have refused to permit this except is special instances, and returning Belgians claim that even when such packages are received they are used by the camp authorities only as another means of coercing them to sign the agreements to work.

It is said that in spite of the liberal salary promised those who would sign voluntarily no money has as yet been received in Belgium from workmen in Germany.

One interesting result of the deportations remains to be noted, a result that once more places in relief the German capacity for blundering, almost as great as the German capacity for cruelty. They have dealt a mortal blow to any prospect they may ever have had of being tolerated by the population of Flanders; in tearing away from nearly every humble home in the land, a husband and a father or a son and brother, they have lighted a fire of hatred that will never go out; they have brought home to every heart in the land, in a way that will impress its horror indelibly on the memory of three generations, a realization of what German methods mean, not, as with the early atrocities in the heat of passion and the first lust of war, but by one of those deeds that makes one despair of the future of the human race, a deed coldly planned, studiously matured, and deliberately and systematically executed, a deed so cruel that German soldiers are said to have wept in its execution, and so monstrous that even German officers are now said to be ashamed. BRAND WHITLOCK.

I have, etc.,

[Inclosure.]

REPORT ON THE REQUISITION OF BELGIAN WORKMEN FROM MALINES.

DEAR SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a report on the requisition of Belgian workmen from Malines, which I witnessed in accordance with your instructions:

On the afternoon of Jan. 4th, in company with Baron von der Lancken, Legationsrat Kaempf, and an officer of the General Gov. of Occupation, I went to Malines to witness a requisition of men to be deported to Germany. The men who were to be examined came from the outlying districts of Malines and not from the city proper, since the latter had already paid its toll of about 600 men two weeks pre

vious. As the actual process of requisitioning is one that at present takes three days from the time of the first convocation of all adult males to the final deportation of the selected unemployed, I was able to witness only a small portion of the procedure. However, the following is a record of the steps that had been taken up to the time of my arrival as told me by the underofficer in charge of the final selection.

The entire adult male population (between 17-60) of the district to be picked over is ordered by public notices to report at specified times, according to the age of the individual, at a central station. Each man must bear his indentification card and is allowed to bring with him any documentary evidence which can go to prove that he is actually employed or unfit for hard labor. These documents are submitted to the officer in charge. After he has examined them he stamps the indentification card with one of two stamps. The first indicates that the man is actually employed to the satisfaction of the officer (i.e., is a lawyer, doctor, of professional with an accredited practice, or a large property owner or business man), or that he is obviously seriously ill; the second is reserved for all others. Those who have fallen under the latter category must report again the next day; those under the first are exempt, and are no longer molested. On the second day the men who have to report again are given two choices, that of voluntarily signing contracts of work in Germany or of working in Belgium for German interests (i.e., on railroads, loading and unloading cars, etc., etc.). If they refuse either of these offers they are marked for forced deportation to Germany on the following day and are given the necessary orders as regards reporting, bringing of heavy extra clothing, etc.

The procedure on the third day was that which I witnessed. The men had been ordered to report at a building about 400 yards from the railroad tracks. Equipped with a large bundle containing extra clothing and a new pair of "Sabots" each man was awaiting his turn to be given a final examination. The building was surrounded by about 50 soldiers (infantry men) and the women and children were kept at a safe distance by mounted Uhlans with steel-headed spears, perhaps twenty in number. There were no signs of active disorder, but as the crowd outside was continually pressing forward the Uhlans had to use forceful tactics to keep it in place. However, I saw no act of violence, but only threatening motions.

The men entered the building in single file and passed between examining officers. To them they were allowed to make their final appeal. They were still in possession of the papers they had been allowed to submit on the first day, but these were only cursorily examined. I watched two men pass and heard their appeal. The first had a sick wife (Medical certificate), was a pensioned arsenal worker who during the war had been occupied in cultivating a small piece of land

(Burgomaster's certificate) and who had a son who had been a voluntary workman in Germany for two years. He was his wife's only support (i. e., His pension was). His case was considered for a moment only and then he was passed on to go to Germany. The second was also a pensioned arsenal worker, but he had six small children (The oldest 12 years) and had a piece of land about twelve hectare in size which he had been cultivating. The officer examined his case and then turned to me with the remark "Of course this man goes free." He was then led to a side door where his indentification card was stamped and he was allowed to leave.

