1917-03-17 — Page 10

'GERMANY'S' CRUEL TREATMENT.

Belgians Whipped by Officers and Threatened with Death,

-“་་

The Belgian Government has received, a sword, declaratio n signed by 20 workmen of Ghent, who were deported to the Germso front in Fraces, and who have sizce been sent back to their homes completely exhausted and

ill.

were

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1917.

fotherwise we would have to suffer WOMEN'S RESPONSE. anbappy consequences.

.

"After that cur, commander went sed, informed the chief of

Exchanges.

the pioneere, who appeared on 2,900,000 Register Last Year at ho seback, together with another officer. The officer ordered us to work. Again general refusal.

MORE'S UTOPIA."

- ELECTORAL REFORMS.

Quatercentenary of its Publication.

Some Sweeping Proposals.

Thereupon the two men on horse- "Every day last month," says back rushed at us, whipped some Mr. John Hodge, Minister of published the Utopia" of Sir Four hundred years ago was of es sad pressed as back into Labour, an average of 2,766 Thomas More. The esot date is meadow close by. Soldiers had women were placed in employ- uncertain, bat it was issued also kicked o The workmen ment through the Labour Ex-probably in January, 1517. It persisted in their refusal, saying changes."

was written in an exultant age, hat the promises made at Ghent bad not been kept.

The chief of the pioneers then ordered some of us to advance in

work

26

8. Proportional representation of the larger boroughs and for grouped contiguous boroughs.

9. All polls on one day. 10. Returning offiosrs' ex

premises.

same

Boska.

vole in another constituency in valuable one, and later on he in- respect of his basicens premises vited the Speaker tɔ convene soch and in respect of a qualifications Conference. One October 11 the so a quiversity voter."

patner of the trembers of the Oon- 6. Bedistribution on the pria-ference were officially announced ciple of one member for every as follows-Marquis of Salisbury, 70,000 electors or for every mul- |Earl Grey, Viscount Bryce, Vis- The report of the Speaker's tiple of 70,000:

sount Gladstone, Lord Burnham, 30, and recommends in the form grouped with London University, bary, Sir J. Bothell, Sir W. Bull, Conference was isened on January 7. The newer aniversities to be Sir Byland Adkins, Sir F. Ban- of resolutions (mostly unanimous) and to return three members.

series of sweeping changes in

Colonel J. Craig, Colonel Page. the existing electoral system.

Croft, Mr Ellis Davien, Mr W. H. Dickinson, Sir R. Pinlay, Mr On the question of women's

Goldstons, Mr L Other interesting facts given to delightfully self-conscious in ita suffrage the Conference are not

Hardy Mr Maurice Healy, Mr G. Lam- show the value of the Exchanges eeuse of having left the Ware unanimous, but a majority declare and the willingness of women to of the Roses behind, and yet that some messure of women's penses to be paid by the State.

bert, Sir J. Larmor, Mr Macmaster, It is a record of brutal treat

undertake rational service are perfectly alive to the horrors suffrage should be conferred, 11. Candidates' expenditure to Mr Peto, Mr Pringle, Sir Harry Mr. Mooney, Mr T. P. O'Connor, ment rivalling all the horrors order to talk to me. A dos left that last year 2,063,813 registered of social disorder which followed and they suggest that the most be cut down and expenditure by Samuel, Mr Scanlan, Me Mse- Germany has been responsible the lanka sad reminded the com- and that 765,481 were found work. in the train, first, of the upheaval practicable form of it would be outside organisations to be pro-Callum Scott, Sir J. Simon, Mr. for during the war. On refacing nder of the words be spoke at Farther, in response to an appeal of civil war and, secondly, of the to give the Parliamentary role hibited unless authorised by the Tarton, Mr S. Walub, Mr Wardie, to do at work bebind the La Gantoine-that we should be Ly the President of the Board of stagnant abuses created by the to any women on enemy's lines, the mea

the local candidate and returned as part of and Mr Ansarin Williams. well fed and lodged and should Trade and the Home Secretary in old feudal system of the Middle government register who has his election expenses,

