TO ALIENATE
T H E JELGIANS
GERMAN CONQUERORS SEEK TO
WIN OVER BELGIANS OF FLEM
ISH EXTRACTION FROM OTHERS.
INTRIGUE MEETS OBJECTION.
Plan of Teutons Was to Concentrate
All Belgians of Flemish Blood in
Camp of Gottingen and Give Them
Privileged Treatment Under Direc
tion of a Civilian.
WASHINGTON, D. C., June 8.—
From a Belgian who has escaped into j
England after three years of captivi-;
ty in German prison camps, the Bel-1
gian legation here has received inter- i
esting details of the clumsy efforts of j
the German*conquerors to alienate the
Belgians of Flemish extraction from !
their countrymen of Waloon descent,'
as practiced among Belgian prison
ers in Germany.
The project, which has been de
scribed as stupidly conceived and ex
ecuted, had its birth, the advices say,
in the dreams of the Fan-Germanists
who would set up in northern Belgium
a Flemish state that would assume
the status of a German protectorate.
The first advances were made to
ward the Belgians of Flemish extrac
tion confined in prison camps. The\ ,
were segregated and forwarded to
other prison centers where they were
treated with some degree of kindness
in an effort to win their support in
establishing the new state. All meas
ures calculated to win over the pris
oners failed miserably, said the lega
tion's informant, and the groups re
mained indissolubly Belgian.
Parts of the letter describing the
German intrigue follow:
“The plan of the German was to
concentrate all the Flemings in the
camp of Gottingen, to give them:
privileged treatment under the super
vi.-ion of a civilian. Professor Stange,
of the Gottingen university, and to
induce them to join the activist move-;
ment aiming at the separation of Bel
gium into two political states, Fland
ers falling under German direct or in
direct control.
“In the course of July, I decided,
with a few componions to volunteer
for Gottingen in order to counteract :
the enemy’s intrigues. We found there
Pofessor Stange and a few of his ac
tivist disciples hard at work. Stange
was practically the commander of the
camn. We were treated with great
consideration by the sentries, the sys
tem of blows and threats was sus
pended and we were much surprised
to be addressed as ‘Herrschaften.’
“The ‘converted’ men were only a
very small minority, including some
students and artists. Happily the new
regime allowed the patriots to speak
out and unmask the traitors. Our
work was made considerably easier
throuh the interference of two mem
bers of the ‘Council of Flanders,’
Forms and Weert. Their interference
stamped Stange’s Flemish activity as
a purely German maneuver and one
by one the prisoners ceased to attend
the club “Fursorge.”
“At the same time the regime in
camp changed entirely. The ‘Herr
schaften were again ‘Schweinhunde’
and a new commander was sent to the
camp. The civilian had failed in his
mission and the military extended its
former power with a vengeance.
“Most of the Flefnings at Gottin
gen, (nearly 10,000 passed through
the camp) were sent to various kom
mandos. The number of Stange’s con
versions among the Flemish prisoners
might be almost a hundred. Even the
fear of being sent to a salt mine did
not induce more than one man in a •
hundred to lend a patient ear to sep
aratist propaganda.”
RAISE SCALE OF FINES.
LONDON, June 8.—Police court
magistrates here have decided to
raise the scale of fines for all the
ordinary offenses under their juris
diction. The reason given is “on ac
count of war conditions and because
people are earning more money.”
WAR-TIMESTANDARD
SHOES FOR SOLDIERS
LONDON, June 8.—England’s war
time standard shoes for men are to
be followed soon, it is announced, by
ready-made standard suits of clothes.
These are to be in serges and tweeds
and will be sold at the equivalent of
about $20 for the first grade of ma
terial and at less than $10 for the
second.
Serge, both black and blue, will also
be available for the making of suits
to measure. No standard tweed suits
will be made to measure.
From 750,000 to 1,000,000 suits are
expected to be on sale during June,
July and August. Cloths and clothing,
apart from the standardized mater
ials, will continue to be available at
the regular prices, just as other shoes,
besides the war-time shoes, are to be
had.
The plan of supplying clothing to
civilians at moderate prices has been
worked out by a department of the
war office, known as the board of con
trol of wool textile production.
Provision is also made for the
clothing of millions of men, now in
their country’s service, who will re
turn to civil life at the end of the war.
What is called “double purpose”
cloth is being produced in an undyed
state. It will be dyed khaki for mili
tary uniforms, or in colors suitable for
civilian wear, according to require
ments.
DESTROYERS QUICKLY ENGAGE
THE SUBMARINES AN1) SINK
OR 1)RIVE THEM OFF.
