee says it draws the
conclusion that the excesses reported
were ordered or allowed In. pursuance
of a set purpose to strike terror -into
the civil populatoin of Belgium. It
adds:
"In the minds of Prussian officers
war seems to have become a sort, of
sacred mission, one of the highest
functions of an omnipotent state,
which is itself as touch an army as a
state. An ordinary morality and the
ordinary sentiment of piety vanished
In its presence, superseded by a new
standard which Justifies to the soldier
every means that can conduce to suc
cess, however shocking to a natural
sense of justice and humanity, however
revolting to his own feelings.
"Obedience to the state and its war.
lord leaves no room for any other duty
or-feeling. Cruelty becomes legitimate
when it promises victory. Proclaimed
by the heads of the army, this doctrine
would seem to have permeated the offi
cers and affected even the private sol
diers, leading them to justify the kill
ing of non-combatants as an act of
war. and so accustoming them to
slaughter that even women and chil
dren become at last the victims."
i i
Class Makes Good Record.
WALLOWA. Or., May 12. (Special.)
A fine record has been made by the
pupus or ine i.iKnin iraae. out of a
class of 31, it was necessary for only
12 to take in all of the subjects of the
state test for certificates to enter the
high school- next FalL Two having
made the required grades were com
pelled to take the examination, owing
to the fact that they had not been in
the state long enough. Ten received
exemptions, having made 80 per cent
and above. The highest average was
made by Jessie Dorsey.
If fft$ry II ( y - I
fcss
F hotos by Underwood & Is rderwood.
At Top Ieft Mm. Harry J. Keaee, of Philadelphia. Mho With Her Husband,
la Ann( the Missing. (Right) Re ceat Picture of Captain William T. Tur
ner, Who Waa Saved. Middle (Left) Men. Pan I Crempton. of Philadelphia,
and Her Six Children, All of Whom Were l.ot. R.istht) Alfred U. Van
derfetlt at tho Pier Henry t ( on I. nsltonla. Below Master Dean W. and
William S. Hodarea, of Philadrlphl a, Sons of Mr. and Mrs. William !.
Hodge. Theae Boya Were Lost.
BATTLE IS " SEVERE
Attacks Follow Constantly
France-Flanders Front.
on
ALLIES HOLDING GROUND
Berlin Tells of Capture . of Impor
tant Hill Near Yprcs, and Paris
. Report Relates Advances and
. Capture) of FrJsoners.
; LONDON. May 12. Official reports
from the front in Flanders and France
indicate violent fighting on a consid
erable" portion of thel ine. but do not
agree as to many of the details. The
British report, for example, says that
east of Ypres the British rorces re
pulsed three German attacks at heavy
rout to the enemy, xne German otri
cial report, received here from Berlin,
says: "East of Tpres we took an im
portant Mil."
There is substantial agreement be
tween the Paris and Berlin reports on
the fighting north of Arras. Berlin ad
mits that "trenches taken by the French
between Carcncy and N'euviUe are still
In their possessioi." The Paris report
tells of three attacks by the Germans
in that region that were "completely
checked," but it adds that additional
progress was made this morning by
the French and that 125 Germans were
taken prisoner. The French official re
port adds:
"Wo have besides, taken three suc
cessive lines of trenches bordering the
wood to the north of Carency, after
which we penetrated the wood, thus
threatening closely the last line of
communication which remains open to
the defenders of that position. Finally,
we have taken a new part of the vil
lage, capturing there 400 prisoners.
"In the afternoon we attacked that
section of Neuiville St. Vaast. which the
enemy-still holds and fighting in the
streets gave to us the mastery of sev
eral groups of houses. Our progress
here continues.
"The total numbor of prisoners made
by us since Sunday has reached 4000.
"On the rest of the front we brought
to a sudden halt by our fire three Gr
man attacks near Berry-au-Bac. Beau
sejour and Marie Therese Bagetelle."
The German report, dealing with the
events of Tuesday, saya that "other
advances (by the French) broke down
with heavy losses to the enemy." It
is added that the French succeeded in
penetrating a blockhouse on Hartmann
Weilerkopf, a long-disputed hill, but
were thrust out again.
Blowout Overturns Auto.