The terme of referencs were to whipped by officers on borreback, not have to

cutside 1915, searly 100,000 of all alssses Ager. The Utopis" in"s very attained a specified age (30 to and afterwards face by a Gring Belgium. The delegates and the of society registered on a special real senee is a war-product, both 35 is suggested) and to the wife ment franchies without die gaali- mit agreed rewolutions on the 12. Extension of local govern-examins and, if possible, sub- party with rifles at the shoulders of the workmen stuck to their list for wat work.

in its protest against civil ware of any msa on the register, refusal. At this moment the obief Men fell ill, bat they received of the pioneers ordered some

cation of sex or marriage, provided following matters :— - Mr. Hodge relates these fants and sigainst (preigu warn (waged The unanimous recommends that husband and wife may not (a) Reform of the franchise. no proper medical attention, and twenty of bis anldiers to lead their to disprove the statement that for extension of territory, though tions of the Conference include rote in respect of the were put on a starvation diet., to shoulder, and to aim at

(b) Basis for redistribution of women cannot be induced to not, it may be noted, against all | she following :— "The strongest of us," the declara as. Overcome by terror, some go to there establishments" are). It is the first appeal to 1. Qaslifying pariod for re-

(e) Reform of the system of re- tion says, "ould not have endured of the men gave way, and an hour (Labour Exchanges).

principles which are essentially gistration reduced to six months of the franchise by soldiers and gistration of electors.

13. Provision for the exercise this for a month without feeling afterwards everybody wae at work,

"The statement," he says, "is in the Renascence. It is written six months,

those of peaceful internationalism 2. Registration revision every asilors and by absent voters.

(a) Mthod of elections and the couer quences for a lifetime."

giving way ander such threats not only demonstrably untrue, in Latin, and we not tranalsted

The Speaker's The bardehips and privations and such pressure.

Conference maner in which costs of election but it is calcalated to produces into English till 1551, when a borne half by local rates and half by

3. Cost of registration to be originated in ■ anggestion made should be borne. of these unhappy Belgians began "The work itself had to be done very harmful effect on the transistion was made by Ralph by the State,

Mr. Walter Long last ou the first night of their epti- under the unhealthiest conditions supply of women for mani Robiosan," citizen and goldsmith

August, when vity in Ghent. They had to sleepic rain and wind, with soaked fine and other war work by of London,"

President of Coal Two Days a Week. 4. Every person of full age who the Local Government Board on plank beds or on ebavings on garments which it was impossible misleading the

To make supplies last through the floor. Doctors made a rapid to dry at night in our bara and diecouraging them from making English document in its author-annual value of not less than £10 mon a conference on the subject of get fuel two days a week. It is pro

public and

for the qualifying period has in the late Government. He the winter, Christiania theatres The "Utopia" is an essentially coupied premises of a clear expressed his readiness to sam-and places of smussment will only Tisit to the rcome, but only which were put on again in the use of the only form of national ship sad in much of its atmos should be entitled to a vote. those who put forward any claim morning quite wet. Iosufficiently machinery oovering the whole phere, and is the most represent- were examined. la the morning fed, everybody felt the terrible country where demand and cop stive literary work of Bir Thomas eral election in more than one or four days before Parliament churches and ventricu should only electoral reform which would be pood that public bathe should they had been eerved with anguish of hunger, in such a way ply could be ascertained and the More; yet it was, as already constituency, provided that be adjourned Mr. Asquith said he be warmed on Santays and 5. No person to vote at a gen-representative of all parties. Three fopen only twice a week, and that quarter of a loaf of bread each, sust the laborere ste raw cab-available labour supply rapidly said, written in Latid, and it shall be entitled to one additional thought the suggestion a very holidays. with some soup made from rice b gee and potatoes, and even a distributed to meet approved or cabbage. The only other food hedgehog was fetched at night requirements. Work being per- was

#ав pablished abroad. It they received during the day we and prepared no the store of the formed by the Exchanges for the English press in the lifetime of not issued from any at night, when they were served farm. The wesk men were soon Ministry of Manitions, War Office, More, nor till sixteen years after with coffee, with a liufal of pre exhausted, and the sick fell in a Admiralty and Director-General his death. The frat edition was served beel to be distributed heap. The strongest of us could of National Service, would, as a published at Louvain in 1617 among 17 and even 35 and 43. not have endured this for a month result of this, be seriously pre- (or, some say, very late in 1518): people.

without feeling the consequences judiced.

the second edition was published They departed for their an-fra lifetime..