RED CROSS WORKERS ON HOARD
American Transports Conveying Unit
ed States Troops to France Escape
U-Boat Attack by Prompt Action on
Part of Convoying Vessels—No
Ships Are Lost.
LONDON, June 8.—A fleet of Ger
man submarines attacked a number of
American ships, convoyed by Ameri
can destroyers, last Sunday, and some
of the U-boats were sunk, while the
remainder fled the scene, according to
the statement of Rev. Father Joseph
Wareing, who was a passenger on one
of the vessels, and who was a witness
of the encounter.
The American vessels were carrying
American troops to France. Among
the passengers were also a number of
Red Cross workers, en route to the
western front. Father Wareing was
among these workers.
The submarines appeared on the
scene last Sunday, about midnight. As
soon as they hove in sight, United
States destroyers that were protect
ing the ships, quickly entered into ac
tive action against them. A number
of the U-boats were sunk, but Father
Wareing did not know the number,
nor could be learn it from officers.
Neither the ships nor the destroyers
were damaged.
NO CONTROL OVER
CHINA SAYS JAPAN
TOKIO, Japan, June 8.—Official:
It is emphatically denied by the gov
ernment, in contradiction to rumors to
the contrary, that Japan and China
have entered into a military agree
mnet whereby Japan is given control
of Chinese military forces, finances,
railways and mining interests.
KING TO SEE~”
AMERICAN GAME
LONDON, June 8.—King George
has promised to attend the baseball
game at Chelsea, scheduled to take
place between teams representing the
United States army and navy. The
game will take place tomorrow.
ANOTHER TENTACLE OF TEU
TON CONTROL IN AMERICAN
INDUSTRY SEVERED.
U. S. CUSTODIAN GETS BUSY.
Under Arrangements Completed by
A. Mitchell Palmer, Interests of
Fur Barons of Leipzig Will Be Tak
en Over by American Capitalists in
New York City.
WASHINGTON, D. C., June 8.—
Another tentacle of German control
in American industry has been sever
ed by A. Mitchell Palmer, the alien
property custodian.
Under arrangements now being
completed between the custodian and
the Fur Merchants’ Credit association
of New York city, the interests of the
German fur barons of Leipzig will be
purchased by American merchants
and the money paid turned into the
United States treasury to be held un
til the end of the war for the Germans
involved.
In announcing today the forced re
tirement of German interests in the
industry, Mr. Palmer said even rough
'estimates of the enemy holdings can
not be made until all the fur dealers
have reported balances due the Ger
mans.
“It may be stated,” however, “said
the custodian, “that the negotiations
just completed will root out forever
the last German dollar invested in the
fur business in this country, turn
Leipsig cabal and establish a great
new industry here in America.
“Some of the larger firms which
have already readjusted their hold
ings under the agreement of the gov
ernment are the Theodery Thorer
company, Gaudig & Blum and M. S.
Elias, jr., Inc., among the best known
fur houses on this side of the Atlan
tic. Many others are in process of
readjustment, including Otto Erler
company, Fuchs & Co., Inc., and Eis
enbach Brothers.
“Before the war the trade of Amer
ican furriers was practicably nothing
but a collecting and shipping agency
for the Germans. Almost every pelt
taken by American trappers had to go
to Leipzig before it could be sold.
Leipzig dressers and dyers were the
best in the world. None could com
pete with them. Although London
was the world’s market, by reason of
the pioneer work of the old Hudson
Bay cmpany and far-sighted English
commission houses, three-quarters of
the fur shipped to London from Am
erica, Russia and even China went,
after the auctions, direct to Leipzig
for dressing and dyeing.
“At Leipzig each year after the
fur was prepared and the German
merchants had fixed the price for that
year, Americans were allowed to pur
chase as much as three-fifths of the
entire fur produced for manufacture
into garments, although in so doing
they were forced to pay the original
cost, plus the expense of dressing and
dyeing, plus a handsome profit for the
Germans, plus a .30 per cent duty
before they got them back home. They
were constantly either indebted to the
Germans ar completely under their
domination.”
Mr. Palmer said American fur
dyeing houses now are operating in
New York and that in St. Louis the
atempt has been made successfully to
dye seal skins, which previously had
never been done outside of Leipzig
and London. Fur auctions also have
been undertaken successfully both in
St. Louis and New York.
“When the war is over,” Mr. Pal
mer concluded, “Germany will again
buy American furs, but these goods
will be bought in the American mar
FOOD
Wl WIN
the
ket this time, from American firms,
and they will be American dressed
and dyed, and prepared for European
consumption. The unnatural trade
conditions which forced Americans
to ship certain furs abroad, to buy
them back and to re-ship them to
America will have disappeared, and
Germany will be the loser.”
