SLATE RAIDS IN BELGIUM.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15132, 29 January 1917, Page 3

SLATE RAIDS IN BELGIUM.

BELGIANS WHIPPED AND KICKED.

SHOCKING TREATMENT BY HUNS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 27. The Belgan Government has secured the first authentic narratives of the slave raids from the Ghent deportees. The narratives show that the men were marched to the station troops in the middle of November. They were herded in waggons, and' were travelling foodlees all night. The only food given them in twenty-eight hours was a bowl of rice and meat. They were then marched in darkness to a farm, where 650 were herded in barns and stables. They slept upon straw placed on the bare ground only. On the third day they got boards to sleep on. Half the deportees were exhausted by the journey. Their quarters were not heated. One victim collapsed on the first day and nearly died of cold. After a meal of bread, cheese and ricebroth, they went foodless for twenty-four hours. At five in the morning a bugle call summoned the men to work, but they were so worn out with hunger and fatigue that they refused, and the order was postponed for two hours, when half of their number agreed to work. They were given picks and shovels, but they saw the German military pioneers working ahead and they refused to go any further, pointing out that they had been promised proper food and lodging, and that they would not be employed upon war work. The men were then marched back to the farm. Later, when the deportees again refused, an officer informed the pioneers’ commander. The latter ordered the Belgians to begin. When they again refused, two German officers rode into the Belgians, whipping them, while the soldiers kicked them. The German commander began parleying without success. He then ordered twenty soldiers to load and “present” their rifles. Some of the Belgians, overcome with fear, yielded, and the rest followed and work began. The conditions were most unhealthy, their clothes were drenched with rain and they had no means of drying them. They became weaker and weaker every day. They ate raw cabbages and potatoes and were glad to cook a hedgehog. The weak fell exhausted and the strongest sickened. Complaints regarding the cold and hunger were passed unheeded, despite repeated promises. The men grew seriously ill daily, and their comrades died in fireless and bedless stables. Their sufferings lasted for a week, when, the Germans, evidently realising that' it was useless to employ men under such condtions, allowed them to return home. They arrived at Ghent after journeying for twenty-eight hours, foodless and drinkless.

NATIONAL SERTICE.

SCHEME TO OPERATE AT ONCE,

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, January 27.

The. Eight Hon. J. A. Chamberlain’s national service scheme will be put into operation almost immediately. The semi-official details show that it follows closely upon the lines already cabled. Men who are volunteers only will be taken for the present. They are wanted principally for munitions, coal mines, shipbuilding, transport, and agriculture. The standard rates of wages will be paid. The age limits are from 18 to 60, and the men must go wherever they may be required. SWISS MOBILISATION. Australian and N.Z Cable Association.) BERNE, January 28. The Swiss frontier contiguous to Germany is rigorously closed. THE ATLANTIC RAIDER Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) AMSTERDAM, January 27. The Tageblatt learns that the Atlantic raider is the training ship Tenet, of 5660 tons. ' THE EAST COAST RAIDER. (Australian and N.Z- Cable Services.) LONDON, January 2is. A raider appeared off the East Coast at 11 o’clock to-night, and commenced firing star shells. A sharp bombardment for three minutes followed, but no one was injured. There was no damage, and the damage was slight. THE GERMAN VERSION. LONDON, January 27. A Berlin official communique, announcing the Suffolk raid, says: Our light forces penetrated the English, coast waters south of Lowestoff. .Thev were ordered to attack the hostile "guardships, but, despite a search, they could not find the enemy, whereupon our torpedo-boats bombarded the fortified place of Southwold. Full hits were observed, and the ships retuned safely without observing the enemy.

THE KAISER’S BIRTHDAY.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) AMSTERDAM, January 27. The Austrian Emperor and Foreign Minister will visit the German headquarters on the Kaiser’s birthday. LONDON, January 27. The newspapers forecast that the Kaiser, contemplates a birthday gathering for the establishment of an economic federation of all his allies for the war period under a German hegemony.