"There is room for improve at Paris by March, 1618; the known destination next day.

"Officer of all sake came to ment in Exchanges," adds. Mr. third at Basle in November, 1518, October 28. At 10 o'clock they see us on different occasions. Each Hodge," and I mean to make that sad the fourth at Vienna in 1519 were merched with luggage of time they made fresh promises; improvement. But while the Ex-all in Latin. their backs beiaren soldiers to the lodging would be improved, changes have not, in my opinion, the railway station. A boat noon the food augmented. But things done as much as they might have loving, people-loving work was

This large-minded they were shot up in carriages, remained as they were.

dane, largely due to employers not first issued at Loarsin in the esh containing about 40, and "The foremen were entrouted baring made to the Exchanges the light of the terrible destruction of travelled throughout the right, to announce to me that we could demands for woman's labour that the library of that city to be reaching Mons & 7 15 a.m Hore write weekly to ask for food, and they might have, yet, as the above socounted in the future an irony each received a bowl of rice and that a parcel of one kg, could be figures show, they have accom. of history. The first part of the Contincing the journey cent to us each week. However, pli bed a great deal of very "Utopia" was probably written by they passed through Avonnes, or Saturday verything was again asefal work. It is my desire to More in London in 1616, and the Herson, Vorviss, and Maries, changed; we could write once a extend and improve thie work, second part (composed first) was where some of the party alighted.rek, on Saturday, and we had but this cannot be accomplished probably written when More was The others went on to Deres-the right to receive a parcel of by prajadicing the public against at Antwerp, about November, five kg. every month. The officers the machine or ignoring its ex-1515. The aircometanoes of the declared that we were allowed to fistence." ask our families for food (fat,

meal.

Mortier.

At Marles they had to walk for an hour in the dark to a big farm where 650 mea were berded to gether in baron and stables, Mo hed to lie on straw covering the clay ground. It was only after the

pesos.

ATO

production of the "Utopia The disappointment which was therefore bacon, &.), thus practically felt amongst wonen when it Thomas More learned mach from international. Sir admitting that we got too little."

Pay-day was on Sunday, but med as if they were to be Belgium, and his " Utopia" is a excluded from Mr. Neville bond of union between Balgiam fute the money was handed Chamberlain's scheme for the and England from the social sag- round an officer made a speech in

of the Beations gathered in the former

voluntary enrolment

third day that they were provided bich he said he was instructed civil resources of the countryCountry which ars embodied in

with wooden planks to sleep on.

by his Imperial Majesty to ask

paid for lodging, whilst the men

was relieved yesterday by the More's great work.

lack of experience.

Amongst the men associated

1

at

one

time

“An hour after our arrival," the people to sign an agreement announcem out that they are to the declaration continues, "we had to work, labourers to receive 4. some coffes, Baif the men, already and exilled workmen Gr. Our participate when the available with the first edition of the completely exhausted by the loog of this 1, 8d. would have to be men have been dealt with.

Utopia" are Jerome Baslerden, journey (which occupied 16 hours) and by an hour's march, were to receive 700 gr. of bread who are able and willing to do Erasmus, who undertook its Bat there is no need for women, Three Languages et Loursin; who founded the College of the had crouched d:wn all dressed and meat, with soup and coffee, war work, to wait until the scheme direction in 1517; Joha Paludan- and had no thought of eating. The Germaandministration would is actually in operation. Yesterday, as, of Louvain, with whom * We were awakened by a bugle provide clothing to those who for instance, the Government Eraems lived for some time Bounding at 6 o'cluck. Without needed it. The agreement was appealed for 20.000 women to in that city; Gerardus Novioms. fire or light, the men refused to to last six months,

come forward and volunteer for gar, also of Louvain, who look come out. The call was then postponed till 7 s.m. Lined up in the agreement, and it was then

"All the men refused to sign work in abelt-filling factories.

