THREE HUNDRED CIVILIAN VICTIMS OF THE GERMANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16499, 27 March 1917, Page 5

THREE HUNDRED CIVILIAN VICTIMS OF THE GERMANS.

DEATHS IN EVACUATED REGION DUE TO BRUTALITY.

FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO LAY EVIDENCE BEFORE NEUTRALS ; Australian, »nd ; N.Z. Cable. ;■ (Kecehed 7 p.m.) - ;,' .PARIS, March 25. '. ■. Three hundred women, children, and aged men have died in con- • sequence of 'hardships, brutality and starvation immediately preceding , and during the German retreat. There were 150 victims in Ctiauny ■ alone. The destruction of property in the larger towns lasted for three 1 weeks. . Some of the Germans admitted that the work sickened them, , but- said that they were carrying out General Hindenburg's orders. ■ The President, accompanied by the Ministers for War, the Interior, and Labour, with members 'of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, visited Noyon, Ham, Nesle, Roye, and other towns in the evacuated .region.-. The Premier, M. Ribot, announced that the Government was collecting evidence in order to, protest to neutrals against Germany's ■ barbarous acts. . ■ " •;■;:;.■ It is officially announced that the French Government will protest Q}° ' neutrals . : that . Germany 'has'; unjustifiably and barbarously devastated the evacuated territories with the aim of ruining for many years one of the.most fertile regions of France. ; '' ; ; : :\ '•"*•' •." •

; Neutral Governments have been requested, to warn banks against £' dealing in securities stolen by the Germans from the ■ recaptured districts, as the allies will not recognise the validity of any such dealings.