At this point I began to question the officer in charge and the officials who had accompained me, with regard to several general points on which I was not clear. I asked how the wife of the first man was to be supported in his absence since she would naturally not be paid the pension which he had received from the Belgian Gov. The answer was that the German Gov. would take care of her, and that anyway she could support herself on the earnings that her husband sent back from Germany. I asked what those could amount to. The answer assured me that if he was a good worker and saving, these might be as great as 120 Marks per month. I then asked what his pay would be if, as he had previously done, he refused to sign a voluntary contract. No definite answer. In fact I was told that I could get information of that sort from Berlin. I then asked whether any money had as yet been returned by workers in Germany, and was told that I could get those facts in Brussels. (As yet I have had no evidence that any money has been sent back.) I made a final effort to secure some information about the actual procedure when men once arrived in Germany, and what differences were made between those who had signed contracts, and those who hadn't, but was met with the response that they had but small knowledge of what happened to the men after they were deported.

I then turned my attention to the second man and asked why he had been let off. All the officials agreed that it was because he had six small children dependent on him. I at once asked if according to what I had just been told it would not be better for him to be deported, since he could earn so much more money in Germany. Slight hesitation, and then the officials who accompained me agreed that it would have been better for him to have gone to Germany, but that the officer in charge was unusually kind-hearted and had on that account let him off. This latter officer made no comment.

I now went on to the rest of the examination. Every man who claimed to be sick could be examined by two doctors. Just previous to the moment that I entered one man had been freed because of tuberculosis and another had been put on the deported list because instead of the catarrh from which he was supposoed to be suffering he had turned out to be violently intoxicated. But very few chose to

be examined by the doctors and of those examined (about 40 in all I believe) only a few had been freed.

As the men who were finally selected passed out of a side door of the building to be led to the waiting trains, they were relieved of all papers and their names were put in a book which was to be sent to the prison camp for which they were destined. I was told that those papers were to be carefully kept for future references in case a petition for repatriation was made with regard to any one of the men.

From the building to the train the men were led in groups of about thirty under heavy military escort. Standing beside the cars was a military field kitchen from which the men were fed a plate apiece of heavy barley & vegetable soup, in which was discernible very small pieces of meat. I tasted this soup, and it was good. On their trip to Germany the men were to be fed a similar ration every eight hours, provided the train in which they were ran according to schedule. The cars were the ordinary third-class cars and, at the time of my visit, were being heated.

About 300 men were taken in all. There were two interpreters in constant circulation among them, whose chief functions were to present coming events in a rosy light and to try to persuade men to sign contracts of work. I was told that if a man at any time changed his mind he could always sign a voluntary contract. This choice was reserved him at all stages of the trip to Germany and also at any moment during his confinement in the prison camp. While I was present only one took the alternative. His courage failed as he was about to enter the train, and he elected to stay in Belgium and work wherever the Germans assigned him.

The above statements are merely a literal presentation of the facts of one part of a small requisition. From reports received through other sources it is quite evident that this requisition was very exceptionally well conducted. Not a single man bearing a card from the C. R. B. was taken and, on the whole there were very few complaints and protests. Whether the orderliness and thoroughness were especially provided for this occasion, or whether the policy of deportations is to be actually limited to the unemployed, remains to be seen. At least it would seem as though the seven second examination per man were to be abolished for a more thorough procedure.

Minister Whitlock to the Secretary of State.

No. 429.]

AMERICAN LEGATION, Brussels, January 17, 1917.

SIR: With reference to my telegram of the 15th instant, No. 32,1 regarding the deportations of Belgians from the city of Brussels, I 1 Not printed.

have the honor to state that summonses to appear for examination are now being sent out by the German authorities, directing the men to appear on Saturday, the 20th instant, at the Gare du Midi.

The method of summoning the men is different from that employed hitherto, and indicates greater care in preparation. No announcements have been posted on the city walls; persons whom it is desired to examine are summoned individually by post card, and are at the same time advised as to the punishment to which they will expose themselves if they do not reply to the summons, the preparatory measures which they should take in view of a possible deportation, and the bureau to which they should apply in the event of their voluntary inscription for work in lieu of deportation.

A copy and translation of this post card of notification are inclosed herewith.

Southern Railway Station (entrance from the Rue de France).

In the event that you should not obey the present summons, you would be deported at once by force; furthermore, you would be liable. to a sentence of a maximum imprisonment for three months, or of a fine not exceeding 1,000 marks.

As it is possible that you may be sent to a place of work and that in such case you would not have further occasion to get into communication with the members of your family, you are advised to provide yourself with a blanket, with winter clothing, linen, and good boots.

Whoever signs a contract at the "Bureau de l'Industrie," Rue Marie Thérèse, 64, is offered work either in Germany or in Belgium on very advantageous conditions, and need not present himself at the station.

[SEAL.]

The present summons is to be exhibited.

COUNT VON SODEN, Colonel and Commandant.