EIGHT SCHOONERS
AND SIX STEAMERS
FOURTEEN VESSELS HAVE BEEN
SUNK TO DATE BY ENEMY
SUBS OFF ATLANTIC COAST.
WASHINGTON, D. C., June 7.—
Fourteen American vessels have been
sunk by German submarines in the
raid on the Atlantic coast, according
to navy department officials. Of these,
eight were schooners and six steam
ers. Officialscof the navy believe that
the enemy divers that invaded Amer
ican waters are now waiting for other
submarines that are believed to be on
the way to join in the raiding. With
the U-boat fleet augmented, it is be
lieved that a supreme effort will be
made against American transports
and large steamers, in order to check
the flow of American troops to
France. This view is strengthened by
the sinking of the Bi'itish steamer
Harpathian Wednesday, at a point one
hundred miles off the Virginia capes,
directly in the path of the transatlan
tic route.
F!
IT
I
HI ATTACKS
ONE HUNDRED RAZED AND A
HUNDRED PILLAGED BY TEU
TON HORDES IN LATE DRIVE.
NEITHER LAW OF GOD NOR MAN
; Bishop of Soissons Tells French Peo
ple of Pillage and Rapine Conunit
| ted by Germans in the Recent At
tack on City of Soissons—Carry
Av.av Sacred Vessels.
PARIS, June 8.—“In their recent
offensive in the Soissons sector the
German troops razed a hundred
churches and pillaged an equal num
i ber,” said the bishop of Soissons, who
| reached Paris from the scene of car
, nage and devastation last night. Dur
| ing the terrific enemy bombardment
of Soissons, the famous cathedral was
| damaged almost beyond repair, and
| after the enemy troops entered the
j city, the sacred vessels of the edifice
I were carried away as trophies or for
! their intrinsic value, said the bishop,
i He declared that the Germans recog
| nized neither the law of God nor man;
they have no faith, he said. They know
i only war as an opportunity for license
: and pillage. They carried away every
j thing of value in the stricken city.
| On his way to Paris, the bishop said
j he saw German aviators fly over the
j allied lines and attack French ref
j ugees, who were fleeing for refuge,
and pour a heavy machine gun fire
into them. Many were killed and
others suffered severe wounds.
The c-"Dnes of desolation and devas
tation in Soissons are beyond words
to express, said the bishop. The city
is little better than a mass of charred
ruins.
S. S. ALAMEDA ON
WAY TO ANCHORAGE
SEATTLE, June 8.—The steamer
Alameda sailed at 9 o’clock this fore
noon, en route to Anchorage and way
ports. The following are included in
the passenger list for Anchorage:
Anna Anderson, George Irving,
George W. English, M. S. Davis, W.
R. Goodman, J. B. Ariaman, E. F.
Bauer? Mrs. P. A. Cook, Mrs. Mary
Unger, Mrs. C. Brenner and son Ches
ter, Miss S. Plato, Charles E. Herron,
Elmer L. White, William Martin, J.
J. Chisholm, James F. Woods, W. S.
Campbell and wife, Miss Melle Alex
ander, Joseph Sanders, S. G. Bradley,
and Joseph Wigg.
SIXTY PEOPLE
CARS DERAILED AND BANDITS
FIRE ON GUARDS AND PAS
SENGERS ABOARD.
VALPARAISO IS ALSO RAIDED.
Hundred Members of the Home Guard
Killed and Women and Girls Car
ried Off by Bandits, Says Report—
Followers of Villa Captured at Oji
naga.
EL PASO, June 8.—Mexican ban
dits attacked a passenger train at
Lasoland, in Durango, Mexico, yes
terday, and sixty train guards and
passengers were killed. The train was
derailed and as the guards and pas
sengers sought to escape, they were
fired on by waiting bandits. The wreck
set fire to the train and three of the
passengers were burned to death. The
bandits robbed the train of 60^000
pesos, being sent to pay the troops
at Durango. The bandits then fled
the scene.
News was also received in this city
to the effect that 800 well-armed ban
dits made a raid on the village of
Valparaiso, in Zacatecas, Mexico, May
29. One hundred members of the
home guards were killed, in a battle
that ensued, and many women and
girls were carried off by the raiders.
Followers of General Villa were
captured and executed near Ojinaga
yesterday.
