STOLEN CHILDREN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1390, 23 November 1918, Page 6

STOLEN CHILDREN.

AWFUL DESTRUCTION BY HUNS. LONDON', Nov. 2. Renter's correspondent at Paris reports that the rector of Lille University has forwarded to President Poincare a petition signed by five thousand parents, entreating tho French Government to summons Germany lor the return of their children, who were carried oil' during the occupation, in violation of international law. The document, which is most pathetic, says, amongst other things:—■ "Wo are tortured by the thoughts that our children are weakened by unheard-of privations, exposed to fatigues, dangers, and miseries of a ruiiied army, being dragged along by savage, hordes dying in disorder, and abandoned to tho mercies of pitiless and heartless men." Correspondents who have visited the Champagne-Ardennes region speak ol tho enemy's a wild wanton destruction of private, houses. Their method was to conscientiously burn every house by placing mines in the cellars, which exploded at tho moment of evacuation by the sappers. Even churches were not spared, while the destruction of wells was executed with diabolical skill. All this was carried out amidst the deep indignation ol tho inhabitants. Officers told tho people, "We have orders to do it."