A BELGIAN SLAVE RAID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16963, 27 March 1917, Page 9

A BELGIAN SLAVE RAID

EYEWITNESS'S ACCOUNT. .PITILKSS MKTHODS. (London Times.) A trustworthy -witness of sonic of tha slavo raids which took placo in a small town of an agricultural'province of Belgium gives th<; following description of what ho saw on one occasion. More than 25,000 uwm have already boon (lol>orted fi-u/u this province, which also fl::lFercd vary severely during the invasion. In jceral villages all tho men who were- spared ■ during tho horrors of tho early days of the war have now been taken away.

In X all the men were obliged to preEont themselves in tho seminary, where they were examined by some German, officers. I hud my watch in my' hand. The examinations lasted on an average exactly 10 seconds for each man. All the young ones had to go, without any distinction whatever; so had the skilled workmen, whatever their age. I saw very old men taken in this way . " , The anxiety of the families cannot be described. From tho timo when tho call was received everything has been dono to try to comfort, if possible, the deported in their exile. Tho women have worked all night in order to preparo some clothes, they have spent their last reserve of money to buy Bomo linen, a pair of boots, and a few provisions > During tho long procession of tho inen, lasting Irom 7 o'clock in the morning till 1 o'clock in tho afternoon, they have sathored in the market placo. awaiting the Ktintraco which will take from them husband or son. They cry, moan, and protest. •

In order to keep the women away from the buildings where the examination takes placo and to conduct those to bo deported to the . station, somo Uhlans have been especially called back from tho front. The men of the Landsturm cannot bo trusted for such cruel work. They lack decision, and somo of them, worn down by long absenco from their homes, havo grown softhearted and are ready to pity these peoplo among whom they havo lived. They seem to understand that, whatever happens, their Germany, tho Germany .of their small homes, is ruined. I oven heard some of them encouraging tho Belgians in their resistance atid advising them not to sign an engagement to work for Germany.

No such meekness can bo feared from th 6 Uhlans. I have seen them at work, and t.lioy proved to bo the worthy companions of those whoso mission it was at tho beginning of the war to spread terror among the Flemish and Walloon peasantry. Thoy are in line -boforo the seminary whoro the human cattlo are. sorted, and, revolver in hand, they face tho women. Even after all v.'o have heard about German atrocities tho scene which occurred there seems scarcely believable, and if I had not seen it with my own eyes I should certainly havo. my doubts.

Listen to this, for instance. An old woman, 75 years, of age, -was pushing through tho crowd in order to see if her son, her husband, or her grandson were nmoiig those taken away. A Landsturmer belonging to' the garrison, who knew her. took her gently by .the shoulder in order to keerj. her back. As the old woman went on wailing and tried to free herself, a Uhlan enmo near her, a big young fellow, and deliberately, with all his strength, thrust his fist in the old woman's face. All the surrounding women burst out crying and protesting, but several Uhlans joined their comrade and began to beat i;he crowd with t'ne. butts of their rifles. The boom of tho puns of Verdun,could be heard during the v.'lmlo ?ccno.

When tho Germans heard of tho Kaiser's peace offer they lit largo fires in the village to celebrate tho occasion. And the Belgian?? Theso arc the words of a mother, In Iking of her son who is fighting on the Tsor:_"lf he is not to come back to me victorious, I should prefer that ho should ■never come back."