FOR ASSISTANCE
AN ATLANTIC PORT, Jure 8.—A
Britsh steamer which arrived in this
port tonight reported that she had
picked up a wireless call for assist
ance, sent by a steamship of the An
chora line of New York city, saying
that a German submarine was about
to attack her and that she was speed
ing for an American port in the hope
of escaping, with the diver closely fol
lowing. The message stated that the
liner was about eight hundred miles
off the coast of New England. The
call was picked up by the British ship
Wednesday. It is unknown as to
whether or not the liner was at
tacked.
closer mm
TOKIO, June 7.—The appointment
of a special business commissioner to
the United States for the purpose of
promoting closer economic relations
between Japan and America has been
recommended by the Tokio Chamber
of Commerce.
It is understood that the Japanese
merchants in the United States anti
the business men interested in Japan
ese trade are anxious to have an ef
fective medium for cementing closer
relations. The idea of appointing a
business commissioner, who would
represent Japanese business interests
is the outcome of the recent visit of
the Japanese financial commission
headed by Baron Megata.
A plan to establish a Japanese
Chamber of Commerce in the Unitec
States and to organize an American
Japanese bank is also being studiec
here.
HIGH PRICES FOR SHIPS.
CARDIFF, Wales, June 8.—A lit
tie British sailing vessel, the “Gooc
Intent,” carrying 68 tons of cargo
and built 128 years ago, has jusi
been sold for three times her origi
nal cost. She was built of sturdy oal
timbers taken from British men-of
war and is still in excellent condition
The vessel has undergone little
change in construction during al
these years.
THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.
What has become of the Sanjak o:
Novibazar.
TEA RATIONING
NOW IN ENGLAND
LONDON, June 8.—Seventeen mil
lion people in England are now ra
tioned for tea and steps are being tak
en by the food controller to make the
rationing of tea uniform throughout
the country.
The rationing scheme has been so
successful that it has caused the Lon
don queues to fade away as if by
magic. The only ones that remain are
the amusement queues, and a few
lard and one or two cat’s meat queues.
Until a few weeks ago there were
tea queues every day in front of a
big merchant’s store in Fleet street
and that store reduced its business
hours to a minimum. Now there is
no queue and the store is open all
day. The explanation of the manager
is that he tea was not distributed to
the small stores whose customers then
came to the big stores and formed
queues.
The margarine shops, who queues
used to reach round the block, are now
queues-less and have big displays in
their windows. The meat markets
seem full of food, and everyone seems
moderately satisfied.
Commenting on the transformation
made by rationing in the appearance
of the city, one paper suggests: “It
would be good if those organs of pub
licity which made a big business of
queue photos that were afterward
reproduced in German papers and
made good German propaganda would
now publish photos of the queue-less
cities and the stocked shops.”
RESWfOF RAIDS
IS SATISFACTORY
ivvyixuwi-s, o urn; iu.—ueep-seateu
satisfaction is felt throughout Great
Britain over the raids on Zeebrugge
and Ostend, not merely on account of
the results achieved, but because of
the hazardous nature of the explaits
and the extreme daring displayed by
the British ships.
The country appreciates the vital
and effective service rendered by its
navy since England entered the war,
but it has been a matter of regret
that apart from the tremendous blows
dealt the enemy in engagements on
the high seas, the navy has had few
opportunities to emphasize, by spec
tacular operations, its courage and
power. '<&
The attack on the enemy’s subma
rine lairs, in the face of perils that
could not be gauged, has given the
public another fine chance to vent its
I praise of the “nation’s pride.”
WATCH REPAIRING
ON THE INCREASE
CHICAGO, 111., June 8.—Watch re
pairing in Chicago has more than
doubled as the result of the tele
phone company’s refusal to give the
correct time of day to supscribers
i after May 1, according to jewelry
houses and department store heads
here. The order also has increased
considerably the sale of new watches
and alarm clocks to persons who hith
erto have depended largely on the
telephone company for the time of
day.
According to the manager of one
of the largest department stores in
the city, the watch repairing by his
establishment increased more than
50 per cent almost before the order
became effective, and the sale of
watches, especially the cheaper kind,
and alarm clocks leaped forward rap
idly.
Figures compiled by telephone ex
perts showed that more than 250,000
persons in Chicago called the operator
daily and asked “the correct time,
please.” Repeal of the time-honored
custom telephone experts declared,
was due to the burdens imposed upon
facilities of the company by the war,
and several other causes. Childi’en,
some of whom were unable to tell the
time, it is said, were the chief offend
ers, while others wishing to show
that they could use the telephone al
ways demonstrated by asking for the
“correct time.”