UNDER GERMAN RULE

Nelson Evening Mail, 31 July 1916, Page 5

UNDER GERMAN RULE

FRENCH WOMEN AND GIRLS TORN FROM THEIR HOMES. TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND TAKEN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, July 29. Tho nation is angered by news slowly filtering through to Paris of slave raids the Germans conducted at Eastertide -it Lille and other towns. They lasted, for threo weeks and wero carried out with a. refinement of moral torture on b" tno Germans could bo capable of devising. , As- they wero too kindly to take whole families, ono to five members were selected. The towns were raided quarter by quarter without notice. An eye-witness at Lille writes: "The women had not slept for eight days, wondering what the fate of other inhabitants was, till bodies of soldiers came at daybreak and tore children from their moth el's and nurses, not even saying; whither they were going. Other victims were seized in- the streets and on tho tramways. An ofticei-' on Good Friday evening passed through Lille picking victims who were immediately taken to a. church or school, where innocent girls were herded with women of the town. A number was giyeii to each as though they were so many cattle. From 1500 to 2000 were thus taken daily until the temporary concentration camng resembled slave markets. "This continued throughout Easter week. The brutality of tho business even disgusted some of tho Gorman officers. Those at Roubaix refused to obey orders to take the children at night time. Many of the victims were, transported to the Aisne departments and the Ardennes on the pretext of car- : rying out agricultural pursuits. ISome' were obliged l to work as officers' orderlies." " ... The French Government intends to inform neutrals of the details of the German crimes against civilians in tho Invaded countries. It is •preparing' a Yellow Book showing the inhuman measures taken against women and girls and infants. Twenty-five thousand between the ages of- fourteen arid fifty-fire .were taken from Roubaix, Turcoing, and Lille. Tiiey were transported at iriirliiighfc for ten nights. The streets, were' guarded with machine guns. - " Officers entered the houses arid requisitioned whom they chose, and tna people were concentrated iridiscfinliriatoIv in churches and schools pending "their 'departure.' .. Even after they were torn from • the : r\ homes and families they sang th© . "Marseillaise." (Rec, July 31, 9.30 a.m. ) ' ' PARIS; July 30. The Government will send a Note l-o ■Neutrals, respecting the treatment of the : population in invaded territory, and also a dicument showing the variouskinds of treatment, which are contrary k> the usages of war. \lt adds that i'f Germany wishes to contest evidence' she' has only to consent to an impartial in-> vestigation by Neutral Powers. NOTICE POSTED' ON THE HOUSES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) . (Rec. July 31; 10.30' a.m.) j PARIS, July 30.; The commander at Lille posted 'the following notice' on houses: "All the inhabitants of this house, except children under 'l4, .-and l their mothers, and. old men must be ready to leave in an; hour and a-half. They must collect in front- 1 of their houses. If the weather is bad they may remain, ind'ooi's,.but the.doors must be open. Any appeal will be use- '. less. No inhabitant may leave the house • ■before ; B'o'clock in the morning. If. anyone tries to escape on bojfig taken he or she will be pitilessly punished."