TWIN FALLS. Idaho. May 12 (Spe
cial.) The blowing out of an automo
bile tire resulted in a serious accident
to a party of Buhl people on their way
to a theater in Twin Falls. William
Huddle sustained injuries that rendered
him unconscious for nearly an hour and
the other members of the party, George
Gorseth. Theodore Glauber. Clyde Welch
and Lynn Overly, were severely bruised
and shaken. Although running at less
than 20 miles an hour, the blowing out
of the tira turned the car completely
over.
TODAY A Paramount
Until Sunday Picture
GLADYS BROCK WELL
in The
TYPHOON
An Absolute Sensational Triumph!'
Most wonderful acting by an all-star cast.
"The Typhoon" depicts the unusual story of
love and tragedy of a young Japanese and
Helene, a beautiful Parisian actress.
A Broadway, Masterpiece
10 Admission 10
, '!
F
. Hi ii i'tv
fV Ht
GORDON
. ITH, I KI,ESH.tTEU
CHILD ACTOK.
NURSE TO ASK AID
Serbian Woman to Seek Port
land Help for Stricken.
TYPHUS THREATENS NATION
Unless Plague Is Stopped, Xo Assist"
anee will Be Needed, as None
Will Be Left for Other Du
ties, Says Mm. Grouitch.
OREGOX1AN NKWS BUREAU, Wash
ington. May Ii. Mme. Slavko Grouitch,
wife of the permanent under-secretary
of foreign affairs of Serbia, and a war
nurse and Red Cross worker in the
Balkan battlefields, now in this coun
try to secure relief for her impover
ished people. Is to visit Portland the
latter part of this month, and extend
an appeal to the people of that city and
the Northwest to aid Serbia against
the typhus fever plague; likewise she is
seeking agricultural aid. that the wom
en of Serbia may bring tneir neias
once more under cultivation. The able
bodied men of Serbia, says Mme. Grou
itch. are all in the field.
"Help us to stamp out the typhus
plague, or your efforts to procure grain.
seeds and agricultural implements for
us will not be necessary. There will
be few of us left."
This is the frantic appeal that is
beinir sent to the United States from.
war-ridden and fever-infested Serbia.
The country where a few years ago
'there were no beggars and no rich
men" has been involved in a war three
times in three years. Only the women
nd children remain to plant the crops.
They are huddled in concentration
camps, and there ere no crops to plant
and few homes left to give them shelter.
Now the dreaded typhus fever has made
its appearance.
Under the auspices of the heroian
agricultural relief committee of Amer
ica, with headquarters at 70 fifth ave
nue. New York City, Mme. arouitcn is
making a tour of the principal cities in
the United States in the interest of the
local organizations being formed to
take up the work. Dr. Charles W. Eliot.
president-emeritus of narvara. is pres
ident; Lr. BrecK uowDnnje, 01 rsw
York, is chairman, and Dr. T. Tlleston
Wells, of New York, Is chairman of the
executive committee, of the general re
lief committee.
"Unlike Belgium, SerDla nas no ncn
neighbors like Kngland and Holland to
succor her," says Mme. Grouitch. "As
far as outside help is concerned she has
had to fend for herself. And also un
like Belgium, at the beginning of the
present struggle, she was already stag-aerina-
under the load left by two pre
vious wars. We are not seeking a war
fund, but a fund to be used for peace
ful reconstruction.
"Unhappy and glorious Belgium needs
so much I don t want one penny irora
her. and I don't want on penny rrom
the poor here in deserving America, but
if there is anything left, may It not be
given to lerbiaT"
The Serbian relief committee has ex
tended an appeal to Portland to join
with the other cities of the country and
help Serbia as Belgium and other coun
tries have been aiaea.
Pendleton Pastor Rcsiffns.
PENDLETON. Or., May 13 (Spe
cial.) Rev. Tolbert V. Weaver, pastor
of the Pendleton Christian Church since
September, 1912, has tendered his resig
nation which becomes effective August
1. Need of a rest and change In the
THEATER
the
The Stage Production
Created a Sensation in
New York.
WUi 4 it . ' '
Wo-5 - - 4 .-xJ
.JhOkn-Ctl,
j
TM
10 Leading Photoplay Theater-10f
3 DAYS STARTING TODAY
One of the most interesting famous photoplays
entitled
'LITTLE
All baseball fans should see this picture.
COMING SUNDAY, MAY 16
MARY PICKFORD
in "FANCHON THE CRICKET."
nature of his work for several months
Is the reason. He will attend the state
convention of the church at Turner,
from July $ to 12, and the National
convention at Los Angeles,' July 18 to
26, and then will go to his former
home in Texas, returning to the North
went in the Fall to enter upon a cam
paign for evangelistic work until Jan
uary 1. He will continue in his posi
tion aa secretary of the Northwest
Parliament of Christian Churches.