These women

part in the editorial work of the the farmyard, each of us had to redsord to a period of three needed, their labour will back up Louvain printer himself, Thierry are argently "Utopia." Lastly, there is the fetch his bowl and go to work months, Sill they declined to our fighting-men in the best pos- Marten, who Half of the men went to work, the accept the terms, and afterwards eible way, and no one need be for others remained at the farm

■ month received into "After an hour's march, they home or to receive parc.le.

they were forbidden to write deterred from volunteering by his

Louvain honse the gara us spaden, shovels and pické, Men fell ill, but no special food

great Erasmus, ill of the plague. and conducted us to a building was prescribed for them during stated that no special training or More's "Utopia," In the exme It is officially and specifically Not only did Marten pablish yard near the railway. In the their three or four weeks" intern-skill is required, and a special sp- year, 1517, he published Erasmus's distance we saw German pioneers ment. The sick, and the minors peal is made to women who are" Bellum," the most incisive of (military engineers) at work. At of all the working parties were not necessarily obliged to earn all Benascence treatises against the right, we refused point blank assembled at Montigny in a stable the wage which is offered, that is war. Such is the pathos of to go further.

We pointed out about 33 yarde long, where there from 278. to 30%, a week. The Louvain, the city of cultare which to the non-commissioned officer was a cesspool. There was no most desirable ages are those produced, 400 years ago, the most who guided us that in Ghent they fire, and the only bedding con-ranging between 18 and 40, and noble of political and social angges- had promised that we should besisted of straw, wall cared for from the point of

best mediums for registration in tions; to-day, devastated of all its "It was frightfully cold," the the present circumstances are the literary wealth. It is with pride view of food and lodging, that we report continues. We covered Employment Exchanges. should work in Belgium, and that with our blankets those who were

that Manoboator has made itself we should have nothing to do seriouely ill, and daring the night|

the centre for attempting to with the war. Therefore, we walked up and down to keep our.

collect books which may servO KI refused to work. The non-com-selves warm. The food for the intended for the men who were of the Louvain Library (of # the nucleus for the reconstraction missioned officers replied that day consisted of soup with pear! seriously ill. The latter were quarter of a million volumes.) they could not belp it. They barley, coffee, and a quarter of thas 25 hours without anything made as give back the tools and loaf of bread, took us quickly back to the farm. "We complained about our to eat. The following day, Saturday and bad lodging sad our henger diet.geard came to tell as that on the "On Friday, November 24, the Bonday, they left us io pesce. They promised us some more fire

"Ou Morday, October 30, as 5 and that we should be sent home morrow we should be allowed to o'clock, roll call and to work, at se soon as possible. Then a week 6.30 .m. this time for all of us, passed in the expectation of our The tools ware brought us hy departare. some 20 pienser soldiers. We all declared that we were not ready sere able to walk had to fetob and we went off afoot at 5.30 x.m. Court this morning, with belog On November 21 the sick who bread with a little Herve cheese, Mr. J. R. Wood, at the Police to work for the reson that we their food from a village about an towards "arles, where we arrived in possession of two tins of opium. were ill-ored for, that we were in b ́ar distans, They got quarter about 6 pm. Daring the long It was niated that one was hidden France and not in Belgium, and of a lost of bread, one-sixth of journed home-Ghent was not in each sook. that the work had a military pur- Herve cheese, and at IF.m, come reached until 9.30 p.m. - we ordered the boy to roosive lan poss. Our commander, rather an rias soup.

His Worship They brought to * affabio man, begged as to work, Montigny the song and the bread received neither food nor drink,” strokes of the birch,

return home,

"Next morning, si 4 a.m. they warned us for departure, Wa

Manchester, therefore, in specially oonosraad in the remembrance of as a Louvain-produced book- the first edition of the "Utopis

Manchester Guardian.

Birch for Small Boy,

received a quarter of a loaf of A small boy wsa charged before

TO-DAY'S

J. T.

NEW ADVERTISMENT.

SHAW

TEL. 692.

HONGKONG HOTEL BUILDING.

Great Sale

OF

BOOTS & SHOES.

For one week

ONLY.

FOR CASH.

COMMENCING MONDAY THE 19th.

OVER

250 PAIRS TO CLEAR.

$7.50

PRICES:

& $8.50

A PAIR.

THIS OFFER CANNOT BE

REPEATED.

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