TWIN FALLS OFFICIALS IN
Mayor's Appointment for Chief of
Police Not Popular.
TWIN FALLS, Idaho. May 13 (Spe
cial.) The new city officials of Twin
Falls have taken office. Probably tho
most important problem which the
administration has to face is that of
the city water supply, and the ticket
elected was on a pledge to provide a
pure water supply.
The appointments announced by
Mayor Sweeley were apparently satis
factory with the exception of the chief
of police. Jamra F. Ahern. Ha was not
confirmed. The other appointments are
a follows: Chief of fire department,
NATIONAL
Park, West Park
Near Wash. St.
Today and Friday
Helen in
OdrUUCI Broadway Star Atl1-kV
of Cleopatra Fame Production C4.-Fy
"Her Loves Are Virile: Her Hates Vitriolic, and Her Path Strewn With the
Wreckage of Broken Hearts."
D11w
UUUUIC Z
OTHBIt GOOD PUVS AD SPRC1ALTIKH, Including Mr. Louis Dlmond and
Mr, Clifford Carney, Master Organists.
FRIDAY (TOMORROW) Jovian Benefit for Rose Festival lllectrlcal
Farade. Hose Queens In Attendance In Kvenlng.
Commencing
The most stupendous spectacle ever presented: five months to complete;
involved 6000 people: eoat over $100,000. Directed by Herbert Brenon. who
produced famous "Neptune's Daughter." Magnificent battle scenes; con
tains sentiment and deep emotion; heart throbs and sorrow; intense excite
ment and thrills: photography without equal; scenic splendor of Cumber
land Mountains; burning of church and great belfry scene.
This play, featuring original star, Mrs. Leslie Carter, was chopen from
scores of dramas submitted to open Hippodrome Theater, New York City,
a few weeks ago 140,000 paid admissions in nine days.
Brought to National at Huge Expense
Commences Next Sunday
SPECTACl'l.R BAI.I.YHOO Kvery day, beginning Sunday. Great Bel
fry scene, showing girl swinging from bell. Hours 3:0. 7, S:30, :.i0.
I WAS IN THIS CLASS
For some time I paid rent, averaging
about 134 a month. At the end of four
years I had a nice bundle of receipts,
and the landlords had my
4 X 13 X 84 13S.0
BUT
October T, 110. I bought a house in
beautiful Rose City Park, on monthly
payments, and besides the Joy of living
in my own home, I have already a net
equity In the house of I 1644.00
NOW THEN
If you are In the wrong class, let me
show you our Rose City Park houses;
$100 down, balance like rent. Call up
the Realty Department of Hartman 4
Thompson, Main 201 or A 2050, but do
it now.
j.ilW nlllWIMWWil l
J"""' 3 I mm I W"imm i
HP?
Fred A. Carlson: overseer of streets, W.
F. Porter; weinhmater. A. W. Mow
bray: electrical inspector, C. L. Hu
shaw; plumbing inspector, J. M. Cham
bers. Walla Walla lias Near-Cloudburst.
WALLA WALLA, Wash., May 12.
(Special.) So much rain fell in so
short a time Sunday evening and flight
and yesterday morning that near-cloudbursts
were reported from some pons
of the valley. No damage was done.
The city water supply was made almost
undrinkahle and ftreams ro.se Fevcrsl
inches. Near Thiel the water was
waist-deep in the road.
Walla Walla Highwaymen Iius.
WALLA WALLA, Wash., May 12
(Special.) 1. Newsorn put tit In a
secret pocket of his trousers and left
the garage where he is employed, for
his home Sunday night at 10 o'clock.
Two highwaymen hit him over the head
without warning, slit the pocket and
took his money. He was able to give
no description to the police.
Sanll.rptla (urea I'oIm.s Oak or lfy.
DmgxiMi refund if It falls. InmanUy ro
llevf uchlne and IrHtalisn. 1 elih I fully
P(ioti;i - mtr! frtothtnqr. ri All (i r u r gist.
THEATER
Open Daily Noon to 1 1 P. M.
Sunday 10:30 A. M. to 1 1 P. M.
The
Breath
1t Vitagraph
JLiaii Comedy
Next Sunday
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